A three-metre high sculpture of St John the Evangelist has been unveiled at St John's Catholic Cathedral in Portsmouth on Thursday, July 22.
The statue by Philip Jackson took two years to complete. It was unveiled in a ceremony conducted by Bishop Crispian Hollis, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols was amongst those taking part in the Mass celebrated at Portsmouth Cathedral and gave the Homily.
Reflecting on the sculpture he said:'The finger of John’s right hand points to God, raising mind and heart to that source of all grandeur. Yet, at the same time, the left hand grasps the anchor, that symbol of our humanity, of sweaty endeavour. An anchor is well understood here in Portsmouth with its docks and proud naval tradition. The faith being proclaimed by John is no abstract theory, detached from daily life. Nor is it a form of pious escapism, turning its back on the harshness of human existence.
No, this Christian faith teaches us, again and again, that the highest glory of our humanity is found within our earthly reality, in the person of Jesus, who unites heaven and earth, who transforms what might seem mundane or even brutal, into a hymn of praise to God and a pathway to the fullness of life.'
The full text of the homily can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page.
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