Pastoral Notes 18th February, 2019

The 12th !

Bishop Peter Doyle is visiting our parish this Sunday 17th February and again 16th/17th March as the 12th Bishop of Northampton since the diocese was founded in 1850. Bishop Arthur Riddell was bishop when our parish was founded in 1891-93 and Bishop Laurence Youens was bishop when the present St Edward’s was under construction (stained-glass window by confession rooms bears his coat-of-arms). 1939 and Bishop Leo Parker was bishop when the parish church was formally consecrated (1946). He was followed by Bishop Charles Grant, formerly parish priest at Kettering, who took part in the Vatican Council in Rome (1962-65). While the Mass and Sacraments celebrated in our own language were the most obvious signs of that Council, its deliberations had far-seeing renewal in mind which the universal Church continues to struggle with. Bishop Peter came to us from Portsmouth Diocese, ordained bishop 28th June 2005. We keep him in our daily prayers at every Mass.