Westminster: Mass of Welcome to be held for Cardinal Vincent Nichols

Cardinal St John Fisher’s signet ring. The pre-Reformation cameo is thought to represents Aristotle. It has been kept at Stoneyhurst

A Mass with Solemn Rite of Welcome for His Eminence, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, will be held at Westminster Cathedral on Friday 28 February at 5.30pm.

The Mass will be his first public celebration in the Diocese since being created a Cardinal by Pope Francis at the Ordinary Consistory on 22 February.

Cardinal Vincent will process through the West Doors from Cathedral Piazza along with individual possessions of three English Cardinals from the Reformation. These artefacts will symbolize the Catholic Church’s connection to the Reformation Cardinals: The signet ring of Cardinal St John Fisher (c1469-1535), the pectoral cross of Cardinal Reginald Pole (1500-1558) and the crozier of Cardinal William Allen (1532-1594). Cardinal Vincent has a particular devotion to John Fisher and following further studies has written a book about the saint who inspires him.

Westminster Cathedral Choir directed by Martin Baker will sing music that will include works by Anton Bruckner, Giovanni Gabrieli, Franz Schubert and Tomás Luis de Victoria. The Choir accompanied Cardinal Vincent to the Consistory and sang alongside the Sistine Chapel Choir and by themselves in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome

Cardinal Vincent will also offer a Mass of Thanksgiving at Westminster Cathedral on Sunday, 2 March. In attendance will be representatives of various organisations associated with Westminster Cathedral and Archbishop’s House.

Source: Archbishops House