Bishop of East Anglia bids farewell to his diocese
Bishop Peter Smith carried out his last pastoral visit in East Anglia yesterday, when he celebrated Mass and confirmed 18 young people in the church of the Sacred Heart and Margaret Mary, in East Dereham, Norfolk. Just two days before, on Friday, it was announced that Bishop Peter, who has served East Anglia for six and a half years, is to become the new Archbishop of Cardiff, succeeding Archbishop John Aloysius Ward. Bishop Peter told the congregation he had only been told the news himself a few days before that and was still feeling stunned. "It was a great shock last Monday when the Papal Nuncio called," he admitted. "He told me I should try to copy Our Lady at the Annunciation and just say 'let it be be done unto me according to your word'." The congregation responded with a loud ovation. After Mass, Bishop Peter attended the church party before leaving with parish priest Mgr Harry Wace, to call on sick parishioners in their homes. The Bishop leaves for Cardiff this week.