Newsletter - 26 April
Good Shepherd Sunday
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, the whole church prays for vocations to the priesthood. The ministry of the priest is one of service. This was expressed during Holy Week in the Renewal of Priestly Promises, which took place at the Chrism Mass as our priests resolved to continue their ministry, following “Christ the head and shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zeal for souls.”
Priestly ministry flows, in a very particular way, from the celebration of the Eucharist. The celebration of the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our lives. This celebration is vital for our lives, for the life of the Church and the priest is called by Christ Himself to celebrate the Eucharist with and for the People of God. From this celebration flows his ministry of servant-leadership for all those entrusted to his care - in whatever circumstance he may carry this out.
This priestly service: a response to Christ’s call, rooted in His gift of the Eucharist and nourished by the Word of God and daily commitment to prayer, is a great endeavour, enabling all whom the priest serves to grow in Christian life and in the mission of the Church.
The discernment of this vocation, as Pope Leo reminds us, calls for “a relationship based on prayer and silence.” Such prayer and silence require a commitment of time, but this is time that will bear great fruit. It is important for us all – in our parish communities, schools and homes – to foster time for such prayer and support those whom the Lord calls to share in His priesthood.
The call to priesthood, more often than not, comes in quiet ways: the example of a priest; the example of parents and family members as they persevere in faith; a thought about service to the Church; a renewed experience of God’s presence when on retreat or at a day of prayer and celebration; a reawakening of awareness of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Above all, the call to priesthood comes through the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit.
To those of you who sense these stirrings of the Holy Spirit, calling you to service of Christ and his Church, “pause, listen, entrust yourselves. In this way, the gift of your vocation will mature, bringing you happiness and yielding abundant fruit for the Church and the world.”
Archbishop Richard Moth
Focus of the week
THE WAY OF PENTECOST
From now until Pentecost there will be an opportunity to follow the Acts of the Apostles chapter 1 -6 through guided prayer and meditation.
A programme for you to follow will be available each week in the entrance hall and on the Parish website.
A MONTH OF PRAYER FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS
Good Shepherd Sunday to Pentecost
The Archbishop invites us to a month of prayer for priestly vocations.
For more information please collect a leaflet from the entrance hall.
Notices of the Week
Download the newsletter to check out the notices of the week