Fr Tony writes.....

At the beginning of Lent I want to ask you to pray especially this year for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. There are, of course, many vocations within the life of the Church, but in this “Year of the Priest” it seems appropriate to focus attention on the priesthood. The Holy Father, speaking to our bishops recently spoke about Cardinal John Henry Newman who will be beatified by the Pope during his visit to England in September:

“In Newman’s words “Christ’s priests have no priesthood but His...what they do, He does; when they baptise, He is baptising; when they bless, He is blessing”. Indeed since the priest plays an irreplaceable role in the life of the Church, spare no effort in encouraging priestly vocations and emphasising to the faithful the true meaning and necessity of the priesthood. Encourage the lay faithful to express their appreciation of the priests who serve them, and to recognise the difficulties they sometimes face on account of their declining numbers and increasing pressures.... Help them to avoid any temptation to view the clergy as mere functionaries but rather to rejoice in the gift of the priestly ministry, a gift that can never be taken for granted.”

Thank you for your prayers and for your support in so many ways. Please continue to pray for us and for vocations.