Cathedral News

St Gilbert of Sempringham (1083–1190) Feast Day: 4 February St Gilbert of Sempringham has a unique place in church history.

St Brigid, patron of Ireland, wil be remembered in a short service of prayer to take place in the Cathedral on Sunday 1 February at 17:00. All are welcome.

The annual Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help begins on Monday 9 February 2015, and runs until Tuesday 17 February. There are six sessions each day, as follows: Monday-Saturday: 07:45, 11:00, 13:10, 15:30, 19:30, 21:00 Sunday: 09:00, 10:30, 12:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20:00

St Angela Merici (1474-1540), founder of the Ursulines. Her feast day is on 27 January.

St Nicholas of Myra (270-343) Feast day: 6 December

Christmas is one of the most joyful seasons of the church year, and is celebrated in the Cathedral with appropriate solemnity. Here are details of the various events taking place at this time. Here also are details of confessions in the days before Christmas.

Solemn Vespers (evening prayer) for the feast of St Nicho

Saint Elizabeth Feast day: 5 November All the information we have about St Elizabeth, Mary’s kinswoman, is contained in the first chapter of St Luke's gospel. Her husband Zechariah was a priest. We are told that the couple was "righteous before God." They exemplified what was best in Israel, leading good lives and obeying the commandments faithfully. However they were childless: "Elizabeth was barren and both getting on in years."  This must have been a source of great unhappiness for them. When Elizabeth did conceive, she described her previous situation poignantly, as "the disgrace I have endured among my people." How sad for such a woman, to have felt disgrace for something she could do nothing about.

Saint Ursula Feast day: 21 October

St Raphael the Archangel: healer and travelling companion.