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"More than 1000 people packed into St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich for the Chirtstmas Eve Nativity of the Lord Family Mass.", story continues.
image 1 caption: "Family Mass at St John the Baptist Cathedral."

Faxed extracts for Bishop Clark: manuscript note: "I congratulate you on putting together the scrappy notes I dared to send you. The final result isn't "bad". Alan C Clark"

Extracts from the homily preached by Bishop Alan Clark on Sunday, 22nd January 1995 in the week of prayer for Christian Unity

This celebration is an annual recognition that Jesus Christ bestowed the gift of unity on his church from the very beginning This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic church as something she can never lose. Let us pray that it will continue to grow until the end of time.

Jesus continues to give his church the gift of unity. The church on its part must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, develop and perfect that unity that Christ plans for her. "That they may all be one as you Father are one in me and I am one in you,".

The gift of unity is given but not received in full. The desire of all Christians must be to recover that unity which is the closest to Christ's heart. It is a gift of Christ. It is a call of the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of this gift and call is the reconciliation of all Christians: Unity of mind and heart conformed to the will of Christ. This unity transcends merely human power and gifts and abilities. That is why the other Christian virtue of hope in the prayer of Christ for his church is important. The awareness of the love that the Father has for us, the power of the Holy Spirit to find us, all are part and parcel of our search for unity.

Where are we on this journey towards unity? We are certainly on a road of reconciliation, even though that reconciliation is beyond human power to achieve. We are on a road of hope because our effort is embedded in the prayer of Christ for his church. We are rooted in the love the Father Has for every one of his children. We are sustained on our tourney by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the enterprise is dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit which transcends all human effort.

Our effort requires constant formation of mind and heart. We need to continually rediscover, remake, rebuild our understanding of God's plan for as as individuals and for his church. This is not a question so much about knowing every doctrine but about allowing the conviction born of the spirit to seize and possess us. This endeavour is a way of behaving, bearing witness to Christian values in every circumstance. Note the need of a changing witness in the changing patterns of behaviour in these last fifty years. Attitudes, outreach pastoral endeavour have had to change as human circumstances have changed. The search for unity demands an openness of mind a capacity to listen at a deep level to the firmly held convictions of others. It demands a desire to enter into dialogue with a vital and humble trust that God is at work in the midst of our endeavours.

We are committed to Christian unity, a visible unity. Not just a longing or a yearning but a specific building up of a community of faith sharing life based on the gospels and the witness to the revelation of God for the sake of our fragmented world. The immense complexity of this enterprise is sustained by the conviction that the underlying purpose and goal of all our endeavours are union with God which is the gift of Christ.

And so we all walk a common path in our search for unit with God. We need only to find in our resting in the heart of God that we discover him through unfolding prayer. Unfolding prayer is the writing of the ecumenical story whether in the lives of people as they rest in the heart of God or in the theological exploration which is essential to a common mind and respond to God's revelation.

Why is the ecumenical question so complex? Because it is fundamentally a human question and nothing is more intractable than human organisation and relationships. It is complex because we forget that God has already given us the answer. The gift of unity is given in the revelation of Jesus Christ his Son. We attempt to construct a human version of God's revelation. We need as churches to rediscover the authenticity of the clear message of revelation, salvation, and communion in the love of God for the whole of his creation.

"Around 40 Catholic churches across east Anglia have reopened their doors for private prayer after being closed for more than 12 weeks." Story continues.
Image 1 caption: "The Catholic Cathedral in Norwich."; Image 2 caption: "St George's Catholic Church, in Sprowston Road, Norwich"; Image 3 caption: "Stewards help visitors for private prayer at St John's Cathedral."

"Around 40 Catholic churches across east Anglia have reopened their doors for private prayer after being closed for more than 12 weeks." Story continues.
Image 1 caption: "The Catholic Cathedral in Norwich."; Image 2 caption: "St George's Catholic Church, in Sprowston Road, Norwich"; Image 3 caption: "Stewards help visitors for private prayer at St John's Cathedral."

"More than 40 bishops have descended on Norwich for a two-day summit meeting", story continues.
image 1 caption: "More than 40 bishops descended on Norwich on Tuesday for a summit meeting."
image 2 caption: "Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher, with Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols"
image 3 caption: "More than 40 bishops descended on Norwich"

"More than 40 bishops have descended on Norwich for a summit meeting", story continues.
image 1 caption: "More than 40 bishops descended on Norwich on Tuesday for a summit meeting."
image 2 caption: "Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher, with Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols"
image 3 caption: "More than 40 bishops descended on Norwich"

Page 1: Statement by Bishop Clark made to the editor of The Catholic Herald (instead of the answers given in page 2).
Page 2: Written questions for Bishop Clark - manuscript answers

Massive incoming post causes delay. Can debate the central point of the letter: the inadequacy of the New Order Mass compared to the Tridentine Mass. Vatican II debated extensively and profoundly and from there was promulgated the "Constitution of the Sacred Piturgy" in 1963 from which came the April 1969 Apostolic letter of Pope Paul. Fr Baker has known of the1970 Hierarchy directive and has deliberately put his Bishop in an impossible position but is following Canon Law; he could have acted summarily.

"..It is only just to you to hear from me the extent of the reasons why this change in the status of Downham Market has been judged imperative by both the Bishop and myself."

Fr Baker has decided to challenge the current arrangements. He has opened a Tridentine mass centre in Bethel Street in Norwic, not far from the Cathedral. Appends an extract of the digest created by the Archbishop of Birmingham of the pope's speech regarding Archbishop Lefebvre and those who support him. The position needs to be made crystal clear. The priests are to read out the instruction - Fr Baker is deliberately flouting the authority of the Church, the Holy Father and his bishops; such people are putting themselves out of communion with the same; the pope draws his authority from Christ and hence requires obedience; no priest is to celebrate the Tridentine rite with a congregation, and, no one can join him without express permission.

Compliments slip: Bishop Secretary: "Tony Sketch will arrange to deliver the enclosed - less the carbon - to all Downham Market parishioners when he distributes his invitations to the real Mass."
Page 1: letter to the congregation at Downham Market - explaining, now that the legal procedure is over, the sorrow he feels in acting against Fr Baker. Obedience to the Holy Father means accepting the changes away from the Tridentine Mass. Expects support for Fr Sketch. Notes of explanation included.
Page 2-3: Notes headed: "1. Your present position"; "2. The Missal of Pope Paul VI"; "3. The Bishop's dealings with Fr Baker"

Laying out the issues which the Bishop had to consider along with the historic background and identifying the parts of relevant Canon Law, the Bishop invites Fr Baker to resign as Parish Priest in Downham Market

The proposed Mass has no ecclesiastical authority - Fr Baker has not sought leave to offer Mass. Despite Fr Baker's defence of following his conscience he has overlooked the duty to educate his conscience - cites a few examples. Bishop says the Fr Baker is neglecting the guidance of Vatican II, the Pope, Bishop Grant and Bishop Clark. Even if you cannot accept these, consider deeply before leaving Downham Market to share your personal difficulties in other dioceses.

Asks Fr Baker not to make another public trip to Newcastle. Fr Baker has broken Church laws. If Fr Baker has trouble with the Novus Ordo Mass then he can say it in the former rite "sine populo" [without the people] - do this and no more. Better to stay in Downham Market

"A Catholic church in King' Lynn has marked its 125th anniversary with an altar dedication and Mass with Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Rev Alan Hopes" Story continues.
image 1: Bishop Hopes and priests by the altar
image 2: priest with relic
image 3: view of nave and worshippers

Photographic record of the Consecration of Bishop Peter Smith by Cardinal Basil Hume at St John the Baptist Cathedral, Norwich on 27 May 1995.

[page 1 & page 2] "The former treasurer of Norwich's Catholic Cathedral who took £235,000 in a fraud has been ordered to pay back just £1." Story continues
Image caption "Rene Mugenzi"

Story 1:
"A fraudster who took £235,000 form Norwich's Catholic Cathedral has been ordered to pay back £1 because he has no money left" Story continues
Image caption "Rene Mugenzi stole £235,000 from Norwich's Catholic Cathedral"

"A 13-piece orchestra joined the Cathedral Schola singers in a concert made possible by the government's Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage, and which celebrated the anniversary of the dedication of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich" Story continues
Image caption "A 13-piece orchestra joined the Cathedral Schola singers for a concert at St John's Cathedral in Norwich"

"A gambling addict took more than £220,000 from Norwich's Catholic Cathedral whilst colunteering as its treasurer. Rene Mugenzi was jailed for more than two years at Norwich Crown Court yesterday afternoon for siphoning off the cash from the bank account at St John the Baptist Cathedral and into his own between March 2016 and May 2018." Story continues.
image 1 caption: "Rene Mugenzi claimed his life woudl be under threat if it was revealed that he lived i Norwich, yet he posted public photos on Facebook of his life in the city."
Image 2 caption: "Rene Mugenzi arrives at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing."