The 97th Archbishop of York, the Most Rev John Sentamu arrived in Chch for the last leg of his farewell tour last night. The Archbishop and his wife, Rev’d Margaret Sentamu, have recently visited the Diocese of Polynesia (Samoa and Fiji) and now are in NZ visiting the dioceses.
Archbishop Sentamu has been bringing a message of hope, urging Christians across the globe to be salt and light to the people around us.
Tomorrow the Archbishop will participate in the Imposition of Ashes as part of Ash Wednesday Services. Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance that marks the beginning of Lent.
The three Ashes ceremonies, where people can come and have the sign of the cross drawn in ashes on their foreheads, are open to the public:
- 12 noon Transitional Cathedral 234 Hereford Street
- 15 pm Public Imposition of Ashes in Cathedral Square
- 5:30 pm Joint AngloCatholic Service at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral 373 Manchester Street
All are welcome.
The 98th Archbishop of York was announced last year: Bishop Stephen Cottrell, currently the Bishop of Chelmsford. As reported in the Guardian in December last year, Sentamu said Cottrell had “the gospel in his belly and a tiger in the tank. His nomination as my successor has gladdened my heart and he can rely on my prayers.”