Catholic Police Guild Annual Requiem Mass
Friday 17th November 2017On Thursday 9th November Fr Barry Lomax attended Westminster Cathedral and concelebrated at the Catholic Police Guild Annual Requiem Mass for Police Officers who have died during 2017. Fr Barry was there in his role as National Chaplain to the Catholic Police Guild.
Bishop Tom Burns Bishop of Menevia (Originally from Burnley in our own Diocese) who is the Guild’s Link Bishop with the Bishop’s Conference of England & Wales was the main celebrant for the celebration.
The Mass was also attended by visiting Anglican Police Chaplains and some police officers who acted as cross bearers. The music for the Mass was provided by the Metropolitan Police Choir and our own Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins QPM read the first reading.
The Catholic Police Guild (CPG) of England & Wales was founded in 1914 as the Metropolitan and City Catholic Police Guild. The association was formed to cater for the spiritual needs of Catholic Police men and women and was approved by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster. In 1974 the Guild became a national association with membership open to Police Officers serving in the Police Forces in the rest of England and Wales.
More recently membership has been opened up to Police Staff and Police Community Support Officers. The CPG also has a Friends category of membership for other civilian supporters. The Guild has had a significant resurgence over the last couple of years.
It is particularly experiencing growth in the North-West of England based around Manchester and Police Officers and Staff from Greater Manchester Police. In 2014 the Guild celebrated its Centenary Year of Foundation.
