Dear friends in Christ

In the second reading of the Mass this Sunday we hear the words of Saint Paul: He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Through Baptism and Confirmation all the Christian Faithful belong to a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people. We all have the vocation, therefore, to seek holiness because of our consecration in Christ. From the ranks of the Faithful, all of whom have this common priesthood, some have been called by God, through the sacrament of Holy Orders, to exercise the ministerial priesthood. This second priesthood builds upon the first one, but they are essentially different. By means of the consecration received in Holy Orders, the priest becomes an instrument of Jesus Christ, to whom he offers his entire being, in order to bring the grace of redemption to all mankind. I am reminded of this enormous grace of priestly consecration in these days, since it is traditionally Ordination season! Last Sunday Fr Joseph Bailham OP, was ordained a priest for the Dominican Order (he is a native of Stock in our Diocese). Fr Callum Young from East Ham was ordained two weeks ago in Newry for the Neo Catechumenate. This weekend Fr Michael Barwick (Springfield Parish) was ordained in our Cathedral; and on Friday 23rd, Tony Grant (Forest Gate) will also be ordained for our Diocese. I ask you to hold these young men in your daily prayers, that wherever they are serving the Church, they will do so with single-mindedness and faithfulness so that God may use them as instruments for the salvation of many souls. As our Schools prepare for the Summer break, we wish all our students and staff a well-deserved holiday and pray that the coming academic year will be less fraught than the last!

God bless you all in this week ahead!

Msgr Kevin Hale