Dear friends in Christ

On Thursday evening we heard those much awaited words from St Peter’s in Rome: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus Papam! Now we rejoice that the Church once again has Peter at the helm in the person of Pope Leo XIV. He is a son of Saint Augustine, being of the Augustinian Order, an American and was a missionary Bishop in Peru. It was indeed moving to hear his first words to Rome and to the world as he spoke of putting Christ at the centre and invoking Mary. The Cardinals have chosen the 267th Successor to Saint Peter, we have prayed, and now the Holy Spirit will continue to keep the Church immersed in the Word of God and the teaching of the Apostles. Pope Leo is our new Universal Shepherd, according to the Heart of Christ, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel: I give eternal life to my sheep. We now pray that in everything Pope Leo says and does he too, will give eternal life to the flock of Jesus Christ. Since Easter Sunday we have been living through some momentous days. The face of the Catholic Church has been so evident and indeed prominent in world news. So many more people have been prompted to discover how they too can become Catholics and be part of the True Faith, the Church established by Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world.

This Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Please remember to pray daily for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. We thank God for all those who have generously offered themselves to Christ and His Church—the young and not so young—that they may be instruments in the hands of the Good Shepherd, and may lead souls closer to the Heart of Christ and ultimately to Heaven!

God bless our Pope, and God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale