The Solemn Mass of Installation of the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP as ninth Archbishop of Liverpool is to take place at 12.00 noon on Thursday 1 May 2014 in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. The day chosen is the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, a Patron of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.Bishop Thomas Williams, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese, will welcome Archbishop McMahon to the Cathedral before the Apostolic Mandate of Appointment is read by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Rev Aidan Prescott. Archbishop McMahon is then led to the Cathedra (Bishop’s Chair) by Bishop Williams, where he will be presented with the Book of the Gospels by Bishop Vincent Malone, former Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, and with the Crozier, the sign of a Bishop’s office and ministry, by Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Kelly.
The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini will be present as will Bishops from throughout the country including Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster; Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster and Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles and a friend of Archbishop McMahon. Priests and Deacons from both Nottingham and Liverpool will be present, as will civic dignitaries and representatives from each parish in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
The UK Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Nigel Baker, wil also be in attendance.
At 11.00 am the Cathedral bells will be rung and the organ played from 11.15 am. At 11.30 am the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and the High Sheriff will be led to their places. At 11.35 am the Clergy, Choir and Sanctuary processions will take place and at 11.50 am there will be the procession of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter of Canons, Consultors, Chancellor and Apostolic Administrator. At 12.00 noon Archbishop Elect, Malcolm McMahon OP will arrive at the Main Entrance of the Cathedral as a fanfare is sounded. He will be greeted by the Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Thomas Williams.
Following the Rite of Installation Archbishop McMahon will be greeted by:
The former Chair of the Council of Priests Rev Conor Stainton-Polland and Rev Leo McNicholas one of the Permanent Deacons of the Archdiocese on behalf of the Clergy.
Two Lay Trustees of the Archdiocese, Carol Chapman and John Cowdall, on behalf of the people of the Archdiocese.
Right Reverend Richard Blackburn, the Bishop of Warrington who is the Liverpool Anglican Diocesan Administrator, and Reverend Philip Jump, the Free Church Moderator on behalf of the Church Leaders and Churches Together on Merseyside and Regions.
The Lord Mayor, Mayor of Wigan and the President of Tynwald from the Isle of Man on behalf of the Civic Authorities and regions of the Archdiocese.
The First Reading of the Mass will be taken from the Book of Genesis (1:26-2:3) and will be read by a member of the Archbishop’s family.
The Second Reading will be from the Letter of St Paul to the Colossians (3:14-15,17,23-24) and will be read by Mr Peter Woods who will be representing the Lord Lieutenant and who is Chair of the Friends of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
The Gospel will be from Matthew (13:54-58) and will be sung by Deacon John Poland who will be ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Liverpool on Sunday 20 July 2014.
Following the Gospel, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon will preach the homily.
The Prayer of the Faithful will be led by Mrs Lutje Rathbone from the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir Community.
The Offertory gifts of bread and wine will be carried forward by members of the Archbishop’s family.
Taking part in the music of the Mass will be the Cathedral Choir under Director of Music Christopher McElroy. The music of the Mass will be as follows:
Organ Music before the Service:
Grand Choeur by Théodore Dubois (1837-1924)
Prelude, Fugue and Ciacona by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Allegro Moderato by Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Toccata in F by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Introit Ecce oculi Domini: Gregorian Chant
Entrance Hymn The King of Love: words by H W Baker (1821-1877); music by J B Dykes (1823-1876)
Antiphon The Lord I will praise: music by Philip Duffy (b1943)
Responsory Summæ Trinitáti: music by James MacMillan (b1959)
Motet Like as the Hart: music by Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Gloria Liverpool Mass: music by Colin Mawby (b1936)
Psalm 89: music by Christopher McElroy (b1978)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia: Gregorian Chant; verse by Christopher McElroy (b1978)
Credo III: Gregorian Chant
Offertory Hymn The Kingdom of God is justice and joy: words by Christopher Idle
Offertory Motet Jubilate Deo ‘Collegium Regale’: music by Herbert Howells
Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen St Chads Acclamations: Peter Jones
Agnus Dei Mass in G: music by Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Communion Antiphon Dominus firmamentum: Gregorian Chant
Communion Motet Ave verum: music by Colin Mawby (b1936)
Communion Hymn Godhead here in hiding: translated by G M Hopkins
Anthem Worthy is the Lamb: music by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)
Christus vincit (Laudes Regiae): Gregorian Chant
Recessional Hymn Hail, Redeemer, King divine! words by Patrick Brennan (1877-1951), music by Charles Rigby (1901-1962)
Organ Voluntaries: Grand Choeur by Eugene Gigout (1844-1925) and Toccata (Symphony V) Charles Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Among the Bishops attending the Mass of Installation will be:
Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster
Cardinal Roger Mahony Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles
Archbishop Antonio Mennini Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain
Archbishop Patrick Kelly Archbishop Emeritus of Liverpool
Bishop Thomas Williams Apostolic Administrator of the
Archdiocese of Liverpool
Bishop Vincent Malone Former Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool
Archbishop Paul Gallagher Apostolic Nuncio to Australia
Archbishop Bernard Longley Archbishop of Birmingham
Archbishop George Stack Archbishop of Cardiff
Bishop Terence Brain Bishop of Salford
Bishop Peter Brignall Bishop of Wrexham
Bishop Thomas Burns Bishop of Menevia
Bishop Michael Campbell Bishop of Lancaster
Bishop Kieran Conry Bishop of Arundel and Brighton
Bishop Seamus Cunningham Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
Bishop Mark Davies Bishop of Shrewsbury
Bishop Terence Drainey Bishop of Middlesbrough
Bishop Alan Hopes Bishop of East Anglia
Bishop Mark O’Toole Bishop of Plymouth
Bishop John Rawsthorne Bishop of Hallam
Right Reverend Monsignor Keith Newton Ordinary of the Ordinariate of
Our Lady of Walsingham
Bishop John Arnold Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster
Bishop John Sherrington Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster
Bishop Crispian Hollis Bishop Emeritus of Portsmouth
Bishop Edwn Regan Bishop Emeritus of Wrexham
Bishop Philip Pargeter Former Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham
Bishop Howard Tripp Former Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark
Right Reverend Robert Byrne Auxiliary Bishop Elect of Birmingham
Bishop Noel Treanor Bishop of Down and Connor
Bishop Anthony Farquhar Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor
Among the Ecumenical Guests will be:
Right Reverend Richard Blackburn Bishop of Warrington
Right Reverend John Goddard Bishop of Burnley
Reverend James Booth Chair of the Liverpool Methodist District
Reverend Philip Jump Baptist Regional Minister
Reverend Howard Sharp Moderator of the URC Mersey Synod
Reverend Ian Smith Ecumenical Officer
Reverend Dean Pete Wilcox Liverpool Cathedral
The Mass of Installation is expected to conclude at approximately 2.00 pm.