It was just about three months ago that Archbishop Bernard asked me whether I would join the team that was looking after the Holy Father’s visit to Cofton Park and whether I would in particular help Fr Timothy Menezes in all matters liturgical. I am not sure when I said yes that I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for! It was a hectic three months of meetings and activity that culminated in the Mass on the 19th September. There were many planning meetings and some interesting moments on the way, but I can honestly say that it was a joy to work with so many people, not just from the Church, but so many others who wanted to make the visit of Pope Benedict a truly memorable occasion.
So it is as I sit at my desk in the presbytery at Northfield three months on from my first involvement that I can’t help but think that we will be reflecting on the Holy Father’s memorable visit for some time to come! The secular press had led us to believe that nobody would want to listen to the words of this visitor from Rome and that people wouldn’t turn out to see him. How wrong could they have been? Pope Benedict himself has remarked on how much he enjoyed his visit and everyone that you speak to has their own memories of his time here. Hopefully these grace filled memories will lead us all on to proclaim our faith more confidently in the days ahead as we allow our hearts to speak with the heart of Christ.
These young pilgrims were full of joy and eager anticipation of seeing the Pope again, but this time in their own dioceseWhat are my memories of the day? Fr Timothy came and collected me from Northfield at just before 4 a.m. and we set off in the darkness and the drizzle to Cofton Park. We parked the car and moved onto the site our bags laden with liturgical instructions and our lanyards showing our necessary security passes. Our first task was to go and check the staging area and see from the vantage point the view of the arriving pilgrims. We went down the steps from the sanctuary into the park and greeted the young people from the diocese who had got a good place right at the front of the park. Although tired from their journey from Westminster and Hyde Park these young pilgrims were full of joy and eager anticipation of seeing the Pope again, but this time in their own diocese. It was a joy that we were eager to share and I remember thinking that in just a few hours the Pope would be among us! It was just what I needed to spur me into action after very little sleep that night!
As the darkness turned to light and dawn broke and the sun tried its best to shine, it was lovely to see all the pilgrims arriving at the park. I can remember wishing and praying that the rain would stop, yet these valiant pilgrims continued to come and the park got fuller and fuller. Everywhere you looked in these early hours of the morning there was activity. It was either the choir moving from their base to the stage, priests arriving and finding their way to their special sacristy, or more thousands of pilgrims making their way from the car park.
Then came the pre Mass rehearsals with the choir and the altar servers. Readers and procession people were rehearsed and then came the great moment, the arrival of the Holy Father. After the hysteria of people waving at police helicopters the screens showed the Holy Father land and make his way to the park. It was just around this time that the rain stopped and the sun began to shine! The atmosphere in the crowd and in the ‘backstage’ area was electric, and then came the announcement that the Holy Father would be coming among us! I could hardly believe my eyes that the Pope was travelling around a park full of thousands of people before a Mass which was taking place ten minutes away from my own parish church. I have been to quite a few Papal Masses in Rome and other places, but just at that moment I was struck that here is the successor of Peter in my back garden, almost!
The memory of Pope Benedict’s visit will live in my heart for a long time to come, I don’t think any of us will ever forget it! Heart truly spoke unto heart that day!Having made the lap around the park, the Holy Father prepared himself for Mass, but not before stopping to greet all the altar servers and those who were going to be looking after him. This was a lovely glimpse into the pastoral heart of this holy priest. His gracious manner as he wanted to show his appreciation for all that had been done.
I was fortunate enough to witness at close hand the Pope as he began to process in for the Mass and I was struck by his recollected manner and his desire to want to enter prayerfully into the Mass even though there was so much going on around him. A lesson for all us priests!
How can any of us forget his gentle and encouraging words, the joy of Archbishop Bernard as he welcomed the Pope on our behalf? Who could forget the beautiful singing, the prayerful atmosphere of the crowd, and the greatest moment of all when a new Blessed was proclaimed, and that Blessed is from our own diocese! I think the moment that the now Blessed John Henry Newman’s image was revealed to us will live in our hearts for a very long time.
Archbishop Nichols reflecting on the day said that Birmingham was a ‘class act’. Perhaps it’s not wrong to say that I think we were! The memory of Pope Benedict’s visit will live in my heart for a long time to come, I don’t think any of us will ever forget it! Heart truly spoke unto heart that day! ■
