After 15 years Susan Duce is retiring from her job as Cathedral Secretary, at the end of January.  Times have changed.  When Susan first arrived there were five employed in the office, where for the last couple of years there have just been her and Joanne.  Yet in those days the Cathedral Office did not actually produce all the service sheets, as now happens. Indeed, there was not even a photocopier. "I don't know what we spent our time doing", Susan now says.  One thing they did do was eat hearty cooked breakfasts in the Refectory. Also, lavish five course lunches there, all the staff together. - Alas, no longer!  In her spare time Susan now runs the ‘Slimming World' group in Bury. And this was how her involvement in that began.  It was Paul Denby who sorted out the previously not very efficient administrative system. And what Susan and Joanne have managed to accomplish in recent years - by contrast to the old days - is pretty remarkable.  She has been through illness - and through the anxiety of Graham's illness, too. All now, thankfully, overcome. Leaving, she says, will be a wrench for her.

We will certainly miss her, a lot.

As we emerge from the Holy Season of Advent and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas, let me offer a few reflections.  Firstly, let Christmas be a time of joy! As Christians we should be joyful because the birth of Christ is a celebration of God's love for humankind, and the good news of salvation for all. This joy should be both inward and outward as we celebrate with the angels and archangels and with Christians throughout the world!  Secondly, in October a government ‘think tank' suggested that Christmas be downgraded to a non- religious festival to be celebrated by people of all faiths or none. This idea apparently emerged as a way to enable a greater sense of integration in a multi-cultural society, which Britain is. I believe that as Christians we ought to be committed to greater integration in our society. This is at the heart of the gospel of Christ, that we affirm and celebrate diversity within our corporate sense of unity in the Church and in society.  However, we should be clear that Christmas is also a deeply religious festival which celebrates the birth of our Saviour, despite it original pagan roots.  One does not have to be a Christian to engage in acts of caring and sharing at this time of the year. Let us engage in activities that encourage social integration without diminishing the spiritual and religious meaning of Christmas.  Thirdly, Christmas reminds us of the struggle of the Holy Family to find a place for the birth of our Saviour as there was no News place at the inn. This year the city centre churches have decided to print a special Christmas card depicting the plight of destitute asylum-seekers. At this time of celebration, let us remember those left destitute because they have been refused asylum or are awaiting the outcome of appeals. Let us pray and lobby our public representatives for a more humane system of addressing the needs of this community in our midst so that people are not left homeless or sleeping rough because of our lack of compassion.  Let us also pray for peace in Palestine and Israel. May the peace and joy of the birth of our Lord help to bring an end to the conflict, violence and divisions in the

Holy Land.  A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!