Across five days in September, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia met a broad range of people to gain a good picture of life in our archdiocese. By Simon Hart.

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“I bring you the blessings and greetings from Pope Leo XIV.” These words, which echoed around the Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday 13 September, were uttered by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.

 

He was addressing the congregation during the choral evening prayer that brought a conclusion to his successful five-day visit to the Archdiocese of Liverpool . During his stay, which began on Wednesday 9 September, he met clergy, religious, Catholic educators, hundreds of schoolchildren, and parish communities. And on his departure from a city he first visited 40 years ago, he underlined his appreciation with the warm assertion that “Liverpool has a wonderful spirit”.

 

The Apostolic Nuncio’s first full day, 10 September, was dedicated to Catholic education, and it began with a Mass at St Mary’s, Leyland, attended by 400 pupils, teachers, governors, representatives from Catholic multi academy trusts, and priests and deacons. Afterwards, he had lunch with representatives from Catholic education and told them: “I wish to say thank you to the headteachers, teachers, governors, chaplains, priests, parish leaders, support staff, parents, trustees and all who serve the mission of Catholic education in this local Church. Your work is often demanding and not always thanked.

 

“This morning we were reminded that the school is not only a place of instruction. It’s a place where Christ meets the young; where faith is passed on and where every child, whether four or eighteen years old, is helped to discover that he or she is known, loved and called by God. Catholic education is, therefore, not something alongside the mission of the Church. It belongs to the very heart of her mission.” In the same address, Archbishop Maury cited Pope Leo’s Apostolic Letter on Catholic education, ‘Drawing New Maps of Hope’ and the importance of the link between parish and school. He also acknowledged “the leadership of Archbishop John Sherrington and his vision, ‘A Family in Christ: Our Future Together’, intended to safeguard Catholic identity, share resources, support staff and governors, and ensure that Catholic education can flourish for future generations.”

 

Later, the Apostolic Nuncio visited St John Rigby College in Wigan before moving on to St Anne and Blessed Dominic Church in St Helens for evening prayer and Benediction with school chaplains. Joan McCarthy, director of education for the Archdiocese of Liverpool , said: “It was a great privilege to dedicate part of the Apostolic Nuncio’s visit to celebrating Catholic education and showcasing the outstanding children, dedicated staff, and excellent facilities across our archdiocese.”

 

The centrepiece of the following day’s itinerary came at Liverpool Cathedral where, in the Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Suite, Archbishop Maury was guest of honour for a civic and ecumenical encounter with guests including the Lord Mayor, Councillor William Shortall, and Lord Lieutenant, Peter Oliver, together with other civic and faith leaders. That was followed by choral evensong at the Lady Chapel.

 

During the initial gathering, Archbishop Maury gave an address titled ‘Better Together in Hope’. He spoke about the symbolism of Hope Street linking Liverpool’s two cathedrals and reflected that “faith is never merely private sentiment” but rather something “embodied in institutions, in service and in care for the dignity of every human being”.

 

This led him to recall the efforts of Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock, together with the Revd Dr John Newton, in pursuit of public co-operation and the common good.

 

“The common good cannot be built only by politics, economics or technology,” he reflected. “It requires moral imagination, spiritual depth and a shared concern for those who are too easily forgotten. Even for this reason, Christian faith has a vital role in public life. It offers a voice of conscience, reminding society that people are not merely consumers or economic units but persons with eternal worth.”

 

Referring to Pope Leo’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, he elaborated: “The Holy Father asks in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ to safeguard the human person in a time of transformation. That task cannot be delegated to machines, markets or institutions alone. It must be embraced by communities of conscience. It must be carried by men and women who believe that public life can still be honourable, that dialogue can still bear fruit and that love can still shape history.

 

“‘Magnifica Humanitas’ challenges us at this level. It warns against a culture of power in which man is measured only by usefulness. It calls instead for a civilisation of love: a society which is governed by wisdom, not by love of money. For faith leaders, too, there’s an invitation. We must be present in the public square with confidence. Liverpool’s faith communities have shown that it is possible to serve the common good together without denying the integrity of one’s own tradition. May Liverpool continue to be a place where faith serves the common good and where Christians walk together.”

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On Saturday 12 September, the Apostolic Nuncio celebrated Mass at St Oswald’s Church, Old Swan, to mark the 175th anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy at the parish. That evening, he attended a concert at St Francis de Sales Church in Walton.

 

His visit concluded at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday 13 with 11am Mass and later, at 3pm, choral evening prayer– the latter to mark 175 years of the Chapter of Canons. The Apostolic Nuncio said: “Over the last few days, I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of the parishes, schools, shrines, religious houses and towns of this archdiocese. I’m profoundly grateful to the clergy, religious and lay faithful who have offered such a kind welcome. In particular, I thank Archbishop John Sherrington and Dean Anthony O’Brien for their gracious hospitality.”

 

Archbishop Sherrington said: “I’d like to thank Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia for spending time with us here in the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It has been a great pleasure to welcome him and to share with him the life and mission of the archdiocese. His visit has involved a busy and varied programme, giving him the opportunity to meet a wide cross-section of people, including religious communities, schoolchildren, parishioners and our civic, ecumenical and inter-faith partners. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to making his visit so memorable and who extended such a warm and generous welcome.”

 

In his own words…

 

“These pastoral visits are a very good way of gaining a broader picture of the local Church. I was able to spend time with staff and students from various schools, to meet volunteers at different charities and social outreach projects, as well as the curial officials who work for the archdiocese. I was grateful to spend an afternoon with the civic authorities and religious leaders at the Anglican Cathedral. Such occasions are always an opportunity to strengthen ecumenical and inter-faith relations, as well engage in an honest and meaningful dialogue with those who bear significant responsibilities in our society. In due time, I will offer the Holy See a report of my visit, as I always do. It is one way in which the Holy Father can remain informed of the local Churches – I give an overview of what I’ve seen, who I’ve met and some of the challenges that the diocese might be experiencing. On a more personal level, a particular highlight was the concert at St Frances de Sales Church – I have a great love of music, and it was of a high quality. Above all, I would like to thank everybody for their very warm welcome. Liverpool has a wonderful spirit!”