From WelCom Issue 3 – August 2025
One of the privileges of being the archbishop is that I get to visit the parishes around the archdiocese. It is a great joy to meet you and to partake in the liturgies and events there.
One of the things that has struck me for several years is that we as Catholic people have not really grasped well the great gift that singing is in our liturgical life. St Augustine said that to sing is to pray twice. I have been to many liturgies where people have gathered and sang enthusiastically and well, and it has added a great joy and prayerfulness to the Mass.
I would love to be able to say that this was the experience all the time, that when we gather we enter into singing wholeheartedly because we know that the hymns we are singing are indeed prayers to God. We are singing his praises, recognising his generosity, entreating his help.
But often people stand seemly enduring the hymn or lips closed shut. I know that some say they can’t sing, music teachers would say that is in fact very rare. Sometimes people blame the choice of music, or the quality of the musicians. But in fact if we all sang together that wouldn’t matter so much.
Liturgy committees in parishes work hard to ensure that the hymns reflect the readings of the Mass. They also try and choose hymns which fit the guidelines for liturgical music, as well as give some variety for the community. It isn’t an easy task and our musicians put in a lot of time preparing so that we, the community of faith, can join together to sing and pray.
So I encourage you to think of your own attitude and approach towards singing at Mass or on other occasions. If all of us gave it our best, it would make a significant difference to the sense of being together, and participating fully in the great liturgical action which is the celebration of the Mass.
I hope that the month of August, reflecting on the nature of our gifting, has been a fruitful time for you and your parish. Sometimes we talk about ‘the Church’ as if it exists outside each one of us. But together we make up the body of Christ, the Church. The participation of each of us with our time, treasure and talents means we can function effectively as a parish and archdiocese and fulfil our mission of bringing Christ to our world.
Many parishes are beginning to prepare for RCIA programmes that will culminate at Easter 2026. Do you know people who might be waiting for someone to ask them if they have ever thought of becoming a Catholic? We have to be courageous to ask that question and we have to trust that God, who may be working through us, will touch the heart of the person we approach. We know that belonging to the community of the Church gives us the strength and grace to live this life with Christ and part of that is about inviting others to join us. I encourage you to take this to prayer and to see if there are people who you can invite to join our RCIA programmes.
Blessings to you as we begin this season of Spring.