Deacon Tom Writes 23rd July 2023

In my sermon a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the upcoming meeting with Bishop Richard of clergy of the Deanery and members of parish groups, along with the Heads of our schools. This meeting followed the bishop’s meeting with Deanery clergy only some days prior. Both meetings were to help understand more fully the diocesan plan entitled ‘The Word Who is Life’, subtitled: ‘The Pastoral Plan: a look to the future in a Post-Pandemic Setting’. In short, the plan identifies the demographic situation within our diocese of Arundel and Brighton regarding the number of active priests in the next 10 to 15 years and the need for a renewed vision and practical response to that likely situation. The need for closer collaboration between all the baptised members within our diocese and a deeper appreciation of our united vocation to witness Christ in our world is of paramount importance in bringing that practical response into effect.

An invitation from Bishop Richard within the document sums up in many ways the means to bring that response to fruition: May I invite everyone in the Diocese – lay faithful and religious, deacons and priests -to join with me in forging our parishes into communities of saints, into strong, lively and welcoming schools of discipleship. May they be communities where the Lord is known and loved; where the liturgy is experienced as an encounter with the wonder of heaven; where daily prayer is a natural part of life; where all are welcomed and their dignity as children of God always recognised; where young people grow in deep love for the Gospel, for the sacramental life of the Church and for prayer; where all know the riches of the faith and seek to share it with others.

Let us walk together on this journey. Amen