As he prepares to travel to Rome to take part in the meeting on the protection of minors in the Church, Cardinal Vincent has written to priests in the diocese on 19th February asking for prayers.
In the letter, the Cardinal explains that there will be a Penitential Liturgy on Saturday evening and asks that 'at Mass on Saturday evening, you add a prayer or a comment uniting your parish to Pope Francis and all taking part in that liturgy so that together we ask the Lord's pardon for our failings'.
He adds that 'on Sunday morning, at 8.30 UK time, we will gather in Rome for the celebration of Holy Mass, seeking the Lord's blessings on the work accomplished and for the challenges ahead. Please do unite your parish celebration of Mass with this intention.'
He concludes with a request: 'at a very personal level, please do keep me in your own prayers. These will be difficult and painful days and I need your prayers.'
The meeting on the protection of minors in the Church takes place at the Vatican from 21st to 24th February. Cardinal Vincent is attending in his role as President of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
The text of the letter:
'Tomorrow, Wednesday, I travel to Rome to take part in the meeting called by Pope Francis to address the protection of minors within the Catholic Church worldwide in the light of the abuse suffered by them within the communities of the Church. I write to ask for your prayers and those of your people, for the positive outcome of this meeting and for all survivors of such abuse who will find these days particularly difficult as so much public attention is given to this reality.
'The broad themes of the meeting are those of responsibility - knowing what is to be done; accountability - the ways in which we are responsible to each other; and transparency - the determination that there are no hiding places in these matters. These are the virtues, the qualities of our life together, that need to be renewed and strengthened.
'An excellent website provides detailed information about this event: www.pbc2019.org.
'On Saturday evening there will be a Penitential Liturgy. I ask that at Mass on Saturday evening, you add a prayer or a comment uniting your parish to Pope Francis and all taking part in that liturgy so that together we ask the Lord's pardon for our failings. On Sunday morning, at 8.30 UK time, we will gather in Rome for the celebration of Holy Mass, seeking the Lord's blessings on the work accomplished and for the challenges ahead. Please do unite your parish celebration of Mass with this intention.
'I am sure you will know the best ways in which to respond to these requests.
'Finally, at a very personal level, please do keep me in your own prayers. These will be difficult and painful days and I need your prayers.'
