The Metropolitan Cathedral was once again the venue for this year’s Adoremus on 8 November – a day of prayer, reflection and celebration at the heart of the Jubilee Year.

​

By Steven Hughes

​

​​Saturday 8 November proved to be a day of true spirituality in Liverpool as people came together for the second Adoremus held by the Archdiocese of Liverpool at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

 

Adoremus Liverpool 2025 included Adoration for the full day, along with two Masses, a shared time of diocesan prayer, and plenty of workshops to attend. There were also chances for Confession and the veneration of the relics of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

 

Before the day started, Archbishop John Sherrington had made a pre recorded message inviting people to come and go during the event.

 

In that message, he referred to the spirit of the two new saints of the Catholic Church, saying: “This year is very special, because there will be the opportunity to venerate the relics of St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati, both of whom were canonised earlier this year by Pope Leo XIV.

 

“St Carlo Acutis had a great love of the Blessed Sacrament, of Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Carlo spent a lot of time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. He said that by adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we become holy.

 

“St Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died 100 years ago, also went to Mass every day, received Jesus, and then went to serve the poor. So there is a profound link between receiving Holy Communion, adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and serving the poor.”

 

The day began with Archbishop Sherrington celebrating Mass at 9am, shortly after morning prayer in the cathedral had concluded.

 

In his homily, the Archbishop referred to another quote attributed to St Carlo Acutis – “The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.” Elaborating, he added: “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we become like Jesus.”

 

After Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was left on the High Altar, allowing people to pray in silence in front of Him.

 

At the same time, the first workshops of the day got under way. The first two, running concurrently, were on Eucharistic Ministry and the Proclamation of the Word. These were led by two members of the archdiocesan pastoral development department, Liz Parsons (director) and Chris Higgins (parish and deanery development adviser) respectively.

 

Those attending had the chance for the Sacrament of Reconciliation – with priests on hand throughout the day to hear confessions – and also had the opportunity to see the CAFOD-commissioned official Jubilee icon up close while it was on its tour of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. Painted by Ethiopian artist Mulugeta Araya, the icon was based on Jesus’ teaching of healing and liberation in the Synagogue in Luke 4:16-21.

 

The day was also broken up with readings, done at the top of the hour. These were delivered by a variety of people, holding different roles within the Church. Father Gerard Callacher gave a homily for the first reading at 11am, and pointed towards the rising number of young people discovering their faith.

 

He said: “Many youngsters are discovering the quiet power of Eucharistic Adoration. One teenager said, ‘It’s not about a show or a performance. It’s about really meeting Jesus face to face. That silence speaks louder than anything.’

 

“Another reflected, ‘I leave feeling calmer, stronger and more able to face life.’ Others have spoken about the stillness of adoration allowing them to listen to God in a way that’s not possible in everyday life.”

 

The second lot of workshops then got under way, with CAFOD’s Colette Byrne and John Woods leading a reflection on their Jubilee icon, and Mike Anderson giving a session on music ministry. The sessions sparked thoughtful discussion and clearly resonated with many who took part.

 

Next, Sister Lynne Baron fcJ and Chris Knowles, the young adults programme manager for Bon Secours, led sessions on “Discerning, choosing, deciding” and the “Ministry of welcome” respectively. The one standalone session of the day saw Fr Peter McGrail, newly appointed parish priest of St John Vianney, Halewood and St Mary’s, Woolton, host a session called “The call to holiness”, which was focused on following your vocation.

 

Once those sessions were finished, it was time for a shared period of diocesan prayer beginning at 2pm. Archbishop Sherrington was welcomed back into the cathedral, the winter sun really bringing out the red and blue stained-glass windows around the cathedral. The Archbishop particularly asked people to pray for the different vocations, including married and single life, and consecrated and ordained life. He also gave a blessing to those who are sick. Once this was over, there was a procession around the cathedral with the Blessed Sacrament.

 

The Archbishop was led outside and, overlooking Hope Street, with the Anglican Cathedral in the distance, he blessed the city with the Blessed Sacrament. With the diocesan prayer concluded, the final workshops of the day began, including a session on children’s liturgy, given by Mary Kearsley and Margaret Jennings of the Wigan Children’s Liturgy Group, and a very popular session titled “Journey through chaplaincy”, led by prison chaplain Ken McCabe and college chaplain Kathryn Edmond.

​

After a short break came the veneration of the relics of the new saints, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Canon Sean Riley and Deacon Paul Mannings were on hand to bless people with the relics at the altar, an invitation which many took up.

 

The day then ended with a 5pm Mass, this time celebrated by Bishop Tom Neylon. The cathedral’s newest priest, Fr Hugh Donleavy, was the homilist. He confessed it was the first time he had given a homily in front of a bishop – “a bit daunting” but also a rewarding experience.

 

On what was also the feast of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the only universal feast day that commemorates a building rather than a person or an event, Fr Hugh said: “Today, when we celebrate of the dedication of the ‘mother church of the world’, we recognise the importance of all the buildings which are consecrated to serve.

 

“Buildings will be sacred so that they can be accepted in Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, to be made present for us in life.”

 

With the conclusion of Mass, the curtain came down on a full day of Eucharistic Adoration. As darkness descended over the city, those who attended left the cathedral with a feeling of fulfilment and of fresh knowledge gained.

 

Following the event, there were plenty of positive comments on social media. “A great day – workshops were excellent,” said one attendee, while another wrote: “It was brilliant. Hope it returns next year!”