The Academic Mass

The Academic Mass at Westminster Cathedral

Report by Maeve McCormack, Catholic Parliamentary Intern

Catholic students, staff and chaplains from the London Universities gathered on Sunday 23rd November 2008 for the Annual Academic Mass at Westminster Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. The readings and intercessions were read by staff and students from the different London Universities and from the different Catholic student residences in the city. The Choir of King’s College, London, sang the Mass Simile est regnum by Tomas Luis Victoria.
At the end of the Mass, Sarah Sandford and Chris Stringer, senior students from Newman House, the central Catholic Chaplaincy in London, presented the Cardinal with a portrait of the Chaplaincy’s patron, the Venerable John Henry Newman. Fr Peter Wilson, Senior Chaplain to the Universities of London, thanked the Cardinal for his continued support of the University Chaplaincy.

During his Homily, the Cardinal welcomed all of those present, making reference to St Matthew’s Gospel where it says, “I was a stranger and you made me welcome”, addressing the diverse and rapidly changing student population by saying, “There may be a number of you here today who come amongst us as strangers but we welcome you and treat you as friends.” He went on to remind all of those in the congregation, “To fulfill your life in the particular vocation you have it is also important to understand the underlying vocation of your life – to love God with all your heart.”