St John gives us seven miracles in his Gospel – today’s miracle is the climax

and the greatest of all the miracles of Jesus. Bread is all right, but we get

hungry again. Wine is fine, but we get thirsty after a while. Healing the

sick is marvellous, but we still die.

‍

The astounding message of the Gospel today is that Jesus is not only

master of hunger, thirst, and illness, but even of death itself.

And as the Gospel today points out to us, God's care does not stop at

death. All those who witnessed the raising of Lazarus could see that God's

care and love did not end with the stopping of the pulse, it was stronger

than death. We are invited to believe that as well. That is why we use

the words from the Gospel so often at funeral services: I am the

resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, they will never die.

We live in a world where death is talked about more than life, a world

dominated by death. For us Christians there are still tears at death, but

we have the message of hope as well. Jesus, we are told loved Martha

and her sister and Lazarus - he cried on being told about the death of his

friend. Tears at death are natural and right. But we must not stop there.

Death would seem to be an end, final. But this idea is challenged and

changed in the Gospel today. Because of the death and resurrection of

Jesus the finality of death has disappeared and something greater and

grander is born.

‍

Jesus was promising another kind of life - for which death was a

preparation. Death is not an end, a finality, but the condition of passing

into another kind of life, which is unbounded, has no limitations, eternal

life with God.

‍

Today, I want to give you a few details of the progress of our Pastoral Plan

since the Synod. Things are happening – they take time and often it takes

longer than we imagine. But we do not lose hope. I am encouraged by the

work that is being done in the Deanery Synodal Councils and in the

development of families of parishes. This is a sign of hope. The

constitution of our Archdiocesan Synodal Council has been agreed and it

will now begin its progress towards its first meeting later this year. The

new Advisory Body I am in the process of setting up includes men and

women. I will get advice from a much wider group made up of people

from across the Archdiocese. Because of the Pastoral Plan we are looking

towards a new work forming young adults for leadership and lay ministry

across the Archdiocese. But one area which I am delighted to report on

is the work that has been done in “becoming a Church that cares for its

priests”.

‍

When the Synod met on 20 June 2021, the Apostolic Nuncio delivered a

greeting from the Holy Father which included this:

“Please don’t forget your priests and bishops in your prayers, in your

suggestions and in your practical support. Remember that they are human

beings in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Church.

Take care of the pastor who has a responsibility for the local community.

Accompany them with love, patience, friendship, and support.”

‍

These concerns found their place in the Synod recommendations. There

was a clear affirmation of the need to assist priests, both personally and

in their ministry as they work with one another and in collaboration with

the people of God. A question that was asked was how can we better

support our priests?

‍

The Pastoral Plan envisaged an externally facilitated process which

explored what needs to be developed to support priests to flourish in the

“human, spiritual, liturgical, theological, intellectual and pastoral aspects

of their lives.” At the core of this was a process of listening to the

experiences of all the priests. What were early hopes and expectations

of priesthood? How does this compare to now? What experiences have

led the priests of the Archdiocese of Liverpool to live and work in the way

they do today?

‍

The process that the vast majority of priests took part in showed that they

have a joy in serving in the Archdiocese. The reality is that some of the

priests have low morale, and face some unrealistic expectations from

both within and outside the Church. In years to come the number of

priests available for ministry will be greatly reduced. In the light of this,

the process has begun to enable the priests to look at the possibilities of

doing things differently.

‍

In their confidential conversations and discussions five pathways have

emerged for ongoing reflection covering the areas of fraternity, ways of

working, safeguarding, wellbeing, and issues around the possibility of

flexible retirement. The priests have agreed a summary of these

conversations to be shared with all in the Archdiocese. This is available

today.

‍

My hope is that the first meeting of the Archdiocesan Synodal Council will

reflect on the ongoing implementation of the Pastoral Plan including the

work that has begun in the area of care for priests. There will be

opportunities in the months to come for you to make your voice heard.

By his death and resurrection Jesus offered to those who believe the

reality of new life. And the truth is that eternal life doesn't just begin at

death...it begins at the moment when we say: "Yes Lord I believe".

With best wishes and prayers to you and your families.

‍

Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP

Archbishop of Liverpool

Archbishop’s House

‍

The supporting Area 6 documents can be found here in black & white and in colour.

‍

A video of Archbishop Malcolm reading the Pastoral Letter can be watched here:

‍

‍

‍