Southwark Vocations Blog

Retreat at Minster Abbey

2012-02-12T17:46:00.002Z

As part of their Jubilee year the Benedictine sisters at Minster in Kent are hosting a monastic experience weekend for young women who are seeking a more radical way of living the Gospel. The weekend offers them an experience of Benedictine monastic life as lived in Minster, an opportunity to grow in their relationship with Jesus, and time to share together.

It will take place over Palm Sunday weekend, March 30th - 1st April. For more information visit the community's website.

"What I longed for, I now see..."

2012-02-10T16:52:00.004Z

Sr Elizabeth Burgess' Solemn Profession at St Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde on 6 January was a celebration of joy, thanksgiving and song.

Sr Elizabeth joined the Benedictine community at Ryde six years ago when she was nineteen. Because Ryde belong to the Solesmes Benedictine Congregation they keep the holydays on the traditional days so for them it was the feast of the Epiphany, and as usual at Ryde all was sung in Latin Gregorian Chant. Usually the bishop presides on these occasions but Bishop Crispian of Portsmouth has not been well so delegated his role to Fr Abbot Cuthbert Brogan of Farnborough, an old friend of Ryde.

Abbot Cuthbert was accompanied by the two young juniors from his community. Sr Elizabeth belonged to the Oratory parish in Oxford and five Oratorians were present, including Fr Daniel Seward who preached the homily (seewww.stceciliasabbey.org.uk, Chapter page).

After the Creed Sr Elizabeth came forward with a lighted candle singing in Latin "Now with all my heart I follow you ... I seek your face". She pronounced her vows in front of Fr Abbot, concluding with the traditional threefold "Suscipe" with arms held up in prayer: "Uphold me, O Lord, according to you word, and I shall live"; and then, bowing low, "Let me not be confounded in my hope."

After reading the chart of her vows and signing it on the altar she received the monastic cowl and then prostrated for the Litany of Saints and the Prayer of Consecration of Virgins. After this she received the black veil, gold ring and book of the Divine Office. Sr Elizabeth's mother died when she was a novice and so her profession ring is her mother's wedding ring.

Sr Elizabeth then placed her two joined hands between those of Mother Abbess, to signify her obedience, and after that received the kiss of peace from each member of her community. After Mass and a buffet lunch the guests joined the Sisters for a "festive recreation" in the parlour, with contributions from both sides of the grille.

Sr Elizabeth participated in Irish dancing which is why the picture shows her with a green sash pinned to her habit.

Two other young women are still in formation at the Abbey, and more are expected in 2012.

An Innovative Way to Promote Religious Vocations

2012-02-10T10:01:00.000Z

Here's a short video of six hundred young religious taking part in a flashmob to promote vocations to the consecrated life. Anyone interested in doing something similar outside Westminster Cathedral?

Wyoming Catholic College

2011-12-13T18:09:00.000Z

Earlier this year a young American undergraduate spent a few weeks staying in the Vocations House as he completed an internship with a company in London. While here he was also discerning whether to go back to university or take up an offer of a place at Wyoming Catholic College, the newest of the Catholic Liberal Arts colleges in the United States. So I was interested to see this on YouTube:

In the end he decided to accept the place and later wrote to me about life in Wyoming:

"Wyoming is getting cold lately. It is usually below freezing in the mornings already. Haven't even seen any bears yet, unfortunately, but several of my friends have. I have eaten an elk, though, and seen several large moose at close range. I think that they know what they are doing here at the college; we get a pretty good Catholic formation here, with frequent access to the sacraments, a reverent liturgy, and we're learning Latin orally from a student of Professor Foster! Two nights ago we had a Tolkien appreciation banquet, with hobbit-style food and readings from Tolkien's works and letters. We can't get enough of you English over here".

Adult Education

2011-12-02T12:06:00.000Z

Adult formation in the faith is a big part of life in my parish which has the unusual characteristic of being very young. Our average age is only 27! The reason it is so low is that we have lots of families with very young children. Over the years we have run a variety of courses for parents to help them grow in knowledge and understanding of their faith. In that way we hope to better equip them to pass it on to their children. Of course all this is possible because we have Hannah, our full-time coordinator of catechesis. Hannah has her own blog which you can check out here.

In January she has been invited to run Fr Robert Barron's "Catholicism" course at the new Centre for Catholic Formation which is in our diary. Sessions take place on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.00pm. Anyone interested in signing up should email me before Christmas and I will pass your details on to her.

This is the trailer for the course:

Here are some testimonies from three of our parishioners:

"I am a cradle Catholic, baptised and brought by Catholic parents, educated at a Catholic school until the age of 11. However, that is pretty much where my Catholic education ended, although I continued to attend weekly Mass until going to University at which point, I attended an Anglican church. For the last seven years, I have attended weekly Mass at Holy Ghost Church, with my husband (also a Catholic) and our young family. [The] course made me realise how much I myself have to learn about the Catholic faith – and that I was taking my faith for granted, by simply attending weekly Mass as a formality. I have since helped out with both the Pre-catechumenate course and the RCIA course, supporting the candidates, but also gaining hugely from the weekly discussions, enabling me (and therefore my family) to understand our faith more deeply." (Mother of 3)

"I had spent many years comfortable in my faith without really challenging myself. I believed that I was doing "enough" in my relationship with God by going to Mass and making the time to talk to God and to pray. It wasn't until I was a sponsor for someone else's Confirmation and attended several of the RCIA classes which featured short extracts from the teachings of Father Robert Barron that I realised there was so much more. It made me understand that formation is a critical pillar of my relationship with God as how can you really love someone without knowing them? There is so much to learn and be amazed by." (Mother of 2)

"To discover that someone loves you unconditionally; that you have a purpose in life and that you can achieve peace and happiness through prayer and sanctification, is a path I started on as a result of Faith in the Family Programme 4 years ago. I am truly grateful that a few people thought I was worth it and thank God daily that we have people that perform such vital apostolate especially in today's ever secular society." (Mother of 3)

Disconnect to Connect

2011-11-29T10:23:00.000Z

Have you ever sat in a restaurant wondering why the couple at the next table ever came out at all since they spent the whole evening on their mobile phone's? Here's an advert from a phone company in Thailand:

The slogan at the end simply recommends that we use our phones just enough...

Guidelines for the Promotion of Vocations to the Ministerial Priesthood

2011-11-17T17:49:00.002Z

DSCN0868, a photo by Southwark Vocations on Flickr.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Rome for a special meeting to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Department for Priestly Vocations "Pontificia Opera Vocazioni Sacerdotali". Apart from celebrating the work of POVS, the meeting was also to present a new document entitled "Guidelines for the Promotion of Vocations to the Ministerial Priesthood". Although not yet published, Mgr Diego Coletti gave an interesting talk summarising its contents. He listed eight "conditions" necessary for a vocation to find fertile soil in a Church which "creates, through the quality of its faith and the transparency of its witness to the Gospel, the conditions for authentic and generous vocational responses".

These are the eight conditions as his gives them:

In general a rich soil of Christian life in the ecclesial community. [...] As in the most pure womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so also in the maternal womb of the Christian community, it will be only the fire of the Holy Spirit, received and guarded in an authentic life of faith, that will raise the temperature of the vocational climate to the level necessary for the seeds planted by the Lord in the hearts of many young people to bloom and to give abundant fruit;
The irreplaceable role of prayer which calls from the Lord of the harvest an abundance of workers;
The importance of an integrated pastoral work ensuring those responsible for Christian education effect a coherent convergence in their educational programmes and proposals;
A new approach of evangelisation and of mission that will awaken in young people a strong passion for the Gospel;
The irreplaceable and central role of the family;
The coherent and joyful witness of the life of priests;
The educative efficacy of the experience of service and of a life freely committed to others;
Finally the value of schools and of universities that introduce opportunities to encounter and to develop the experience of Christian living.

Here's How It Could Be Done...

2011-11-01T17:48:00.000Z

Following on my last post I was sent a link to this video. Someone get this guy a ticket to St Paul's...

The St Paul's Demo

2011-11-01T12:35:00.002Z

I have to admit if I were a protester outside St Paul's I'd be feeling pretty confused and probably not a little cheesed off! There I am campaigning for the abolition of money when suddenly it all turns into a debate about ecclesiastical politics.
However, I'm not a protester outside St Paul's so I have the leisure to be bemused in another way and to wonder how that motley congregation might be evangelised. People have been asking "What would Jesus do?" Having already pitched his tent among us, I suspect he would be continue to call men and women to repentance. However, I think we know what St Paul would do. When he went into the Areopagus St Paul didn't say to those present, "I stand with you". He latched onto something they could relate to and used it to proclaim Christ. That's the model of the first evangelisation of Europe and I suspect it will need to be the model of the New Evangelisation as well.
It seems to me that there are probably quite a few potential starting points for a really useful and constructive dialogue. The right of men and women not to be exploited could be one. Where does that right come from? In fact, are rights conceded by the State or inherent in the individual? If the latter what about the right to life? Carefully handled such a conversation could lead some of those young people from the ubiquitous moral relativism they've been taught since school to an understanding of the notion of moral absolutes.
Would they all be converted? Who knows! St Paul was laughed at by some but others said, "We will hear you again on this". Anyone thinking of the priesthood today needs to think also how they would engage with young people to proclaim Christ to them.

World Youth Day

2011-10-30T17:08:00.002Z

When we were in Madrid for World Youth Day we stayed at the parish of Our Lady of Cana. We were staying in the rooms underneath the main Church which meant we had access to our own chapel for Mass and prayer each day. Meanwhile in the main Church, from the Monday of the week of World Youth Day, there was perpetual Adoration to pray for the event. It was impressive to see so many people coming day and night to pray before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Each night at 10.00pm there was a Holy Hour preached by Don Jesus Higueras, the parish priest. On the Wednesday night the Quo Vadis group provided the music for this. Since there were 83 in our group it was relatively easy, after a bit of practice, to produce some music that was both reverent and substantial enough to aid the prayer of nearly four hundred people. Don Jesus' meditations are recorded and made available to those who can't get to Church so we were flattered the following morning when the person in charge asked us to re-record the first hymn as she hadn't caught it all. The photo above is of our 'choir practice'.

An Unexpected Discovery

2011-10-30T16:59:00.003Z

In September this year I visited Glasgow for the first time. I was quite keen to go as I have a number of parishioners from the city or thereabouts and I had heard a lot about it. For a long time Glasgow was synonymous with social deprivation but a lot has happened recently to improve things. In fact I suspect the reputation was never really fair as there are parts of the City that would certainly rival London in terms of large houses and well-heeled population. The centre is also elegant with many fine buildings although sadly some of them are still run down.
I was in Glasgow for a sort of in-service course for priests and one day took a ride out into the countryside where I found a place I hadn't expected to discover in Britain!

Visiting Ards Friary

2011-10-30T16:49:00.003Z

A week ago I flew out to Belfast and then drove over to Donegal. The purpose of the trip was to visit Ards Friary, a retreat and Conference Centre which used to be the Capuchin seminary in Ireland. Set in two hundred acres of land and overlooking a dramatic bay the Friary is in a stunning location. It is also quite accessible from London, particularly if one flies to Derry rather than to Belfast. I am always on the lookout for good places for vocations retreats and other vocation activities so if you know of any do let me know. A prayerful Chapel or Oratory for Holy Mass and times of prayer is one of the most important factors. After that, beautiful surroundings, and reasonable accommodation are all a bonus.
These days it is becoming harder to find things here in England because so many religious houses have closed down and been sold. The few that remain tend to get booked up a long time in advance.
The photograph above is of the local village chapel near Ards Friary. It was built to resemble the shape of the mountains behind it. Once you get inside it is surprisingly light and spacious.

Schools Vocation Project

2011-10-21T16:15:00.001+01:00

Pupils at Catholic primary schools in the diocese of Southwark are being invited to find out about what it means to be called to be a priest or a religious sister.

In a special project, they will talk to priests and nuns, and also study the lives of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Schools are inviting priests and sisters to come in and talk to the children and answer their questions.

There are prizes to be won – personal book prizes for the children and cash prizes for the schools, and all taking part will receive commemorative religious medals.

The project, run by Southwark Vocations, is designed to help children understand what it means to be at the service of the Church as a priest or a Sister, to share in the experience of the first Apostles and all those who have served the Church in this way at different times and places, down to the present day.

The children will write essays and produce artwork, and the deadline for entries is December 15^th. For more information contact the Vocations Office.

World Youth Day

2011-09-06T13:34:00.005+01:00

The QUO VADIS group gave its heart and enthusiasm to World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid – and shared in an experience of faith and prayer that was quite extraordinary.

No one who was there will ever forget the heat and dust of the Cuatro Vientos airfield as some two million young people gathered there, nor the drama of the thunderstorm that erupted as evening fell, nor the beauty and peace of the great prayer vigil that began as the storm abated. To be kneeling there in silence with the Holy Father, with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament before us all, and to be part of that great gentle wave of prayer, was to experience the huge reality of the Catholic Church and all that it means.

The vigil, and the morning Mass that followed on the Sunday, were the climax to a week of prayer, talks, singing, international encounters, friendship, fun and pilgrimage. At the core of the QUO VADIS group were seminarians training for the priesthood at Wonersh, Valladolid and Rome. They and all the others in the group shared in a great sense of unity during the unforgettable days in Madrid: morning prayer and Mass together in the church of Santa Maria de Cana where we were housed (and made very welcome) throughout the week, talks and concerts and presentations on many aspects of the Faith, a great celebratory gathering to greet the Holy Father on his arrival, opportunities for confession and Eucharistic adoration beneath the trees in a great park near the city centre. Bishop Mark Davies from Shrewsbury and Archbishop Peter Smith both celebrated Mass for us and spent time answering questions afterwards.

Part of the special quality of World Youth is the joy: a real sense of young people celebrating God’s love. It spills over into exuberance so that the whole place becomes alive with it. Our QUO VADIS group made its own – often very noisy – contribution to the singing on trains and at street corners, to the shouts of “Benedicto!” and “Viva el Papa!”, and to the chatter as people from different countries exchanged greetings and jokes and news and general enthusiasm. We had brought with us a couple of big British flags and a Welsh flag, and these proved useful in helping to keep the group together on the various journeys around the city – and especially on the long walk out to the airfield for the final events.

The heat, throughout the week, was terrific – we’d all been warned about the need to carry water and protection from the sun. Our special WYD backpacks included hats and fans as well as a Gospel book, a copy of the new (superb!) YouCat youth Catechism, drinks, a teeshirt, tickets which obtained us meals at all the restaurants in the city that displayed a special WYD sign welcoming us. We also had our own QUO VADIS teeshirts, and a special gadget that we all appreciated – a waterspray which we used liberally on ourselves and others throughout the sun-scorched days.

No one is unchanged after a World Youth Day. It challenges you, brings new friendships, gives a massive experience of the worldwide Church, brings you into contact with the successor of St Peter. It is a time of prayer, penance, and lively talk, of physical discomfort and sudden laughter, of solemn reflective moments and long late-night discussions. The TV and news reports didn’t get it: they tried to focus on non-events such as discussion about the costs (the city of Madrid of course did very well out of it – restaurant meals , shops, train and bus fares, etc – so complaints about the funding petered out) or about people who disagreed with the Pope (not really news: protesters gathered and shouted but that was that). The reality was – and is – a great and moving affirmation of faith: the Catholic Church’s John Paul generation reaching its adulthood as the Benedict generation, and showing its love of Christ and desire to serve him. It was thrilling to be part of this.

Congratulation to our New Candidates

2011-07-04T16:32:00.000+01:00

Last week I was at St John's seminary, Wonersh for the Candidacy Mass which was presided over by Archbishop Peter. Kurt Barragan and Ola Craig are both Southwark students who received candidacy at the hands of the Archbishop. This means they are now in the final stages of preparation before their ordination as deacons which, please God, will take place shortly before Christmas.

Getting a Feel for Invocation 2011

2011-06-22T12:14:00.000+01:00

Lots of people have asked me how Invocation 2011 went last weekend. It's hard to capture the excitement and buzz we all experienced but you might get an insight by having a look at the Invocation Blog some of the participants kept up to date. It's advertised on the Bishops' Conference website but you can also get direct access to it here by clicking this link.
In time I will upload some photographs but at the moment there seems to be a problem with the upload facility on Blogspot :o(.

Do have a look at the Blog!

Apostolic Nuncio visits Invocation 2011

2011-06-20T14:06:00.000+01:00

We had a great weekend at Oscott for the Invocation festival which culminated in a visit from His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the new Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain. The Archbishop presided at the closing Mass of the festival accompanied by Archbishop Bernard Longley, Bishop David McGough and Bishop Peter Doyle as well as over twenty secular and religious priests from all over the country.
This is the text of the Nuncio's sermon:

Dear Friends

I must say that it is for me a very great joy to be here with you at the second Invocation Festival at St Mary’s College, Oscott. But much more important, I have no doubt that it makes God, our loving Father, very happy to see so many of you, spending time in prayer and reflection about your response to his love. In the Gospel for today, the Feast of the Most Blessed Trinity, we have heard the words of Jesus to Nicodemus: that God loved the world so much he sent his only Son that we may have eternal life. To respond to God’s call is to continue the work of the Son. Those who respond to a divine call are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to make present the Father’s powerful and transforming love.

Here, at St Mary’s College, we remember the visit, just last year, of Pope Benedict XVI, when he beatified Blessed John Henry Newman. Blessed John Henry wrote that, when he was about fifteen, he began to be influenced by a definite Creed and received into his intellect “impressions of dogma, which, through God’s mercy, have never been effaced or obscured” (1).

He had begun to realise that Christianity is not some vague sentiment or empty feeling. It is a meeting with Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. We encounter him in the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, in the Liturgy and in our personal prayer. This is where we learn to recognise the face of Christ and to hear his voice.

My dear friends when we are young our whole life lies before us. There are so many possibilities and hopes. Our choices and actions will determine what sort of person we become. As we reflect on our lives we discover an inner yearning that we cannot satisfy by ourselves. It is a longing that requires communion with another person and ultimately – because this is how we have been made – with God. St Augustine expressed this truth with the famous words, “You have made us for yourself; O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee” (2).

In time we discover that the longing within us cannot be fulfilled by what we accumulate, experience, or by the power we wield. If we want happiness we must resist the temptation to act in ways that will alienate us from God and from our neighbour. Without God something will always be lacking. This was the experience of St Augustine who in his youth looked for excitement in external pleasures. It was only when he found that he remained unsatisfied and started to look within that he was able to recognise the presence of God and so discover true happiness and deep joy (3).

Never forget too, that when God calls us by name and asks us to follow him, he offers us true freedom, which is not just a freedom from..important though that be. Rather we are being offered a positive freedom and loved and trusted enough to be his workers in the world. God asks us, in the face of all that seems wrong in our world, to be positive, to build up his Kingdom and to change the world for the better. There is no place for pessimism here, for his call to each one of us is, in fact, liberation.

Blessed John Paul II referred to your generation as the “heralds of the new millennium” and he constantly invited you to be apostles to your friends, showing them the path to true happiness. The Christian faith is marked with an irrepressible hope. A significant part of that hope is expressed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So do not be afraid to tell your friends about this lovely Sacrament and how it has affected you.

Today, sadly, some people believe that they cannot be forgiven. They need to be reassured that, as we have discovered personally, the Sacrament of Penance brings pardon and deep peace. It is also the sacrament which helps us grow in the spiritual life, which is why the practice of examining our conscience daily and regular Confession is so important. Even in those persons who experience the real absence of God there remains a yearning for his Real Presence.

My dear young people, to discern God’s call we need to withdraw from external activity and to dedicate time to prayer. At the last World Youth Day Pope Benedict reminded us that “Jesus is always present in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love”(4). Be convinced that the Lord is waiting for you to open your hearts to him in prayer. He wants to meet you personally and to enter into a dialogue with you. This conviction will till you with an urgent desire to seek periods of silence in your daily life where you have the space to be drawn into union with God in prayer.

In this regard I should like to commend to you the practice of Eucharistic Adoration which you have experienced during this weekend of discernment. Adoration draws us away from external distractions into a growing communion with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Encourage your friends to join you in this practice. In Eucharistic Adoration, whatever our personal circumstances, we are drawn out of ourselves towards the Sacramental Presence of Christ who came so that we might have life.

Be prepared for the fact that your growing friendship with Christ in prayer will lead to discipleship. This discipleship will need to be expressed in concrete actions that show your love for God and your desire to serve him in others. You are called to change the world, to build a culture of life, a culture forged by love and respect for the nature of man. Jesus has a specific vocation mind for each one of you. Let me remind you of the words the Holy Father addressed to young people in Hyde Park:

“Christ has need of families to remind the world of the dignity of human love and the beauty of family life. He needs men and women who devote their lives to the noble task of education, tending the young and forming them in the ways of the Gospel. He needs those who will consecrate their lives to the pursuit of perfect charity, following him in chastity, poverty and obedience, and serving him in the least of our brothers and sisters. He needs the powerful love of contemplative religious, who sustain the Church’s witness and activity through their constant prayer. And he needs priests, good and holy priests, men who are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep. Ask our Lord what he has in mind for you. Ask him for the generosity to say yes. Do not be afraid to give yourself totally to Jesus. He will give you the grace you need to fulfil your vocation”.

This College is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. St Luke tells us that from Our Lord’s birth she treasured the events of his life in her heart (5). Learn from her. When you feel in your heart the call to respond to a particular vocation do not be afraid. Learn from Mary so that your lives will be filled with joy and “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit will be with you all” (6).
End
(I) Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Chapter 1
(2) St Augustine, Confessions, 1.1
(3) cf St Augustine, Confessions, X.xxvii
(4) Benedict XVI, Homily at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, 20/7/08
(5) cf Luke 2:19, 2:51
(6) 2 Cor. 13:13

Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

2011-06-10T17:55:00.000+01:00

On Saturday I attended the ordinations of the first seven priests for the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The were ordained by Archbishop Peter Smith in St George's Cathedral, Southwark, and the photograph above shows him kneeling to receive their first blessing.

I had previously attended, as Chairman of Conference of Diocesan Directors of Vocation, the ordination of the Mgr Keith Newton and his two companions, and I thought it was important to be there in the same capacity for the first of eleven or twelve ordination ceremonies across the country. By a happy coincidence it took place in my home Cathedral.

The priests of the Ordinariate are not priests of Southwark diocese although many of them may well be working here at least for the present. Although he has not been ordained a bishop, their Ordinary is Mgr Newton. In other words, he has the same juridical authority as a diocesan bishop although he lacks the sacramental powers associated with episcopal ordination. In time the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham will raise up its own vocations to the priesthood and also to the religious life (it already has a community of religious sisters). I look forward to the appointment of a vocations director to join the CDDV.

Please keep Mgr Newton and the members of the Ordinariate in your prayers. It is still early days for them and I am sure there will be teething problems none of which will be insurmountable with God's grace.

Re-opening of St Patrick's Soho

2011-06-10T17:41:00.000+01:00

I was very pleased to be able to attend part of the celebrations for the re-opening of St Patrick's, Soho Square, after its extensive refurbishment. If you didn't know St Patrick's before it will be very hard for you to appreciate the wonderful job that has been done to restore it. The old wooden floor has been replaced with marble. The ceiling has been totally restored so that what was a gloomy, run down, dirty building in a rat-infested part of London (last year, standing nearby, a rat ran over my foot!) is now a pristine, spacious, clean and welcoming place in which to celebrate the Church's liturgy.
What you see from inside the Church, however, is only part of the story. Underneath, the pokey crypt has been excavated to provide excellent facilities for St Patrick's varied outreach projects especially to the poor and to those with drug dependencies. SPES, the St Patrick's Evangelisation School, now has a fitting home from which to restore hope to the heart of London.
One of the things I noticed at the ceremonies was that the congregations were predominantly young adults. When you are committed to the New Evangelisation you will always attract young people!

New Website for National Office

2011-06-06T20:00:00.001+01:00

The National Office for Vocation has been going from strength to strength as Abbot Christopher Jamison OSB builds on the work of his two predecessors, Fr Paul Embery and Fr Kevin Dring. Fr Christopher has now established a framework to guide the office in its work for the next couple of years. He has also secured funding so that a member of a religious congregation can be employed to enrich its work and establish strong links with religious communities.

The National Office for Vocation has also recently renewed its website. You can visit the site here. Do be sure to watch the welcome message from Fr Christopher.

Fr Stan Fortuna in Balham

2011-05-31T17:10:00.000+01:00

On Saturday night we hosted the inimitable Fr Stan Fortuna here in the parish. Fr Stan is well-known as the 'rapping priest'. I've heard him on a number of occasions and I think in Fr Stan's case its wrong to separate the from from the content. The musical genre is rap but the content is pure John Paul II, whom Fr Stan describes as his hero.

Fr Stan was in the parish for a session of Catholic Underground which meets here every half term. The evening begins with a candlelit Eucharistic Holy Hour in the Church during which we sing vespers and priests are available to hear confessions. We then move to the school hall for an evening of contemporary musical entertainment.

This weekend Fr Stan was in competition with the cup-final between Manchester United and Barcelona but despite that a good crowd of nearly two hundred young people turned up for him.

Pier Giorgio Frassati Society

2011-05-31T16:28:00.000+01:00

One of the great activities we host in our parish for young adults is the Pier Giorgio Frassati Society which currently has over a hundred people on its mailing list. So many, in fact, that the President has to limit the number who attend the monthly meal and talk because we can't fit everyone in the room!

The Frassati Society offers young adults a chance to come together each month in different ways. Some of its activities offer service to the poor such as helping the Missionaries of Charity. I've heard back from the sisters who value the help given by the members. Each month there is a meal with a talk on some aspect of Christian life. At the last meeting I addressed the group on the theme: "Blessed are the Persecuted". The important thing in these talks is to try to find ways of making them applicable to the daily life and lived experience of young adults. Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati was a great fan of outdoor activities and so from time to time the group holds a hike or other excursion. The photograph above is of some of the group members enjoying a pub lunch during a hike in the Surrey hills.

Invocation 2011

2011-05-26T18:20:00.003+01:00

I guess many university students are coming to the end of their exams, so now would be a good time to book your place for this year's Invocation Festival. It takes place at St Mary's College, Oscott, in about three weeks time: from 17th to 19th June. The only thing is that you need to book beforehand - otherwise there won't be enough food to go round!

This year we have the new Papal Nuncio coming to celebrate the closing Mass for us. It will be a great opportunity to meet him at the very place Pope Benedict met all the seminarians of England and Wales before flying back to Rome last September.

You can download a booking form for Invocation at: invocation.org.uk

I wouldn't delay. Do it today!

Coach to Invocation

2011-05-20T13:20:00.000+01:00

As last year there will be a London coach going to and from the Invocation festival. We need some idea of numbers so as to know what size coach to book. Please contact your Vocations Director if you would like to book a place. Or email me at Southwark Vocations.
I'm currently in Spain finalising our Quo Vadis World Youth Day trip but I'll be back tomorrow afternoon in time to welcome Fr Stan Fortuna CFR to the parish for Catholic Underground.

Working on a New Vocations Film

2011-05-06T17:58:00.000+01:00

The last couple of days have seen some quite intense work on a vocations film project we've been engaged in for about a year now. We have quite a lot of footage, including some great shots of a Papal audience but need now to put the whole thing together. The film will be about twenty minutes long and will move from a generic inquiry about vocation to specific consideration of the priesthood. As yet we don't have a title but I'm sure one will come before too long. The sound-track for the film is being produced by Benedict Nicholls whose compilation in honour of Pope John Paul II inspired "The Quality of Mercy" a recent Oxford play directed by Teresa Caldecott. The film work and editing were done by Matt Goodman whose innovative style has won him much praise as well as the recent attention of some well-known Catholic producers.

Invocation 2011 - Time is Running Out...

2011-05-04T21:52:00.002+01:00

With only a few weeks to go to this year's Invocation Festival, I thought it would be sensible to remind you all of the need to book beforehand. Catering for over four hundred people is no joke and the staff at Oscott will need to have a pretty good idea of how many will be attending. So PLEASE don't leave it until the last minute. Download a booking form or book online.
We need you help to reach as many young people as possible. Last year a number of young people mentioned they came because they saw Invocation advertised in their parish newsletter. However, lots more said they had heard about it from a friend but hadn't seen it advertised in their parishes. So it seems to me that we have two tasks:
1. To get it advertised in every parish newsletter in the country. Potentially this would enormously increase the numbers of people attending. Can you mention it to your parish priest?
2. To get it advertised through all other available channels: university chaplaincies, ethnic chaplaincies, youth groups, youth services, and any others you can think of. Why not leave a comment in the combox to share ideas....

Blessed John Paul II

2011-05-03T12:02:00.000+01:00

Much as many of my parishioners found it hard to believe, I wasn't able to be in Rome on Sunday for the beatification of the great Pope John Paul II. The assistant priest is away and on Saturday I had a wedding. We also have a large group of pilgrims that comes every year for Divine Mercy Sunday. So, although my heart was in Rome, I was doing what so many of us learned from the saintly Pope: tending the flock entrusted to my care. So I was really pleased to open the inbox this morning and find a link to the latest video from "May Feelings":

The Catholicism Project

2011-04-28T18:22:00.001+01:00

Hannah Vaughan Spruce, our co-ordinator of catechesis, has alerted me to the Catholicism Project a new and exciting venture that will go live in the autumn. You might also care to visit Hannah's new blog on her experiences as a catechist. It's called Transformed in Christ and you can visit it here.

Holy Week

2011-04-19T10:07:00.000+01:00

Palm Sunday is always a dramatic celebration in the life of a parish. Following the custom of the early Christian community in Jerusalem who processed from the Garden of Olives into the city, we gather outside for the blessing of palms and then walk in procession to the Church singing 'Hosanna' as we go. It is as if we are now part of that original crowd welcoming Jesus into their city and acclaiming him as their King and Messiah.

In fact this sense of becoming ourselves protagonists in the drama of Holy Week goes back to a very ancient understanding of time and salvation. When the Jews remembered God's saving action they were not simply recalling some past event. Through their remembering it was made present and they became part of it. This is the key to a correct understanding of the words of Our Lord at the Last Supper: "Do this in memory of me" means that when this event is recalled it is also made present.

The days of the Triduum are like a drama in three acts. In the early Church there was no Triduum. It was only when the number of adult converts became so large at Easter that some of the associated rites were carried out on the preceding days. We can see this pragmatic need affecting the liturgy, for example, at the time of St John Chrysostom. So instead of thinking of the ceremonies of the Triduum as three separate events it would be better to consider them as one liturgical action extended over three days. Perhaps it helps to remember that at the end of the Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper there is no blessing or dismissal. The Good Friday Commemoration of the Passion begins without a introductory rites or welcome because it simply take up what began the night before. It too ends without a dismissal. Finally the first Easter Mass has no other beginning than the rites of the Vigil.

Understanding this structure can help us recognise that the Last Supper, our Lord's Passion and death and his Resurrection form one liturgical reality which is made present whenever the Mass is celebrated.

New Online Vocations Newsletter

2011-04-17T18:39:00.000+01:00

In the column on the right there is a sign up box for Vocations News, our online vocations newsletter. If you would like to receive it please simply submit your details.

The newsletter will not be one of those annoying publications that appear almost daily in your inbox and that you end up never reading. It will contain details of what is happening on the vocations scene both in Southwark but also further afield. The plan is for it come come about about once a month.

You can unsubscribe at any time simply by clicking a link at the bottom of the newsletter.

If you would like to submit news or articles for the newsletter please email me.

Laetare Sunday

2011-04-03T17:17:00.000+01:00

In the parish this weekend some of our parishioners had the good idea of organising a Mothering Sunday cake sale. This no doubt got more than one father off the hook and was a nice way to mark the lessening of our Lenten fast occasioned by Laetare Sunday!

Vocation Voices Training Day

2011-04-03T17:14:00.000+01:00

On Saturday we had a training day for the Vocations Voices project. The National Office for Vocations has offered every parish in the country a young person to come and talk about the importance of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life on Good Shepherd Sunday which this year falls on 15th May. This was the first of a number of regional training days run by Fr Christopher Jamison. If we are to meet all the requests from parishes we will need a lot more young people to get involved so do please email me if you can help. A number of the people who came on Saturday were quite nervous initially but found the day really boosted their confidence and it was great to see how they will all give excellent testimonies. It was an ideal occasion for a photograph with the new Southwark Vocations Surfboard! The board was made by a young friend of mine who can make bespoke designs and who is working on a project to make surfing accessible to disabled people. For more information visit his Surfbod website.

Confirmation Retreat in Bury St Edmund's

2011-04-03T17:03:00.000+01:00

I didn't get round to mentioning a very impressive Confirmation Day I helped with a couple of Saturdays ago in Bury St Edmund's. About a hundred youngster came from all over that part of East Anglia and from as far away as Peterborough for a day coordinated by Hamish McQueen, the Diocesan Youth Officer. I was invited to give a couple of talks and to celebrate the Mass. Other guests included the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, who came down from Bradford, and Paschal Uche from Brentwood diocese. Paschal spoke about his experience meeting the Holy Father on the steps of Westminster Cathedral and took part in a panel answering questions. I was very impressed by his answers. My two talks were on the Holy Spirit and on the Mass. The day was animated by Edwin Fawcett who came with some members of a Gospel choir from the parish where he works. Again it was impressive to see his great skill at taking a group of highly self-conscious teenagers and getting them to sing!

Obviously the main focus of the day was not for me to promote vocations but it was easy to introduce the theme to both of the talks and the presence of two young sisters also helped ensure that questions surrounding vocation and vocation discernment were very much on the agenda - often raised by the young people themselves as they wondered what led these two young women to walk away from worldly excitement and enter religious life.

These days are in many ways simply sowing seeds and one never really knows how well they went. So it was nice to receive an email later from one of the Catechists who handed out evaluation forms at the next Confirmation session. She writes, "I was expecting a positive response but nothing like the one I got. They were all begging to go on another retreat... The young people spoke about how much they had learned and how much more seriously they were taking their faith after Saturday".

Let's pray that the diocese gets two or three vocations from this year's Confirmation groups!

Vocations Study Day

2011-03-31T13:00:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I was at Oscott College for a study day organised by the Conference of Diocesan Directors of Vocation (CDDV). Each year the CDDV has a plenary meeting in November but since last year we have also organised a day open to a wider audience so that Vocations Directors can invite anyone they think might benefit.

This year the focus was on youth ministry and we were very pleased to have Avril Baigent come to speak to us about some recent research carried out on behalf of CYMFed. A copy of the research, called 'Mapping the Terrain' can be found on the CYMFed website. The website also has useful resources for anyone planning a World Youth Day trip, including a risk assessment starter and safeguarding guidelines.

Avril's input led to some lively discussion particularly about how effectively the Church is passing on the faith to young people. Talking to young university students Pope John Paul II identified four stages in this area. He told them that first of all they must know their faith. Then they must ask questions so that they can understand their faith. Only then could they assimilate it and so live it in their decisions, choices and actions. And in that way, he said, faith becomes culture. What CYMFed's research seems to show is that there has been a failure at the first stage.

In the afternoon we had a presentation from Chris Smith, Vocations Promoter for Birmingham, on the current preparations for Invocation 2011. Plans for the festival are going well although, as ever, finances remain a concern. The most expensive items are the Marquees and Tepees but without these we wouldn't have the space for the event. (If any reader of this blog wants to make a donation please send me an email). Archbishop Mennini, the new Papal Nuncio will celebrate the closing Mass of the festival. The task now is to try to give it as much publicity as possible in order to ensure the word goes out to all our young people.

The final part of the afternoon was given over to an update from the National Office for Vocation on the preparations for Good Shepherd Sunday and the Vocations Voices project. So far we are very short of 'Voices' - young people aged between 18 & 35 willing to speak at the end of Mass on Sunday 15th May. The idea is that they will be given training to talk about the importance of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in the Church. It is a project that could be very beneficial and a lot of young people have expressed an interest but - probably because they think May is a long way away - very few have put themselves forward for the training without which we can't promote them as Voices. The training will be available online but people have to enroll for it soon or we will miss this opportunity to do a great deal of good for the Church....

Finally Fr Christopher Jamison spoke about a proposed new framework for the work of the National Office for Vocation. It has already received, in principle, episcopal approval and so the National Office is moving into a consultation phase. The framework will then give a steer to the National Office for its work and priorities over the next few years.

Forty Days for Life

2011-03-27T16:20:00.000+01:00

Today we had presenting in our parish Robert Colquhoun from "Forty Days for Life". Robert spoke briefly and to the point about the need for Christians to take seriously their role in building a Culture of Life. I was reminded of Mary Ann Glendon's speech at the Beijing Conference some years ago when she asked whether we can be content to accept that all our society has to say to a woman who is alone, frightened and pregnant is that she has the right to an abortion.

To create a Culture of Life we need to begin in our schools. Over the years I have known many young men and women involved in a pro-life ministry to schools. Lamentably the story is always the same. Occasionally they are welcomed in by those Catholic schools known for their Catholic ethos and their work is valued. More often than not, however, they are invited along as one of a number of speakers presenting different 'points of view' including school nurses and others actively opposing the Church's teaching.

However, in my experience more and more young people are beginning to take their faith seriously and to recognise that they are called to make a difference. Perhaps, before long, we will see English youngsters using their talents in the way these American young people do in the following video...

New website for St Cecilia's Abbey

2011-03-24T19:07:00.000Z

First Vows

I was delighted to hear today that the Benedictine Sisters on the Isle of Wight have a new website. It loos great and I do encourage you all to have a look. Those of you who were at Invocation 2010 will remember we had a letter from the nuns telling us they were praying for the success of the weekend although, of course as enclosed religious they couldn't join us in person.

Having said that, the eagle eyed among you may recognise one of the girls from Invocation among the postulants. St Eustochium tells me there is a nice group of sisters who are in their twenties "but we should welcome many more if they presented themselves". Let's keep the sisters in our prayers and pray also that many more do indeed present themselves!

Stories of Priestly Vocation

2011-03-24T11:05:00.000Z

One of our projects for the Year of the Priesthood was a book published by St Paul's called "No Ordinary Calling". The publication was initially delayed by internal problems at St Paul's and when it eventually came out I was involved with distributing thirty thousand tickets for the Papal Vigil at Hyde Park which took up all our time!

The book consists of thirteen personal accounts of priests explaining what led them to the priesthood. Some had thought about being a priest from an early age while for others it had never figured at all in their expectations. In the book a former Communist explains how his search for truth led him to faith, two brothers describe their different paths to priesthood, a young professional describes how attending Mass for the first time led to his conversion, and a particle physicist at CERN explains how his knowledge of science deepened his faith.

In the foreword to the book Archbishop Vincent Nichols writes: "To choose to become a priest is indeed no ordinary calling: it requires faith, trust and confidence to respond to God's call. Yet today more than ever the Catholic Church needs holy men to be priests to her people. In this book priests tell their own stories of how they were able joyfully to answer that call. It shows that young men are still becoming priests today, and will be helpful to anyone interested in knowing more about the priesthood".

"No Ordinary Calling - Stories of Priestly Vocation" costs £9.95 and is available from St Paul's as well as from the Southwark Vocations Office.

The Holy Father's Words on Vocation in Hyde Park

2011-03-23T14:32:00.000Z

On Saturday 18th September 2010, in his address during the Vigil of Prayer at Hyde Park, the Holy Father launched a direct call for young people to consider their vocation and respond with generosity"

"Here I wish to say a special word to the many young people present. Dear young friends: only Jesus knows what 'definite service' he has in mind for you. Be open to his voice resounding in the depths of your heart. Christ has need of families to remind the world of the dignity of human love and the beauty of family life. He needs men and women who devote their lives to the noble task of education, tending the young and forming them in the ways of the Gospel. He needs those who will consecrate their lives to the pursuit of perfect charity, following him in chastity, poverty and obedience, and serving him in the least of our brothers and sisters. He needs the powerful love of contemplative religious, who sustain the Church's witness and activity through their constant prayer. And he needs priests, good and holy priests, men who are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep. Ask our Lord what he has in mind for you! Ask him for the generosity to say 'Yes!' Do not be afraid to give yourself totally to Jesus. Her will give you the grace you need to fulfil your vocation.

Let me finish these words by warmly inviting you to join me next year in Madrid for 'World Youth Day'. It is always a wonderful occasion to grow in love for Christ and to be encouraged in a joyful life of faith along with thousands of other young people. I hope to see many of you there!"

Canon John Devane RIP

2011-03-22T16:18:00.000Z

I attended this morning the Requiem Mass of one of the great characters of our diocese, Canon John Devane, whom the Lord called to his eternal reward after more than fifty five years service as a priest. Seen above on the left, Canon Devane was Provost of the Cathedral Canons. For thirty seven years he was parish priest in the Church where I was baptised: St Matthew's, West Norwood. It was there that I got to know him when I was in a nearby parish and he was my Dean shortly after ordination. We soon struck up a friendship and most Sunday evenings I would call over to visit him for a cup of tea and a chat. He was a treasure trove of amusing stories. I honestly think he never forgot anything that ever happened to him.

Canon Devane had a great passion for young people. The Scouts and other uniformed groups flourished in his parish. In his earlier years he organised a Sunday soccer league (those who missed Mass weren't allowed to play!). His love for young people led to a great concern for education and he served not just as Governor for various schools and Colleges but also on the Education Committee of the Local Authority. He was never scared to speak his mind. It was always fun to sit next to him at official meetings where he would declare his opinion of speakers in 'stage-whispers'.

Of all the countless memories I have of the Canon there is one that always comes back to me. Shortly before Christmas I called in one year. I knew he had been collecting food parcels for the poor families of the parish and that they were to have been distributed by the SVP and other parish groups. I was surprised, therefore, to see about twenty or thirty packages in his room and asked had there been a problem with delivery. "Oh no", he replied, "all the others have gone out. These ones I'll deliver myself at Christmas - they are for the families people don't know to be having a hard time".

If I knew it before, I had forgotten, but I was very pleased to hear today that in recognition of his years of devoted service, Lambeth Council had named a road after the Canon:

Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace!

Vocation Voices

2011-03-09T18:08:00.000Z

Catholic Voices was an excellent initiative in the lead up to the Papal Visit last year. After observing a few train-crash interviews on the media and very aware of the potentially problematic welcome afforded by the British media, Austen Ivereigh and Jack Valero landed on the idea of training young adults to appear on the media. The idea was to give them an understanding of how the media works and also some insight into what the secular world would consider the more controversial elements of the Church's teaching. They could then not only be interviewed but also write articles, talk part in debates and use the new media to get over a more positive message.

Of course whatever is done will be controversial for a few. The project was criticised for focusing on young people and also because candidates had to undergo a selection process. To me this seems perfectly reasonable. I am certainly conscious that the project was a tremendous success and it was nice to see young people being interviewed and happily defending the Church's teaching on a wide range of interviews.

Drawing inspiration from Catholic Voices, the National Office for Vocation has come up with a new idea for Vocations Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter (15th May). "Vocation Voices" is a project to send young people into the parishes of the country to talk at the end of Mass about the importance of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. They need not be thinking of one of these vocations for themselves. We feel that a young person giving witness will be very effective in itself.

For more information about Vocation Voices or to volunteer to get involved send me an email at the Southwark Vocations Office.

World Youth Day

2011-03-08T16:20:00.001Z

So far seventy five people have signed up for our Quo Vadis "World Youth Day Pilgrimage". Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare and try to raise funds. We have opted for the most basic package: sleeping on floors in parish halls, but even so, by the time we have added flights, it is quite expensive. I'd like to thank all those people who have sent us some money. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Invocation 2011

2011-03-08T14:26:00.000Z

The video below gives you something of the flavour of Invocation 2010. We hope you will join us for this year's festival: Invocation 2011. It will take place at St Mary's College, Oscott, from Friday 17th until Sunday 19th June.

In addition to excellent keynote speeches and workshops on different religious charisms, we look forward once again to having a number of our bishops with us and especially to the presence of the new Papal Nuncio. Don't forget to check out the website and also to follow us on Facebook.

Untitled from Stephen Langridge on Vimeo.

Vocations Retreat at Wonersh

2011-03-08T10:32:00.000Z

Retreatants Joined the Seminary for the Liturgy of the Hours

Last weekend twenty-three young men descended on St John's Seminary for our annual Vocations Retreat. The Retreat began as a joint initiative between Southwark and Arundel & Brighton but in the last couple of years it has welcomed participants also from Portsmouth and occasionally Plymouth as well, so it was nice to have Fr Mark Hogan from Portsmouth join us for the activities on Saturday.

The programme of the Retreat isn't intense, partly in recognition of the fact that those attending come from fairly hectic schedules and partly to ensure there is time for anyone who wishes to have a chance not only for personal prayer but also to chat individually with a priest.

One of the noticeable things about this year's retreat was how much the average age has decreased since we began five or six years ago. The majority of participants were university students or had recently left university. This probably reflects the important work now being carried out in our dioceses by discernment groups for younger vocations such as the inter-diocesan Quo Vadis Group.

For more information about Vocations activities in Southwark contact the Vocations Office.

Back from Milwaukee

2011-03-03T17:02:00.000Z

I got back last week from the Vocations Conference at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Milwaukee. It took a while to get over the 'jet lag' but I reckon I'm pretty well there now. The Conference took place at the Sacred Heart Seminary and I thought you might like to see some photographs. It was, of course, still winter and the snow was deep on the ground. Although there is much more snow than we get over here, it is also much more manageable. For a start it is much colder: when was the last time you experienced -15 Celsius in England? With temperatures that cold there is no moisture in the air and the snow is 'dry'. In those conditions when the sun comes out the snow melts but the moisture evaporates quickly. Add to that the fact that snow-ploughs are everywhere and you get a situation where the roads are clear and pavements slush-free!

Got the Certificate!

2011-02-18T15:17:00.000Z

Last night the Sacred Heart Seminary here in Milwaukee hosted a banquet In honour of the Institute of Diocesan Vocations Personnel. At the end there were various warm speeches including a heartfelt encouragement to us all from Rosemary Sullivan, the Executive Director of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors, the American equivalent of our Conference of Diocesan Directors of Vocations. Everyone who completed the week also received a special certificate to certify that they are now fully trained Vocations Directors. So, after five years in the job, I can now regard myself as fully qualified! I must say that I have been very well treated all week. All the other participants are either recently appointed or just about to be appointed as vocation directors. When presenting me to people Rosemary always made the point of saying that I wasn't a new vocations director and that I had come as Chairman of the CDDV. She invited me to answer questions on a panel and also to preside and preach at one of the Masses. They may seem small things but are, I think, indicative of the exquisite courtesy we encounter on the other side of the "pond".
The Institute itself was extremely well organised and structured. We began with a Day of Recollection and, on the subsequent days, were taken through the work of a Vocations Director from how to organise the office on day one to a presentation on formation by a seminary rector on the last day. It was all very useful. I'll post more about the content later.

Institute for Diocesan Vocations Personnel

2011-02-15T21:10:00.000Z

I mentioned yesterday that I am currently in Milwaukee attending a vocations conference. It is a meeting organised by the National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors (NCDVD)held every two years in the Sacred Heart School of Theology - a seminary for later vocations. The meeting is a sort of induction week for new Vocation Directors and there are just over thirty of us here.
Of course, I am not a new Vocations Director but I've come for a couple of reasons. First of all to see how things are done over here and to get fresh ideas. Secondly because part of the week is dedicated to psychological assessments - an area of selection we are examining in greater detail in England and Wales at present.
We began with a day of recollection yesterday. In the evening we had a presentation of the "Nine Principles of Vocations Ministry". This morning we looked at the "Promotion and Development of a Comprehensive Program(sic)". This afternoon the presentation is "Administration and Running the Office". Tomorrow we have Mgr Stephen Rossetti giving us sessions on psychological assessments and psycho-sexual maturity. we also have two sessions on Discernment and two on Formation.
There is a lot to hear and I am finding it a very stimulating programme. It is also great to meet other Vocations Directors and hear from their experiences.
Apart from the benefit I am deriving myself from the week I am also growing in appreciation of what more we can do in the Conference of Diocesan Directors of Vocation, which I chair, to help us in our work back home.

The Prodigal Blog Returns

2011-02-14T19:47:00.000Z

Over the last few months many people have asked me what has happened to the Blog? The answer is surprisingly mundane: having updated the website on Apple's excellent iWeb, I found I couldn't update the newly integrated Blog unless I was at the office computer. This meant that a lot of potentially interesting posts got delayed and eventually the Blog fell into disuse.
However, since so many people have asked me, and since quite a few have said they found it helpful, I've decided to go back to the more flexible Blogger in order to start posting again.
Of course it's never easy to resurrect a blog - so no promises! I'm grateful, however, to one of our seminarians who took the template and gave it a fresh new look. Makeovers seem to be the in thing at present.
Oh, and I should mention - I'm posting from Milwaukee!

Vatican Webpage for the Year for Priests

2009-07-19T11:03:00.002+01:00

Somehow I missed the fact that the Congregation for Education has established a special site for the Annus Sacerdotalis. The internet connection from which I'm working is very slow so it is quite difficult to upload any pictures from the site but here's a link to the English page. Do take a look. You can access various bits of news about the year, Papal comments and videos and a number of useful resources.

Catholicbiketrip.com

2009-07-18T09:45:00.004+01:00

A text from Dom & Phil this morning as I was vesting reminded me to pray for our intrepid cyclists as I celebrated Holy Mass in honour of Our Lady. Readers of this blog will be aware that these two young lads are cycling from Rome to Walsingham via Medjugorje. This morning's text was to say that they had just landed in Ancora and also to alert me to the fact that they've updated their blog. Do go over to the blog to have a look at what they've been getting up to. Apart from the thrill of the adventure, Dominic and Phil are hoping to raise £2,000 towards the cost of the Youth 2000 retreat for young adults that will take place in Walsingham at the end of August. There's a donate button on the sidebar of their blog and I noticed that they've raised just under £1,500 so far. All money raised goes towards the retreat (they've already paid for the trip out of their own funds) so do please donate something if you can.

I think I'll mention it on Twitter to see if that generates a bit extra for them!

An Important Talk (IV)

2009-07-17T09:50:00.003+01:00

In the last part of his talk to the Rectors of the Pontifical Seminaries Mgr Brugues has something to say about the selection of candidates to the priesthood. He notes that there have grwn up two different lines of interpretation of the Second Vatican Council which he characterises as 'composition' (accommodation) and 'contestation'.

By 'composition' the bishop is referring to an adaptation of the Gospel to the interests of the world: "The first leads us to observe that secularisation includes values with a strong Christian influence, like equality, freedom, solidarity, responsibility, and that it should be possible to come to terms with this current and identify areas of co-operation". The danger, however, is that of playing "the card of adaptation and co-operation with secularised society, at the cost of finding themselves forced to take a critical distance from this or that aspect of Catholic doctrine or morality". He says it is not hard to find examples of this and cites Catholic educational establishments as a particular battleground.

According to the bishop this current adaption to the world "emerged mainly during the period following the Council; it provided the ideological framework for the interpretations of Vatican II that were imposed at the end of the 196-'s and the following decade". An alternative emerged however in the 1980's "above all - but not exclusively - under the influence of John Paul II". According to this model of "contestation" there is a greater wariness in our approach to secular society and an awareness of the need to keep one's distance by recognising that, particularly in the ethical field, conflict will arise and become increasingly pronounced. According to this model factors such as the confession of the faith, identity and the importance of evangelisation dominate.

This can create problems for the selection and formation of candidates for the priesthood although in reality they reflect wider tentions within the Church: "The current of 'composition' has aged, but its proponents still hold key positions within the Church. The current of the alternative model has become much stronger but has not yet become dominant. This would explain the tensions at the moment in many of the Churches on our continent". Applying this to priesthood he says: "Candidates of the first tendency have become increasingly rare, to the great displeasure of the priests of the older generations. The candidates of the second tendency have now become more numerous than the others...". And so he poses the crunch question: "How can harmony be fostered between educators, who often belong to the first current, and the young people who identify with the second? Will the educators continue to cling to criteria of admission and selection that date back to their own time, but no longer correspond to the aspirations of the young?"

Frustratingly he doesn't offer an answer. However, by taking the problem out of the usual 'liberal versus conservative' rhetoric and situating it within a wider ecclesial model of the efficacy of the Church's prophetic role within society, he perhaps gives us an indication of how we need to look again at the 'signs of the times' and take seriously the lived experience of the young.

An Important Talk (III)

2009-07-16T10:27:00.003+01:00

In the next part of his presentation the Secretary of the Congregation for Education has some interesting observations concerning the recent history of the Church and the sort of young man currently responding to a priestly vocation. Twenty years ago, as a seminarian, I attended a talk given by the Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. In the questions afterwards a concern was raised about the growing number of 'conservative' students for the priesthood. Amusingly the Secretary asked for a clarification and then leaning back said simply: "Oh you mean the swing of the pendulum!" Two weeks ago I was at a European vocations conference and was surprised to hear the same concerns being voiced in terms of a fear that we were 'returning to the ghetto'.

Bishop Brugues puts the matter into a different context. For him the key is recognising that the Council took place at a time of great secularisation. The Zeitgeist of secularisation led many within the Church to interpret the 'openness to the world' called for by the Council with a 'conversion to secularisation'. This has led, not so much to the Church suffering under the secularising programme of social or political interest groups, but rather from an internal malaise: "In this way, in fact, we have experienced or even fostered an extremely powerful self-secularisation in most of the Western Churches". As evidence he offers the following examples:

"Believers are ready to exert themselves in the service of peace, justice and humanitarian causes, but do they believe in eternal life? Our Churches have carried out an immense effort to renew catechesis, but does not this catechesis itself tend to overlook the ultimate realities? For the most part, our Churches have embarked on the ethical debates of the moment, at the urging of public opinion, but how much do they talk about sin, grace, and the divinised life? Our Churches have successfully deployed massive resources in order to improve the participation of the faithful in the liturgy, but has not the liturgy for the most part lost the sense of the sacred? Can anyone deny that our generation, possibly without realising it, dreamed of the 'Church of the pure', a faithful purified of any religious manifestation, warning against any manifestation of popular devotion like processions, pilgrimages, etc?"

What is most interesting is the way the bishop sees this to have changed the profile of Church membership today. He says: "We could advance the hypothesis that we have passed from a Church of 'belonging', in which the faith was determined by the community of birth, to a Church of 'conviction' in which the faith is defined as a personal and courageous choice, often in opposition with the group of origin". For him, therefore, it is not a straightforward liberal/conservative dichotomy. Seminarians and young priests of today belong to this "Church of conviction" and have come from a social environment that does support them. As a consequence "they offer better-defined profiles, stronger individuality, and more courageous temperaments. In this regard, they have the right to our full esteem". He sums up succinctly what he wants to say in the concluding paragraph of this section:

"The difficulty to which I would like to draw your attention therefore goes beyond the boundaries of a simple generational conflict. My generation, I insist, has equated openness to the world with conversion to secularisation, and has experienced a certain fascination regarding it. But although the younger men were born in secularisation as their natural environment and drank it together with their mother's milk, they still seek to distance themselves from it, and defend their identity and their differences".

In the final part of his talk the bishop will discuss two different approaches to secularisation. The official English text renders them as 'composition' and 'contestation'. It's always difficult translating from another language and I don't think the best job has been done here. For what it's worth, in my opinion, I think by 'composition' we should read 'accommodation' or 'compromise' and for 'contestation' we should read 'conflict'.

An Important Talk (II)

2009-07-15T08:57:00.002+01:00

One of the complaints we often hear from seminarians is that the seminary timetable can be so packed they have little time for personal reflection or study. Like any complaint, of course, it has to be treated cautiously - it is important to learn how to manage one's time and not waste it. However, a packed timetable can certainly lead to a certain unhealthy dissipation and in his talk the Secretary for the Congregation for Education refers to the danger of packing too much into a student's initial formation.

His second point is that the formation programmes in the pontifical seminaries should be reviewed and he calls for 'a comprehensive, organic theological formation that is focused on the essential'. He goes on to explain what he means:

"This implies, on the part of those responsible for instruction and formation, the discontinuation of an initial formation marked by a critical spirit - as was the case for my generation, for which the discovery of the Bible and doctrine was contaminated by a systematic spirit of criticism - and of the temptation of premature specialisation: precisely because these young men lack the necessary cultural background".

There are a few observations I'd like to make here. First of all I think the basic point is well made. When I was an undergraduate reading theology in Oxford I had a number of Catholic and non-Catholic friends who had chosen the same subject because they wanted to know what to believe. Rather than their starting point being a fides quaerens intellectum it would be more accurate to describe it as an intellectus quarens fidem. Sadly what generally happened was that the disection of the Bible according to the historical-critical method meant that most neverfound the faith they sought and were left with an unhealthy cynicism towards Christianity. As Goswin Habets, one of our professors at the Gregorianum later put it: "One only dissects a dead body, never a living one". Another Greg prof, Fr Becker, also put it well when he asked us to put down our pens one day and reminded us that the Scriptures "are also the revealed Word of God". I always felt that themes such as revelation and the inspiration of Scripture should precede an introduction to the historical-critical method. I am particularly pleased that these days the writings of Benedict XVI, Scott Hahn and others have enabled a new generation to thrill to the revealed of God in a way that wasn't possible even twenty or thirty years ago.

There is something slightly puzzling, however, about the Bishop's comments. He is addressing the Rectors of the Pontifical Seminaries and calling for a change in the approach to studies. But all their students would study at one of the Pontifical faculties. One must conclude that either he is talking with a wider audience in mind or he is referring to the content of an introductory year that he wishes them to establish.

He goes on to 'share a few questions' that occur to him:

"It is absolutely reasonable to want to give future priests a complete, top-level formation. Like an attentive mother, the Church wants the best for future priests. For this reason the number of courses has been multiplied, but to the point of weighing down programmes in a way that is, in my view exaggerated. You have probably perceived the risk of discouragement in many of your seminarians. I ask: is an encyclopedic perspective appropriate for these young men who have received no basic Christian formation? Has this perspective not, perhaps, provoked a fragmentation of formation, an accumulation of courses and an excessively historicising outlook? Is it truly necessary, to give young men who have never learned the catechism an in-depth formation in the human sciences, or in the techniques of communication?
I would adivse choosing depth over breadth, synthesis over dispersion in details, architecture over decoration. Similar reasons lead me to believe that learning metaphysics, as demanding as this is, represents the absolutely indispensable preliminary phase for the study of theology. Those who come to us have often received a solid scientific and technical formation - which is a good thing - but their lack of general culture does not permit them to undertake theology confidently".

Again, there is a lot packed in here. The old Roman system was that seminarians went to the faculty in the morning for lectures in Latin. In the afternoon they would go over their notes with repetitores to ensure that they fully understood what had been taught and that they began to assimilate the subject. That's no longer the case. For some individuals the afternoon period is a time for personal study. In my time for many it was a time to visit the City. While in some Roman seminaries it has been filled with extra in-house courses. The bishop seems to be calling for an emphasis on depth and assimilation of the basic studies rather than a superficial knowledge of lots of subjects. Some seminaries I know have reserved the academic term for the basic studies and introduced other more pastoral subjects during intensive study weeks before and after the relatively short academic terms.

Again, however, it should be noted that that the Bishop is not trying to criticise the seminaries. He seems rather to be stressing the importance of an introductory year to make up for the 'lack of general culture' which would prevent students from benefiting as much as they can from their theological studies. It is this 'lack of general culture' that he comment on in the next part of his talk.

An Important Talk

2009-07-14T13:29:00.010+01:00

I'm currently at the country house of the Real Colegio de los Ingleses (English College) in Valladolid. Yesterday the rector gave me a copy of a speech by the Secretary of the Congregation for Education, Mgr Jean-Louis Brugues. It was addressed to seminary rectors and published by L'Osservatore Romano on June 3rd. In his speech Bishop Brugues is addressing issues concerning seminary formation in a secularised world. He makes a number of very interesting observations and, since I've got little to write about here, I thought it might be worthwhile commenting on some of them. I'll do this over a few days, quoting the Bishop's words and then adding my own reflections.

"Regardless of the form it has taken, secularisation has provoked a collapse of Christian culture in our countries. The young men who come to our seminaries know little or nothing about Catholic doctrine, about the history and customs of the Church. This generalised lack of education forces us to carry out important revisions in the practice followed until now. I will mention two of these.

First of all, it seems indispensable to me to provide these young men with a period - a year or more - of initial formation, of 'recovery', catechetical and cultural at the same time. These programs can be designed in various ways, based on the specific needs of each country. Personally, I am thinking of an entire year dedicated to assimilating the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which presents itself as a very complete compendium".

The bishop goes on to explain what he means by a collapse of Christian culture and how in some ways people within the Church contributed to it in the post-Conciliar years. Whatever its contributory factors, those of us in vocations work will certainly have experienced its effects. It's not just that we are approached by men who are married or living in an irregular relationship. Many of the young people we meet have grown up within the refectories of the 'culture of death' and have come to Christ because they found the meat it offers to be at best unsatisfying, at worst poisonous carrion. They experience faith as a trust in Christ but its features have yet to be mapped out by the teachings of the Church. They can also lack a human formation - having never acquired the discipline of virtue, they can find themselves dragged down again and again by the pull of the 'old man'. They can experience this as profoundly disheartening.

The bishop's response is to propose as 'indispensable' a year (at least) of initial formation with both catechetical and cultural dimensions. In so many ways this is what the 'propaedeutic year' at the English College in Spain provides. Other European countries have developed different models. The seminary of Madrid, for example, requires an 'introductory year' - a year in which candidates for formation continue their study or work during the week but attend a special formation programme at the seminary every weekend. Whatever model we take, the object is the same: the prepare the young men to be able to receive and benefit fully from the formation on offer once they start their time at major seminary.

The propaedeutic year in Spain, of course, offers at lot more than remedial classes for those whose assimilation of Christian faith and life may be lacking in some aspects. In addition to a complete course in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the students are introduced to the Scriptures, Church history, liturgy and the other disciplines they will later study in more depth. It begins the important work of spiritual formation outside of the potential stresses occasioned by the round of exams and assessment at seminary. It offers and introduction to community life where people of all backgrounds and experiences can learn from one another and grow in the exercise of charity.

The bishop's second 'revision' concerns the formation programmes on offer in seminaries. Since he has some important comments to make, I'll reserve these for the next post.

Dom and Phil's Bike Trip

2009-07-09T18:52:00.003+01:00

This week two of the pilgrims from the Quo Vadis trip to Rome flew back to the Eternal City for a pretty daunting venture. Dom and Phil spent the night with a family I know in the north of the city before heading off yesterday afternoon for the start of their mammoth sponsored cycle ride from Rome to Walsingham via Medjugorje. If all goes well we will be able to greet them in Walsingham on Thursday 27th August at the start of the Youth 2000 retreat. The retreat, which takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend promises to be particularly busy this year with a large contingent of young people coming from Germany to join those who will gather in Walsingham under Our Lady's patronage from all parts of England, Wales and Ireland.

Dom and Phil have already worked and scraped together to raise the £2,000 to pay for their trip. (Dom has been working for me in the parish for the best part of this year and the parishioners are missing him!). They hope to raise at least another £2,000 in sponsorship all of which will go towards the Waslingham retreat. As Dom says, it would be nice to think that they raise more than the trip costs otherwise they will feel they could simply have donated the money themselves!

The Youth 2000 Retreat at Walsingham attracts over a thousand young people and costs over £80,000 to stage. Participants are only asked to make a donation and very few can afford to pay the real cost of £80 per person. That's why it is so important to organise fund-raising events and to rely on the generosity of benefactors who believe in the importance of rock-face evangelisation!

Could you make a donation? It doesn't matter whether you can spare £10, £100, or £1000. The fact remains that every penny counts. To sponsor Dom & Phil go over to this link where you will also have the possibility of Gift Aiding your donation.

The two cyclists have a Blog but I doubt they will have much opportunity to post much over the next two months - so on their behalf let me thank you for any donations you send in.

Quo Vadis Rome 09

2009-07-06T22:08:00.005+01:00

It'll take a little while to get some posts up about Rome because I'm trying to catch up on a mountain of parish work. Here, in the meantime, is a little video for your delectation and delight although for some reason the sound track only kicks in one minute from the end...

Another Welcome Link

2009-07-05T13:17:00.002+01:00

Going through the emails I was delighted to find another link to a vocations video. This time it is for the Dominican sisters - an order for which I have great affection. Enjoy this insight into the Nashville Dominicans:

Back from Rome

2009-07-05T13:02:00.003+01:00

Sorry! I've been in Rome for the last ten days and had no access to the internet so I wasn't able to post anything. It was a great time and very busy so there wasn't even an opportunity to go hunting for an internet cafe.
There's a lot to post about and it will take me some time to get everything up. In the meantime, thanks for your prayers. Here's a French vocations video that was waiting in my inbox when I got back.

Bishop Peter Elliott

2009-06-23T20:36:00.003+01:00

On Thursday I drove to Heathrow to pick up Bishop Peter Elliott who is spending a few days in London before going on to Rome for a meeting of the directors of the John Paul II Institutes for the Family. Bishop Peter is representing the institute in his home diocese of Melbourne.

It has been a busy time for him since arriving. On Sunday he celebrated our sung Mass and baptised two babies. He then joined us for a meal which was attended by a number of young parishioners and some of our seminarians.

Pique Nique Time

2009-06-23T20:28:00.002+01:00

The Holy Ghost Parish is blessed with many families from all over the world. In recent years we've had the joy of welcoming a good number of young French families to the parish. It's particularly convenient for them because there's a reasonably local annexe of a French school in the area. Many of the children, however, attend either our own parish school or Oliver House a local independent Catholic school.
On Saturday, for the first time, we invited the French families to join us for a picnic in the presbytery garden. It was great for me: I got the newsletter done in the morning and was ready in time to welcome everyone who came with lots of wonderful French food. I was also able to pop over to the parish school for the summer fayre.

Indulgences attached to the Year for Priests

2009-06-20T23:14:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I marked the start of the Year for Priests by preaching at a special Mass followed by a penitential visit to the dentist. In the afternoon I had a meeting with one of the chief organisers of adult catechesis in the parish when we discussed inter alia how we might help parents understand the Mass better. A Seekers Meeting followed an interview with one of our seminarians. I then drove into central London to be with my year group who had come together to celebrate twenty years of priesthood and to mark the beginning of this great Year.

I find some people are unaware of the indulgences attached to the Year for Priests. So here's a copy of the Decree:

APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY
DECREE

Special Indulgence for the Year for Priests

As has been announced, the Holy Father Benedict XVI has decided to establish a special Year for Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Mary Vianney, the holy Curé d'Ars, a shining model of a Pastor totally dedicated to the service of the people of God.

During the Year for Priests which will begin on 19 June 2009 and will end on 19 June 2010, the gift of special Indulgences is granted as described in the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, published on 12 May.

Shortly the day will come on which will be commemorated the 150th anniversary of the pious departure to Heaven of St John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars. This Saint was a wonderful model here on earth of a true Pastor at the service of Christ's flock. Since his example is used to encourage the faithful, and especially priests, to imitate his virtues, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI has established that for this occasion a special Year for Priests will be celebrated, from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010, in which all priests may be increasingly strengthened in fidelity to Christ with devout meditation, spiritual exercises and other appropriate actions.

This holy period will begin with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a day of priestly sanctification on which the Supreme Pontiff will celebrate Vespers in the presence of the holy relics of St John Mary Vianney, brought to Rome by the Bishop of Belley-Ars, France. The Most Holy Father will likewise preside at the conclusion of the Year for Priests in St Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from across the world who will renew their fidelity to Christ and the bond of brotherhood.

May priests commit themselves, with prayer and good works, to obtaining from Christ the Eternal High Priest, the grace to shine with Faith, Hope, Charity and the other virtues, and show by their way of life, but also with their external conduct, that they are dedicated without reserve to the spiritual good of the people something that the Church has always had at heart.

The gift of Sacred Indulgences which the Apostolic Penitentiary, with this Decree issued in conformity with the wishes of the August Pontiff, graciously grants during the Year for Priests will be of great help in achieving the desired purpose in the best possible way.

A. Truly repentant priests who, on any day, devoutly recite at least morning Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed for public adoration or replaced in the tabernacle, and who, after the example of St John Mary Vianney, offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the sacraments, especially Confession, are mercifully granted in God the Plenary Indulgence which they may also apply to their deceased brethren in suffrage, if, in conformity with the current norms, they receive sacramental confession and the Eucharistic banquet and pray for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions.

Furthermore the Partial Indulgence is granted to priests who may apply it to their deceased confreres every time that they devoutly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a holy life and to carry out in a holy manner the offices entrusted to them.

B. The Plenary Indulgence is granted to all the faithful who are truly repentant who, in church or in chapel, devoutly attend the divine Sacrifice of Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, for the priests of the Church, and any other good work which they have done on that day, so that he may sanctify them and form them in accordance with His Heart, as long as they have made expiation for their sins through sacramental confession and prayed in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff's intentions: on the days in which the Year for Priests begins and ends, on the day of the 150th anniversary of the pious passing of St John Mary Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month or on any other day established by the local Ordinaries for the benefit of the faithful.

It will be most appropriate, in cathedral and parish churches, for the same priests who are in charge of pastoral care to publicly direct these exercises of devotion, to celebrate Holy Mass and to hear the confession of the faithful.

The Plenary Indulgence will likewise be granted to the elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are confined to their homes who, with a mind detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, at home or wherever their impediment detains them, provided that on the above-mentioned days they recite prayers for the sanctification of priests and confidently offer the illnesses and hardships of their lives to God through Mary Queen of Apostles.

Lastly, the Partial Indulgence is granted to all the faithful every time they devoutly recite five Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias, or another expressly approved prayer, in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to obtain that priests be preserved in purity and holiness of life.

This Decree is valid for the entire duration of the Year for Priests. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Given in Rome, at the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 25 April, the Feast of St Mark the Evangelist, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 2009.

Cardinal James Francis Stafford
Major Penitentiary

Priesthood: A Life Open to Christ

2009-06-15T22:13:00.003+01:00

On the subject of new publications, I should mention this new book by St Pauls. I've been invited to a book launch on Friday 19th June in the Throne Room of Archbishop's House, Westminster. Archbishop Vincent Nichols will be hosting the event but unfortunately I won't be able to get there. It is preceded by a special Mass in Westminster Cathedral at 5.30pm to celebrate the start of the Year of the Priesthood.

The book, compiled by Canon Daniel Cronin, contains 78 articles on the priesthood written by bishops and priests from around the world. It might make a nice present for your parish priest to mark the Year of the Priesthood that begins this week. You can order a copy online from St Pauls.

Discovering Your Vocation

2009-06-15T21:13:00.004+01:00

I have been remiss in not posting about a new CTS booklet from Fr Stephen Wang. Many readers of this blog will know Fr Stephen from the constant encouragement and sensible advice they have received from him personally. Others may know him through Youth 2000 events or have read some of his other titles for young Catholics in the CTS series.
Some time ago I was sent a copy of talks Fr Stephen had given to young men discerning their vocation. He very graciously let me reproduce them and make them available to men in our diocese. I'm really pleased to see that these have now been expanded with lots of very practical advice for men and women trying to discern God's will for their lives.
You can order a copy by visiting the website of the Catholic Truth Society.

For those of you interested in a somewhat more formidable work by Fr Stephen Wang, his doctoral thesis has recently been published. Here's a link to the Amazon page.

Corpus Christi Procession

2009-06-14T20:06:00.002+01:00

Today we had the third (and last) of this year's First Communion Masses. Thanks be to God, over seventy children have now received Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion. It has been a lot of work and I am very grateful to the teachers and catechists who have dedicated so much time over the past year to preparing our First Communion candidates. During term time they have had lessons every week since September. Without our catechists and teachers it would not have been possible for them to be so well prepared.
When I first came to the parish I found the First Communion Mass (in those days we only had one) stressful. Well, to be honest, it was chaos. I remember one chap with earphones listening to the football, people wandering round, everyone talking and a great scrum at the moment of Communion. I couldn't believe it. Since then, of course, we have taken great care to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that the most important things are emphasised. No one walks around in the Church and we don't permit photos or videos except by a professional photographer. Everyone now comments on how prayerful and reverent the Mass is. I'm pleased about this because the significance of reciving Holy Communion for the first time is no longer obscured by the somewhat faddish excitement of a celebration.
Next week our children are invited to participate in the deanery Corpus Christi Procession that will take place at St Anselm's in Tooting. The parish is celebrating its centenary this year and it is nice to be able to have the Procession there - even though it will be a bit short because the roads are very busy round there. In his pastoral letter for the Feast of Corpus Christi the Archbishop spoke warmly of Corpus Christi Processions and I am glad that in our deanery they have been revived.
You've seen this before, but here once again is 'God in the Streets of New York'...

Quo Vadis Trip to Rome

2009-06-13T19:12:00.002+01:00

On 24th June a group of us will be travelling out to Rome for our first pilgrimage to the Eternal City. We're planning to visit all the important sites and to celebrate Holy Mass in the catacombs and, if possible in St Peter's as well. We will be there on for the closing of the Year of St Paul and for the Mass at which Archbishop Vincent Nichols will receive from the Holy Father his Pallium as the new Archbishop of Westminster.
Please pray for the success of our pilgrimage. We are all looking forward to it.

A Taste of Things to Come...

2009-06-13T19:00:00.006+01:00

Are you coming to Catholic Underground UK on 4th July? As the last post mentions we have the Friars of the Renewal coming from New York. Since then I've heard that the Friars are great jazz musicians - not being a fan of Rap that's a relief to me!
Here's a Youtube video the Friars have produced. An example of news becoming vocations promotion...

Catholic Underground UK

2009-06-09T20:29:00.002+01:00

At the beginning of July I'll be in Rome for a meeting of European Vocations Personnel. The meeting ends on Monday 6th July but I'll be flying back early to be in the parish for the next Catholic Underground session on Saturday 4th July. It's going to be a great evening because our guest performers will be the original Catholic Underground houseband who are coming all the way from New York. The photo gives you some idea of what to expect!

Catholic Underground starts with a Holy Hour at 7.15pm in the Church. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and we sing vespers which is followed by a time of prayer lead by the music ministry. During Adoration priests are available to hear confessions.

After Benediction we go to the school hall for the second part of the evening: a time to chill out with refreshments and live musical entertainment. That's when the Friars will be performing. The evening ends with Compline at about 10.30pm - to give us time to clear things away before it gets too late!

Do join us for the evening. It's not often we have such a distinguished group!

Mervile Day 3

2009-06-03T22:30:00.003+01:00

Fr Peter Geldard, a bike & a plane...

Yesterday I had a upset stomach and took to my bed with strong medicine after the evening Mass. I wasn't feeling great today but not bad enough to justify staying in bed. I got up at 6.30am and made my way somewhat bleary-eyed to the chapel. The temptation to duck out of the morning's activities was strong but somehow I found myself in the room with everyone else for the presentation by Fr Paddy Sweeney from Dublin. I was glad to be there because he treated us to a very amusing exposition of what he described as 'grit in the shoe': those little things that can irritate or upset us as priests that, if ignored, can develop into serious problems. For the most part they were trivial things, delivered with great humour, but we could all see how they could build up in someone's imagination and had the potential to become real issues.

Aerial View of the Pastoral Centre

Perked up by the morning I then had to decide what to do for the free afternoon. I wasn't particularly keen to visit the local Church and monasteries, so I accepted an invitation from Fr Geldard to go for a flight in his plane.

This involved riding collapsible bikes (punctures repaired) to the airfield when the plane had been parked (free of charge). The fact the the local 'yoof' laughed at us as we cycled past on the odd-looking cycles was made acceptable by the knowledge that in a few minutes, as they continued scratching their noses, we would be taking off in a plane.

St Omer

Having made all the necessary checks and received clearance for take-off, we were soon looking down on the diocesan pastoral centre - our home for the week - and heading westwards towards St Omer where we landed to look at the RAF memorial.

We then flew back to Merville and made our way to the pastoral centre with a good hour and a half to spare before the coaches arrived to take us to a hotel for a very pleasant evening meal.

RAF Memorial

ACTS

2009-06-02T18:36:00.002+01:00

I've mentioned before the blog by Glen Butterworth SJ. Glen has posted an article some of the readers of this blog might find interesting. Take a look here...

Merville

2009-06-02T14:42:00.002+01:00

About sixty priests from all over the diocese have come together to spend a week with the Archbishop here in Merville. Most of us travelled by Eurostar from St Pancras and a few drove, catching the ferry to Calais. The prize for the most original means of transport, however, goes to Fr Peter Geldard who borrowed a friend's plane and flew here. Merville airfield is about five kilometres from where we are staying and the plan was to cycle the last bit of the trip. Unfortunately he got a puncture and ended up having to walk - on a beautiful sunny day I should add.

By last night we were all gathered and dully welcomed by the Ongoing Formation Team of the diocese who sought to anticipate all our various needs. The Archbishop gave us an introduction to the week before supper and in the evening we had a period of Adoration together followed by Compline and Benediction.

Today has been a day of recollection with three talks given by Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP who drew on his experience, particularly as a former Master General of the Dominicans, to speak to us about our work 'between a rock and a hard place' as secular priests and the qualities of good leadership. In the photograph we see Fr Richard Whinder and Fr Marcus Holden shortly after their arrival at the former seminary.

Vocations Day with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary

2009-06-02T14:30:00.002+01:00

On Saturday I drove over to Putney to spend some time with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who were hosting a vocations day for women. It gave me a chance to visit the fine parish church which I hadn't seen before. I was also able to drop in briefly on Canon Richard Quinlan who spent some years as assistant priest in my present parish (under my predecessor). Canon Quinlan very kindly lent me a set of vestments so that I could celebrate Mass for the group in the Convent chapel.

Five girls joined us for the day which began with a reflection on the scriptural theme "I am the potter, you are the clay". After Mass we had a light lunch together after which I had to leave while the participants had a chance to chat with the sisters individually before a period of Adoration in the afternoon.

Merville

2009-05-31T19:17:00.002+01:00

Tomorrow I board a train for France in order to join about sixty priests of the diocese who will be spending the inside of a week together in prayer and reflection with the Archbishop. We will be staying in the former seminary at Merville which is now a diocesan retreat and conference centre. Do say a prayer the five days go well. In our diocese we are looking, among other things, at future pastoral provision. The temptation can be that we see this in terms of a 'shortage' of priests and falling Mass numbers necessitating structural change. What we need to do, as a presbyterate, is to see beyond structures to the mission of the Church at the beginning of the twenty-first century. These weeks can, I am sure, help us think in new ways.

A Pure Heart Create for Me

2009-05-31T17:38:00.002+01:00

Last year, to mark the fortieth anniversary of Humanae Vitae, the parish priest of St Patrick's, Soho, Fr Alexander Sherbrooke, organised a series of talks on 'Theology of the Body Today'. I gave one of the talks, shamelessly cribbing the title ('Aids, Condoms & the Catholic Church') from Fr Tim Finigan - who followed me with a talk entitled 'Challenge to the Culture'. Other contributors included Bishop Alan Hopes, Fr Anthony Doe, William Newton and James Parker.

I was very impressed by the number of people who turned up each evening, and particularly by the fact that there was no significant drop off over a series that spanned the best part of three months. Later it was suggested by some of those present that as many of the talks as possible should be collected and published to be made available to a wider audience. Robert Colquhoun was tasked with the job of assembling the material and editing it for publication. The book has now been published by Family Publications and it will be launched at St Patrick's on Thursday 18th June. It's not yet available on the Family Publications website but it will be worth looking out for.

Year for Priests - What will you do?

2009-05-29T14:00:00.002+01:00

What could you do in your parishes to mark the year for priests? I received an email today from someone in the diocese who always encourages me in my work. He first of all told me:

"We have Eucharistic Adoration for vocations in our parish every Friday from 7am till 9pm. You will always find someone present in prayer".

And then when on to speak of the plans for the Year for Priests:

"We are going to celebrate the anniversary of the ordination of our two priests to the priesthood on Sunday 12th July. The intentions at the two masses will be “To thank almighty God for [their] vocation. I am presently organizing all the various societies in the parish to participate and so far everyone is really enthusiastic. To be honest everyone approached actually loved the idea".

Sometimes people want years such as this to be marked by big diocesan events - which have their place of course - but I can't help feeling these little local initiatives will have a more long-lasting effect. So have a think. What will you do in your parish?

Year for Priests

2009-05-29T13:10:00.002+01:00

The Holy Father has called for a Year for Priests to begin in June which has attached to it the possibility of gaining a Plenary Indulgence. This is the Letter from the Congregation for the Clergy announcing the Year:

Dear Priests,

The Year of Priesthood, announced by our beloved Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the death of the saintly Curé of Ars, St. John Mary Vianney, is drawing near. It will be inaugurated by the Holy Father on the 19^th June, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. The announcement of the Year of Priesthood has been very warmly received, especially amongst priests themselves. Everyone wants to commit themselves with determination, sincerity and fervour so that it may be a year amply celebrated in the whole world – in the Dioceses, parishes and in every local community – with the warm participation of our Catholic people who undoubtedly love their priests and want to see them happy, holy and joyous in their daily apostolic labours.

It must be a year that is both positive and forward looking in which the Church says to her priests above all, but also to all the Faithful and to wider society by means of the mass media, that she is proud of her priests, loves them, honours them, admires them and that she recognises with gratitude their pastoral work and the witness of the their life. Truthfully priests are important not only for what they do but also for who they are. Sadly, it is true that at the present time some priest have been shown to have been involved in gravely problematic and unfortunate situations. It is necessary to investigate these matters, pursue judicial processes and impose penalties accordingly. However, it is also important to keep in mind that these pertain to a very small portion of the clergy. The overwhelming majority of priests are people of great personal integrity, dedicated to the sacred ministry; men of prayer and of pastoral charity, who invest their entire existence in the fulfilment of their vocation and mission, often through great personal sacrifice, but always with an authentic love towards Jesus Christ, the Church and the people, in solidarity with the poor and the suffering. It is for this reason that the Church is proud of her priests wherever they may be found.

May this year be an occasion for a period of intense appreciation of the priestly identity, of the theology of the Catholic priesthood, and of the extraordinary meaning of the vocation and mission of priests within the Church and in society. This will require opportunities for study, days of recollection, spiritual exercises reflecting on the Priesthood, conferences and theological seminars in our ecclesiastical faculties, scientific research and respective publications.

The Holy Father, in announcing the Year in his allocution on the 16^th March last to the Congregation for the Clergy during its Plenary Assembly, said that with this special year it is intended “to encourage priests in this striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends”. For this reason it must be, in a very special way, a year of prayer by priests, with priests and for priests, a year for the renewal of the spirituality of the presbyterate and of each priest. The Eucharist is, in this perspective, at the heart of priestly spirituality. Thus Eucharistic adoration for the sanctification of priests and the spiritual motherhood of religious women, consecrated and lay women towards priests, as previously proposed some time ago by the Congregation for the Clergy, could be further developed and would certainly bear the fruit of sanctification.

May it also be a year in which the concrete circumstances and the material sustenance of the clergy will be considered, since they live, at times, in situations of great poverty and hardship in many parts of the world.

May it be a year as well of religious and of public celebration which will bring the people – the local Catholic community – to pray, to reflect, to celebrate, and justly to give honour to their priests. In the ecclesial community a celebration is a very cordial event which expresses and nourishes Christian joy, a joy which springs from the certainty that God loves us and celebrates with us. May it therefore be an opportunity to develop the communion and friendship between priests and the communities entrusted to their care.

Many other aspects and initiatives could be mentioned that could enrich the Year of Priesthood, but here the faithful ingenuity of the local churches is called for. Thus, it would be good for every Dioceses and each parish and local community to establish, at the earliest opportunity, an effective programme for this special year. Clearly it would be important to begin the Year with some notable event. The local Churches are invited on the 19^th June next, the same day on which the Holy Father will inaugurate the Year of Priesthood in Rome, to participate in the opening of the Year, ideally by some particular liturgical act and festivity. Let those who are able most surely come to Rome for the inauguration, to manifest their own participation in this happy initiative of the Pope.

God will undoubtedly bless with great love this undertaking; and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Clergy, will pray for each of you, dear priests.

Cláudio Cardinal Hummes

Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo

Prefect, Congregation for the Clergy.

Southwark Vocations Endorsed By Holy See

2009-05-28T11:50:00.002+01:00

His Excellency Monsignor Mauro Piacenza wrote recently to convey the compliments of the Congregation for the Clergy, of which he is Secretary, for our new diocesan Handbook for Parish Vocations Teams.

The Congregations writes that the Handbook:

"appears to have struck a healthy balance between the centrality of the universal vocation to holiness by virtue of our baptism and the indispensable vocations to priesthood and the consecrated life by which the Church worships God, proclaims the Gospel, and witnesses to the work of Grace in her members".

It particularly commends the handbook as a useful means of promoting Eucharistic Adoration and prayer for priests during the forthcoming Year of Priesthood:

"Indeed, the volume might serve as a useful resource within the apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration, fostering an awareness of the responsibility of every member of Christ's faithful to pray for and encourage vocations to the priesthood, and to faithfully understand its nature and place within the Church, particularly in view of the Year of the Priesthood recently announced by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI".

I am greatful to the Archbishop for such a strong endorsement of our new initiative and also to the Apostolic Nuncio who requested a number of copies to forward to Rome.

An Unusual Wedding

2009-05-22T21:31:00.003+01:00

Yesterday afternoon I drove down to Shaftesbury where I celebrated the wedding of some parishioners today. The parish of the Most Holy Name and St Edward is run by Fr Dylan James, a young priest whom I first met when he was an undergraduate in London. Fr Dylan studied at Oscott and later completed a doctorate in Moral Theology, a subject he now lectures part-time at Wonersh.
The wedding was unusual because both bride and groom were divorced and had teenage children. I have to admit that I was quite worried about the sermon. How could I preach about marriage and avoid the danger of giving the wrong signals to the young people present? In the end I decided the only way was to tackle the issue head on. Having used Satnav to find my way to Shaftesbury - "turn around when possible" - I spoke first about the providence of God. I then spoke about the importance of a good Catholic marriage preparation course - a couple when they marry are assenting to a Catholic understanding of marriage. If this consent isn't there we would regard the marriage as invalid - hence the possibility of an annulment. In this case one partner had the marriage annulled on grounds of lack of canonical form, and the other on grounds of an intention against an integral aspect of marriage. Having cleared the air, I was then able to speak about marriage as a path to holiness, a vocation and a sacrament, and about the meaning of love. The readings they chose made this very easy.
I was a bit nervous about how the couple would feel about me mentioning annullments but was pleased that they really appreciated the sermon. Not only that, lots of their guests also commented that I'd answered their questions - and three want to come to see me about sorting out their own marriage situation.
My prayers to the Holy Spirit for inspiration really paid off!

Federico Lombardi SJ

2009-05-19T08:47:00.005+01:00

Last night I attended a special Mass organised by the Catholic Communications Network to mark World Communications Day. It was presided over by Bishop John Arnold and there were quite a few journalists present. Also concelebrating was Fr Federico Lombardi SJ the papal press officer who later gave a lecture on his work. The lecture took place at Allen Hall and I was impressed by the number of people who attended. In the questions that followed a number of journalists asked about controversies to which Fr Lombardi has himself referred in the course of his talk (Regensburg, Aids, Bishop Williamson). While acknowledging that these had been negative experiences, Fr Lombardi did say that they had in each case occasioned a more profound dialogue with the interested parties. The Church had, as a result of these PR 'disasters', been able to communicate its message more effectively to men of good will. As a result there was now a greater understanding between the Church and some Islamic scholars and Jewish representatives, and a more honest debate with the scientific world.
Lombardi's critique of communications seemed to be according to the 'action, reaction, synthesis' model. He clearly has been pro-active in engaging the new media, particularly setting up the You Tube channel. I was, however, left with a niggle that something was missing. It is good for us to be up to date with technology but these channels are simply tools for us to use in communicating. I wondered whether there is also a need to update our model. In secular life communication offices no longer simply kick-in reactively. They are now part of the presentation of the message. To a certain extent they make the news, or at least determine how it will be packaged. I couldn't help feeling that Navarro Valls possibly understood this better, as a lay man who is a journalist, than his charming and illustrious successor.
James Roberts, who formerly worked for the Independent, and now works for the Catholic press asked whether Lombardi's work would be facilitated if the local Church weres were more pro-active in presenting the challenge of the faith to the media. Ruth Gledhill from the Times asked whether the Holy Father had any plans to visit England. The answer, given with wonderful Italian flourish, boiled down to: not yet!

Fatima Comes to Balham

2009-05-18T09:45:00.006+01:00

On Saturday we had a 'Day with Mary' in the parish. The organisers arrived before 8am and worked hard to get everything ready in time for the first part of the day which was a May Procession round the Square. The police kindly came and stopped the traffic for five laps of the Square as the pilgrims prayed both the Joyful and the Sorrowful Mysteries.
After the Procession I celebrated Holy Mass and preached on the theme of "Our Lady, Spouse of the Holy Spirit" which I thought appropriate both given the dedication of the Church and also the fact that we are now looking towards Pentecost. At the end of the Mass I led the people in a special Consecration of the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
There was then a break for lunch followed by a Blessed Sacrament Procession and a period of Adoration. The remaining Mysteries of the Rosary were prayed in the afternoon and there was also a chance for anyone so wishing to be enrolled into the Scapular of Mt Carmel. Finally the day closed just in time for our evening Mass with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima being carried in procession out of the Church as the people sang "O Fatima farewell".
About two hundred and fifty joined us for the Day with Mary including some of our own parishioners. Confessions were heard throughout and I am especially grateful to the eight priests who made themselves available to help with Confessions. These pilgrimages are great opportunities for people to seek reconciliation with God and I know that the priests who hear Confessions are always impressed by the fact that the Lord uses them to crack quite a few 'hard cases'!

From Atheist to Christian

2009-05-17T20:07:00.004+01:00

Sometimes we need to look elsewhere for quite encouraging news. I'd missed, for example, any reports in the British press of the conversion from atheism to a belief in God by two important English writers. So I was pleased to come across this article in the Spanish publication Aceprensa. For those of you who struggle with Spanish let me give you the introduction to the article and a translation. It's quite fun:

Desde que Richard Dawkins y compañía comenzaron su particular cruzada para salvar al mundo de la creencia en Dios, las filas del ateísmo han sufrido algunas bajas importantes. Primero fue el filósofo inglés Antony Flew que, tras estudiar los recientes hallazgos científicos sobre el origen de la vida, llegó a aceptar la existencia de Dios (cfr. Aceprensa, 16-04-2009). Ahora le ha seguido Andrew Norman Wilson, un novelista, biógrafo y articulista de renombre en la prensa británica.

"Ever since Richard Dawkins and company began their particular crusade to save the world from belief in God, the ranks of atheism have suffered some notable setbacks. The first was the English philosopher Anthony Flew who, have studied recent scientific advances concerning the origin of life, has come to accept the existence of God. Now he has been followed by Andrew Norman Wilson, a renowned author, biographer and commentator in the British press".

The article goes on to say that while Flew hasn't embraced any particular religion, Wilson has returned to his Anglican roots. The article has a link to the New Stateman which carries a fuller account of Wilson's return to Christianity.

ACTS

2009-05-17T19:40:00.002+01:00

I've had an email from Glen Butterworth SJ who had read an article I wrote for a local Catholic publication. Glen was hoping to publish an extract on his own blog which promotes Jesuit vocations. As part of his preparation for priesthood Glen will be studying in London next year so perhaps we'll meet up. In the meantime do visit his blog - he has a poll for the most influential Jesuit of the twentieth century. At my suggestion he added Henri de Lubac to the list - so make sure you vote for him!

What number are you?

2009-05-15T22:08:00.003+01:00

Tomorrow we should have our fifty thousandth visitor to this blog. Do let us know by leaving a comment in the combox if it's you!

I'll remember all our readers at Mass tomorrow as we celebrate a Day with Mary in the parish.

Grassroots

2009-05-14T08:39:00.002+01:00

Grassroots - the markers of 'Fishers of Men', the phenomenally successful vocations video - have produced a simple but profoundly effective pro-life short:

Rover's Return

2009-05-12T12:37:00.002+01:00

Last week I was away from the parish for a few days break after Easter. I went first to the parish of Our Lady & St Christopher in Bredbury and Romiley where a friend has recently taken over as parish priest. Fr Philip Egan is the author of "Philosophy & Catholic Theology - A Primer". It was good to spend a few days with him on the edge of the Peak District.
After that I drove down the West coast of Wales to Cardigan and spent some time at Our Lady of the Taper, the National Shrine. I was able to enjoy the beauty of the Welsh countryside and also catch up with some friends. On Friday I drove to Newport to have lunch with a family and then into Cardiff to be present for the start of the Refresh Cardiff Retreat. I was there for the opening Mass celebrated by Archbishop Peter Smith and for part of the first evening's programme. Sadly I couldn't stay for the whole event because I had to get back for a wedding on Saturday morning.
It was good to get away for a few days.

Social Project

2009-05-12T10:32:00.002+01:00

Each year our parish supports students from Netherhall House in their fund-raising efforts for them to spend the summer in a social project somewhere in the third world. Over the years I've got to know many of the students who have gone including, of course, some from my own parish. It has always had a tremendous impact on their lives. They have dug latrines, built orphanages and offered basic medical care. Last year they built a school. I didn't realise there was a video of last year's project on Youtube but, having discovered it, I'm pleased to post it here.

I'm also pleased that some of the students have gone on these trips in the past are now hoping to be ordained priests one day.

Encouraging Younger Vocations

2009-04-29T20:19:00.002+01:00

"The vocations crisis in this country will never be over until we regain the confidence to accept younger vocations". These words, spoken by a well-known former vocations director, now Vicar General of his diocese, have stuck with me.
To respond to a vocation is to give oneself in love. To be sure, many teenagers who 'fall in love' do not stay together and, indeed, that can be a good thing. We can learn a lot about ourselves and about the reality of love from these adolescent romances. But our relationship with God is quite different. For a start, it is a relationship that is supposed to start and never end no matter how young we are. Secondly, as that relationship grows we have to face up to only our own shortcomings - not God's!
As May approaches I can't help but reflect on the fact that Our Lady was very young when she responded to God's call. Her 'Yes' had dramatic consequences. It wasn't easy for her. Indeed, it led her to the Cross. The main point is that she was faithful. That's what God asks of us: fidelity.
Perhaps it was the sad exodus from the priesthood from the 1960s that led people to be hesitant about encouraging younger vocations. I hope it is a fear that can be left behind and that instead of responding nervously when a young man presents himself for the priesthood, we can rejoice at his generosity, and pray for his fidelity.

Discovering Priesthood Day

2009-04-26T16:27:00.003+01:00

Yesterday we had another of our Discovering Priesthood Days. We try to hold these in different parts of the diocese and it was nice to be back at Lewisham where we were made so welcome last year. It was our largest Discovering Priesthood Day so far with lads from all over South East London as well as a good group from Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Once again we were looked after by the Union of Catholic Mothers - including Pearl who deserves a special mention because it was her 80th birthday.

Fr Sean O'Connor led the day which began with a testimony from Fr Marcus Holden who recently moved to Tunbridge Wells after three years in Balham. There was also a showing of the film 'Fishers of Men'. Bishop Patrick Lynch joined us for the day and spoke of his religious vocation (he is a Picpus Father). After questions I spoke about the call to holiness and the practical ways in which we live it. Holy Mass was followed by lunch and sports. Fr Chris Connor, the parish priest, treated us to a takeaway from a local Indian restaurant that apparently has a Sacred Heart statue amongst its panoply of Hindu gods.

After the lunch break I spoke more directly about the different vocations in the Church and how to discern them. We then had our usual 'Priest on the Hotseat' session with questions ranging from "Why do you wear a collar?" to "If God is spirit how can he have an image?" The day ended with Benediction in the Church.

Discovering Priesthood Days are easy to organise because the formula is straightforward. It's good to have a priest who will speak enthusiastically about his vocation and priestly life. The film 'Fishers of Men' offers a different medium for raising questions about priesthood. Mass, Confessions and a time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament are important. So is having some outside space where youngsters can run around and shake off some energy. After all, we want them to go home feeling they've had a really enjoyable day! It is the sort of thing a Parish Vocation Team can organise inviting, perhaps, all the other parishes of the Deanery to send youngsters. Those who come need not be thinking explicitly about priesthood - altar servers and confirmation candidates would be good groups to target.

Do these days have any effect? I'm sure they do but don't take my word for it. Here's an email that arrived this morning:

The day was wonderful. Thanks for organising it. Here is my email. Please inform me of any programs going on. I will try my best to come to it.

Discernment - a two-way task

2009-04-20T15:36:00.003+01:00

Vocations directors meet lots of men who think they have a vocation to the priesthood. Unfortunately it is not so straightforward and a sizeable number of those who enquire are clearly not suited to be priests. Vocations discernment has two sides to it. The individual comes to the conclusion that there is a possibility God is calling him to priesthood. He must then subject himself to the judgement of the Church. A recent document of the Holy See reminds us that in the end it is the Church who must discern a person’s suitability. In so doing she has to bear in mind that the priestly ministry requires certain human and spiritual qualities which can be compromised or made more difficult given some personal dispositions or the social climate in which she functions.

“Some of these qualities merit particular attention: the positive and stable sense of one's masculine identity, and the capacity to form relations in a mature way with individuals and groups of people; a solid sense of belonging, which is the basis of future communion with the presbyterium and of a responsible collaboration in the ministry of the bishop; the freedom to be enthused by great ideals and a coherence in realizing them in everyday action; the courage to take decisions and to stay faithful to them; a knowledge of oneself, of one's talents and limitations, so as to integrate them within a self-esteem before God; the capacity to correct oneself; the appreciation for beauty in the sense of “splendour of the truth” as well as the art of recognizing it; the trust that is born from an esteem of the other person and that leads to acceptance; the capacity of the candidate to integrate his sexuality in accordance with the Christian vision, including in consideration of the obligation of celibacy”. [Guidelines for the use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood].

It may be true that some of those who present themselves are from the outset clearly unsuitable as candidates for the priesthood but that is not always the case. Part of the Vocations Director’s job is, therefore, to get to know the candidates well before he puts them forward for selection. There is, after all, no point putting someone forward only in order to have them rejected. If you, or someone you know, is thinking of the priesthood it would be good to contact your Vocations Director as soon as possible.

Snakes on a Plane

2009-04-16T18:30:00.002+01:00

When I was visiting my brother, Dominic & his family, in Australia after World Youth Day he told me that they often found poisonous snakes basking in the sun on the lawn of their house, overlooking the water. I went with his family for a few days further north to the place where Captain Cook landed. The beach there had notices warning of Stone Fish. On the way back we found an enormous spider in the car. Great!
A couple of years ago a priest friend and I watched the film 'Snakes on a Plane'. It was very funny but not something you'd want to come true. So I can't resist an item from the news today - hey Dom - it's happened. Four pythons escaped on a flight from Melbourne. Good job they weren't poisonous...

Holy Week with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

2009-04-16T18:09:00.004+01:00

I greatly admire the Friars of the Renewal and consider myself privileged to have some contact with the community in Canning Town. They get a reasonable number of vocations from England but are in no way in competition with diocesan vocations directors. The two vocations are totally different. The Friars don't seem to have any developed programme to fish for vocations. They just live the Gospel and that attracts young men.
Here's a slideshow I saw recently on the Roman Catholic Vocations Blog.

Click the photo to see the show.

Seeking Wisdom

2009-04-13T12:41:00.004+01:00

For my homilies over the Triduum I contrasted human and divine wisdom.
This year, although we have heard a lot about Charles Darwin, I have been struck by how little attention has been paid to his personal life. In many ways he died a broken man: he wrote that he longed for the grave in Down Churchyard. Coming from a solid philanthropical background, Darwin found his 'scientific' logic to be at odds with his heart. The man who concluded that it was folly to permit the sick to breed, found that some of his own children were weak and unhealthy. Darwin's anointed successor on the continent was Ernst Haeckel thanks to whom the concept of 'unlebenswurdig' - or life unworthy of living - first enters the German dictionary. Darwin's son Leonard became chairman of the British Eugenics Society. It is as if, in doing away with the Creator, the way had been paved for the destruction also of the creature. This is contrasted with God's love which embraces every individual and gives it worth and dignity.

On Good Friday I spoke of the folly of the Cross from a human perspective and how God's wisdom can transform even human suffering.

I developed this theme further at the Vigil. The light of the Resurrection enables us to see clearly the hand of God not just in the created world but also in the whole history of salvation. I put a particular emphasis on faith as man's response, arguing that faith isn't just a matter of believing what has been revealed but is also about putting our trust in the one who is revealed.
This year, once again we had good numbers at all our services. I was particularly pleased to see a lot of young people who had made the effort to join us.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

2009-04-08T18:06:00.001+01:00

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE 46TH WORLD DAY
OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
3RD MAY 2009, FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Theme: Faith in the divine initiative - the human response

Dear Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood,
Brothers and Sisters,

On the occasion of the next World Day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life, which will be celebrated on 3 May 2009, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, I want to invite all the People of God to reflect on the theme: Faith in the divine initiative - the human response. The exhortation of Jesus to his disciples: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38) has a constant resonance in the Church. Pray! The urgent call of the Lord stresses that prayer for vocations should be continuous and trusting. The Christian community can only really “have ever greater faith and hope in God's providence” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 26) if it is enlivened by prayer.

The vocation to the priesthood and to the consecrated life constitutes a special gift of God which becomes part of the great plan of love and salvation that God has for every man and woman and for the whole of humanity. The Apostle Paul, whom we remember in a special way during this Pauline Year dedicated to the Two-thousandth anniversary of his birth, writing to the Ephesians says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Ef 1:3-4). In the universal call to holiness, of particular relevance is God’s initiative of choosing some to follow his Son Jesus Christ more closely, and to be his privileged ministers and witnesses. The divine Master personally called the Apostles “to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons” (Mk 3:14-15); they, in turn, gathered other disciples around them as faithful collaborators in this mission. In this way, responding to the Lord’s call and docile to the movement of the Holy Spirit, over the centuries, countless ranks of priests and consecrated persons placed themselves totally at the service of the Gospel in the Church. Let us give thanks to God, because even today he continues to call together workers into his vineyard. While it is undoubtedly true that a worrisome shortage of priests is evident in some regions of the world, and that the Church encounters difficulties and obstacles along the way, we are sustained by the unshakable certitude that the one who firmly guides her in the pathways of time towards the definitive fulfilment of the Kingdom is he, the Lord, who freely chooses persons of every culture and of every age and invites them to follow him according to the mysterious plans of his merciful love.

Our first duty, therefore, is to keep alive in families and in parishes, in movements and in apostolic associations, in religious communities and in all the sectors of diocesan life this appeal to the divine initiative with unceasing prayer. We must pray that the whole Christian people grows in its trust in God, convinced that the “Lord of the harvest” does not cease to ask some to place their entire existence freely at his service so as to work with him more closely in the mission of salvation. What is asked of those who are called, for their part, is careful listening and prudent discernment, a generous and willing adherence to the divine plan, and a serious study of the reality that is proper to the priestly and religious vocations, so as to be able to respond responsibly and with conviction.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly reminds us that God’s free initiative requires a free response on the part of men and women; a positive response which always presupposes acceptance of and identification with the plan that God has for everyone; a response which welcomes the Lord’s loving initiative and becomes, for the one who is called, a binding moral imperative, an offering of thanksgiving to God and a total cooperation with the plan which God carries out in history (cf. n. 2062).

Contemplating the mystery of the Eucharist, which expresses in a sublime way the free gift of the Father in the Person of his Only Begotten Son for the salvation of mankind, and the full and docile readiness of Christ to drink to the dregs the “cup” of the will of God (cf. Mt 26:39), we can more readily understand how “faith in the divine initiative” models and gives value to the “human response”. In the Eucharist, that perfect gift which brings to fulfilment the plan of love for the redemption of the world, Jesus offers himself freely for the salvation of mankind. “The Church”, my beloved predecessor John Paul II wrote, “has received the Eucharist from Christ her Lord not as a gift – however precious – among so many others, but as the gift par excellence, for it is the gift of himself, of his person in his sacred humanity, as well as the gift of his saving work” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 11).

It is priests who are called to perpetuate this salvific mystery from century to century until the Lord’s glorious return, for they can contemplate, precisely in the Eucharistic Christ, the eminent model of a “vocational dialogue” between the free initiative of the Father and the faithful response of Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist it is Christ himself who acts in those whom he chooses as his ministers; he supports them so that their response develops in a dimension of trust and gratitude that removes all fear, even when they experience more acutely their own weakness (cf. Rm 8:26-28), or indeed when the experience of misunderstanding or even of persecution is most bitter (cf. Rm 8:35-39).

The awareness of being saved by the love of Christ, which every Mass nourishes in the faithful and especially in priests, cannot but arouse within them a trusting self-abandonment to Christ who gave his life for us. To believe in the Lord and to accept his gift, therefore, leads us to entrust ourselves to Him with thankful hearts, adhering to his plan of salvation. When this does happen, the one who is “called” voluntarily leaves everything and submits himself to the teaching of the divine Master; hence a fruitful dialogue between God and man begins, a mysterious encounter between the love of the Lord who calls and the freedom of man who responds in love, hearing the words of Jesus echoing in his soul, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” (Jn 15:16).

This intertwining of love between the divine initiative and the human response is present also, in a wonderful way, in the vocation to the consecrated life. The Second Vatican Council recalls, “The evangelical counsels of chastity dedicated to God, poverty and obedience are based upon the words and examples of the Lord. They were further commanded by the apostles and Fathers of the Church, as well as by the doctors and pastors of souls. The counsels are a divine gift, which the Church received from its Lord and which it always safeguards with the help of His grace” (Lumen Gentium, 43).
Once more, Jesus is the model of complete and trusting adherence to the will of the Father, to whom every consecrated person must look. Attracted by him, from the very first centuries of Christianity, many men and women have left families, possessions, material riches and all that is humanly desirable in order to follow Christ generously and live the Gospel without compromise, which had become for them a school of deeply rooted holiness. Today too, many undertake this same demanding journey of evangelical perfection and realise their vocation in the profession of the evangelical counsels. The witness of these our brothers and sisters, in contemplative monasteries, religious institutes and congregations of apostolic life, reminds the people of God of “that mystery of the Kingdom of God is already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven” (Vita Consecrata, 1).

Who can consider himself worthy to approach the priestly ministry? Who can embrace the consecrated life relying only on his or her own human powers? Once again, it is useful to reiterate that the response of men and women to the divine call, whenever they are aware that it is God who takes the initiative and brings His plan of salvation to fulfilment, is never patterned after the timid self-interest of the worthless servant who, out of fear, hid the talent entrusted to him in the ground (cf. Mt 25:14-30), but rather expresses itself in a ready adherence to the Lord’s invitation, as in the case of Peter who, trusting in the Lord’ word, did not hesitate to let down the net once more even after having toiled all night and catching nothing (cf. Lk 5:5). Without in any sense renouncing personal responsibility, the free human response to God thus becomes “co-responsibility”, responsibility in and with Christ, through the action of his Holy Spirit; it becomes communion with the One who makes it possible for us to bear much fruit (cf. Jn 15:5).

An emblematic human response, full of trust in God’s initiative, is the generous and unmitigated “Amen” of the Virgin of Nazareth, uttered with humble and decisive adherence to the plan of the Most High announced to her by God’s messenger (cf. Lk 1:38). Her prompt “Yes” allowed Her to become the Mother of God, the Mother of our Saviour. Mary, after this first “fiat”, had to repeat it many times, even up to the culminating moment of the crucifixion of Jesus, when “standing by the cross of Jesus” as the Evangelist John notes, she participated in the dreadful suffering of her innocent Son. And it was from the cross, that Jesus, while dying, gave her to us as Mother and entrusted us to her as sons and daughters (cf. Jn 19:26-27); she is especially the Mother of priests and consecrated persons. I want to entrust to her all those who are aware of God’s call to set out on the road of the ministerial priesthood or consecrated life.

Dear friends, do not become discouraged in the face of difficulties and doubts; trust in God and follow Jesus faithfully and you will be witnesses of the joy that flows from intimate union with him. Imitating the Virgin Mary whom all generations proclaim as blessed because she believed (cf. Lk 1:48), commit yourselves with every spiritual energy, to realise the heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, cultivating in your heart, like her, the ability to be astonished and to adore him who is mighty and does “great things”, for Holy is his name (cf. Lk 1:49).

From the Vatican, 20 January 2009

2009-04-05T20:50:00.003+01:00

H/T to Fr Tim Finigan for this new vocations video by students from the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in the United States.

Palm Sunday

2009-04-05T20:24:00.003+01:00

Today is Palm Sunday. We leave behind the mad rush of last week and enter Holy Week with great solemnity. Our main Mass begins outside with the Blessing of Palms, proclamation of the Gospel and Solemn Procession. Term is already over so our numbers are down a bit today: only 1102 people at Mass. Nevertheless I was pleased to see quite a few join us for the main Mass and Procession. The route back into the Church takes us along a path with raised flower beds on either side and, for a short distance, on the public footpath. I like to use all these elements. For me it is a physical reminder of the fact that we are to enter Holy Week with our whole being.
After Mass seven of us sat down for an enjoyable lunch.

One of the features this Lent has been to try to get people to read more about their faith. We have a CTS display in the narthex that we keep up to date with new titles as they come out. Luckily I have a kind parishioner who looks after this for me. I'm always impressed at the variety of booklets we stock and at how rapidly we go through them. I'm also pleased that, having plugged them for Lent, quite a few people have told me that they have found them very helpful.

Canterbury Chaplaincy

2009-04-05T20:14:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday evening I travelled down to John Stone House, the Catholic University Chaplaincy in Canterbury. Fr Peter Geldard the university chaplain always invites me down in the spring to give a talk about vocations to the students.
I'm very impressed by the Chaplaincy. Fr Peter is an excellent chaplain: he is dedicated and hard-working and organises a great range of activities for the students. He knows his students well and they clearly have a great affection for him. He keeps in contact with them all through an e-newsletter. After the talk there is a meal followed by the opening of the student bar - or The Barque as it is known. Donations for the meal go towards sponsoring a trip to Lourdes for one of the students. Some of the students leave after the meal to get back to their studies but for those who stay there is a screening of 'Fishers of Men' which has lost nothing of its ability to impress and inspire. One fo the girls tells me she is considering religious life and a couple of lads have a chat about priestly vocations.
Since Canterbury is quite some way from my parish, he kindly lets me stay overnight and we have breakfast together which gives us a chance to catch up on news - diocesan and otherwise.

Catholic Underground

2009-04-05T20:06:00.003+01:00

No sooner had the Catenians left than preparations began in earnest for London'd first 'Catholic Underground' event which took place that evening. The organisers had told me they would be very pleased if about forty people turned up. As it was we had a hundred and fifty for a great evening that began with a Holy Hour and vespers in the church led by Br John Bosco. This had a profound effect on some of those who attended. If we measure according to what people put on their Facebook pages, at least one person that evening decided God was calling him to become a priest.
After the Holy Hour we made our way into the school hall where the evening's entertainment began with Dan Driver, a promising young singer song-writer. The idea of Catholic Underground is to provide a forum for Christian artists and so perhaps it should have been no surprised to hear a piece inspired by the Screwtape Letters and another called 'The Unmoved Mover'. After Dan we had the New Jerusalem Project with some feisty Catholic lyrics and finally Ejiro, a young Christian rap artist.
Was the evening a success? Well at least one Facebook profile was changed to "Catholic Underground changed my life"!

Handbook for Parish Vocation Teams

2009-04-05T19:40:00.004+01:00

Last Saturday we welcomed Bishop Pat Lynch to the parish for the launch of a new diocesan 'Handbook for Parish Vocation Teams'. The event was organised by the Catenians who have a special interest in promoting vocations and it was good to hear an encouraging speach from Vernon d'Cruz who has taken on responsibility for the Catenians' vocations work at a national level.
One of the Catenians, Andrew Martin, had worked hard to galavanise support for the day and I was pleased to see lay men and women, priests and deacons, as well as religious brothers and sisters from all over the diocese.
As part of the day I gave a presentation on the theology and scope of vocation in the Church ending with an introduction to the new Handbook itself. I explained that a 'culture of vocation' is one in which every person is enabled to take seriously the fact that they receive a personal call from the Lord. When we learn to be attentive to that call - which for most people will be marriage - and when we learn to value the various specific vocations in the Church, men and women will begin to listen to the 'still small voice of God' and to respond with generosity to whatever he has in mind for them. The idea of a Parish Vocation Team is that a group of people be formed in each parish who will use their wit and ingenuity to promote a 'culture of vocation' at every level of parish life. The practical importance of establishing a group like this is twofold: first of all, every parish is different and needs to find its own ways of promoting vocations. Secondly, there is no one 'recipe' - by getting lots of people involved in promoting vocations we will be able to share good ideas.
We have now sent two copies of the Handbook to every parish in the hope that parish priests will keep one and pass the other on to someone who can establish a team. The book contains everything needed to get them going, from a short explanation of the theology of vocation, through to a sample constitution and practical ideas they may be able to implement in their parishes.
After Easter I shall meet again with the Catenians to discuss how we can further this important project.

Catholic Underground

2009-03-26T17:24:00.003Z

I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible for the launch of Catholic Underground UK on Saturday. For more information take a look at this article by Anna Arco of the Catholic Herald. There's also a Facebook Group you can join. I was pleased to see that some of the comments are from young artists asking how they can audition for future events. That sounds really promising. Catholic underground UK has its own website so you can get a feel by visiting it yourselves.
However, there's no substitute for the real thing! So let's see you on Saturday. After Adoration and Vespers in the Church at 7.30pm we move to the hall for the evening's entertainment.

FROM JP II'S LETTER TO ARTISTS...

...WITH THIS LETTER, I TURN TO YOU, THE ARTISTS OF THE WORLD, TO ASSURE YOU OF MY ESTEEM AND TO HELP CONSOLIDATE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ART AND THE CHURCH. MINE IS AN INVITATION TO REDISCOVER THE DEPTH OF THE SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS DIMENSION WHICH HAS BEEN TYPICAL OF ART IN ITS NOBLEST FORMS IN EVERY AGE. IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT I APPEAL TO YOU, ARTISTS OF THE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD, OF THE THEATRE AND MUSIC, OF THE PLASTIC ARTS AND THE MOST RECENT TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATION. I APPEAL ESPECIALLY TO YOU, CHRISTIAN ARTISTS: I WISH TO REMIND EACH OF YOU THAT, BEYOND FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, THE CLOSE ALLIANCE THAT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED BETWEEN THE GOSPEL AND ART MEANS THAT YOU ARE INVITED TO USE YOUR CREATIVE INTUITION TO ENTER INTO THE HEART OF THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATE GOD AND AT THE SAME TIME INTO THE MYSTERY OF MAN. HUMAN BEINGS, IN A CERTAIN SENSE, ARE UNKNOWN TO THEMSELVES. JESUS CHRIST NOT ONLY REVEALS GOD, BUT “FULLY REVEALS MAN TO MAN”. IN CHRIST, GOD HAS RECONCILED THE WORLD TO HIMSELF. ALL BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO BEAR WITNESS TO THIS; BUT IT IS UP TO YOU, MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN YOUR LIVES TO ART, TO DECLARE WITH ALL THE WEALTH OF YOUR INGENUITY THAT IN CHRIST THE WORLD IS REDEEMED: THE HUMAN PERSON IS REDEEMED, THE HUMAN BODY IS REDEEMED, AND THE WHOLE CREATION WHICH, ACCORDING TO SAINT PAUL, “AWAITS IMPATIENTLY THE REVELATION OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD” (ROM 8:19), IS REDEEMED. THE CREATION AWAITS THE REVELATION OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD ALSO THROUGH ART AND IN ART. THIS IS YOUR TASK. HUMANITY IN EVERY AGE, AND EVEN TODAY, LOOKS TO WORKS OF ART TO SHED LIGHT UPON ITS PATH AND ITS DESTINY.

Saturday

2009-03-26T17:18:00.000Z

I'm off to Oscott today and will be back tomorrow, but before going wanted to post about Saturday. In the morning Bishop Pat Lynch will be with us to celebrate the 10.00am Mass before we have the launch of our new diocesan Handbook for Parish Vocation Teams. Do join us if you can. The more the better!
On Saturday night we have the first Catholic Underground event. It starts with a Holy Hour in the Church here at 7.30pm followed by musical entertainment in the school hall. Again we hope lots of you will come.

Time to Party

2009-03-24T19:38:00.006Z

The best place to celebrate your 21st birthday is most certainly in seminary! How can I say that with such certainty? Because on Sunday we had a tremendous party to celebrate John Watt's 21st. John may not be a Southwark seminarian - but we've kind of adopted him and he has joined us for many events not just here in Balham but also in Ars and on the Quo Vadis trip to Normandy.

John gets about quite a bit - as you can see from the evidence iced onto his birthday cake.
Happy birthday John!

Trip to Rome

2009-03-24T19:03:00.001Z

How did you get on with the quiz? For more of the same, why not join Southwarkvocations for a pilgrimage to Rome to coincide with the end of the year of St Paul. For more information send me an email. Let us unlock the secrets of Rome for you.

For example: there are four rows of pillars supporting Bernini's famous colonade at St Peter's. Look carefully at the photo. How many can you see?