In advance of World Youth Day in Panama (22th-27th January 2019), Pope Francis addresses young people on not being afraid of what God has in store for their lives. His address is based on the theme for WYD, which is the Angel Gabriel’s reassurance to Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” To read Pope Francis’s address please click here.

Congratulations to Philip Carr, Anthony Kelly and Carl Mugan, who were ordained to the priesthood at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ The King, Liverpool, on Saturday 7th July 2018.  Let us pray for them in their new ministry, and that the Lord calls more men to serve Him in this way. For photos of the ordinations, please click here.

Congratulations to Fr Rick Fernandez, who on Saturday 30th June was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Family Catholic Church in Dagenham. May the Lord bless Fr Rick in his new ministry as a priest, as he serves the Lord in this special way, and we pray that he builds stable, pastoral relationships with the people he serves. Please click here to read an article about Fr Rick’s ordination.

On Saturday 30th June, Cardinal Vincent Nichols ordained six men to the priesthood at Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Nichols said, ‘Today, then, we rejoice as six men, full of the memory of their own pathway of faith, come forward to be priests, for in their turn they will offer the Sacrifice of the Mass and minister the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the two great gifts of the priesthood,’ he said.

Vacations – ’empty’ times – are a chance to be less busy with daily life and more busy with prayer life.  Why not spend some time with God asking for guidance as to what vocation He has planned for you to live out? You may find the following discernment prayers helpful: http://www.ukvocation.org/?page_id=129. If you have any queries regarding how to discern your vocation, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

As well as Saturday 23rd June being a beautiful and sunny day for the last day of term at Oscott Seminary, it was the day when eight Oscott seminarians got ordained to the sacred diaconate.

Please pray for them and for all of the seminary community as they journey towards the priesthood. May the Lord make them and all seminarians holy and may he increase the number of those who are willing to accept the call to follow him in this way! To read more about the ordinations, please visit http://oscott.net/diaconal-ordinations-2018/.