Vocations News
The permanent diaconate is open to both single and married men. If a married man is thinking about the permanent diaconate it is essential that he discerns this vocation with his wife, so that it is a decision made within the unity of one's marr...Read more
After my dream, I avidly read the life of Marie Madeleine d'Houet, foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus and was fascinated and inspired by her journey. She had been a wife, widow, and mother, before ever becoming a religious. She was a ...Read more
In June I will be celebrating 25 years of priesthood. When and where was my vocation nurtured? There are different answers: in heaven in God's plan, in baptism when I was presented at the font on a January day in 1958, through God's call in pa...Read more
Every year in June pilgrims from different parts of the country gather together in Walsingham for the annual Vocations Pilgrimage. This is a day of prayer, procession and adoration for men and women of all ages to join together in prayer before Our Lady of Walsingham in the intention of an increase in vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life and marriage.Read more
The Invocation Festival is a unique event in the life of the Catholic Church in England. For those of you who are not familiar with the festival, it is aimed at ordinary Catholics, men and women (aged 16-35), who are looking to develop their relationship with Christ and who are searching for the knowledge and tools to develop their own personal formation, discernment and understanding of God's will for their lives. For some this may mean being, or becoming open to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.Read more
The latest issue of diocesan magazine is now available to read or download.Read more
Before settling in London in 1984 for what turned out to be a career spanning twenty five years in the Education Service of the Westminster Diocese, I had taught as Head of Religious Education at a school in East London, and then lectured for a fe...Read more
This post is an initial post and a welcome to all new readers of the Westminster Diocese Vocations blog.Read more
CATHOLICISM is a life-changing ten-session course which explores the defining elements of our faith.Read more
We meet on the 4th Friday of every month from 7-9pm in the Hinsley Room in Morpeth Terrace, next to Westminster Cathedral.Read more
The BBC spoke to the Rector of Allen Hall Mgr Mark O'Toole, first year seminarian Damien Ryan and fifth year seminarian Martin Plunkett about the challenges of becoming a priest.Read more
Four men have been ordained as Catholic priests at Westminster Cathedral by Archbishop Vincent Nichols.Read more
It is a great joy to be able to share with you the faces and names of the ten new men who have recently been selected to begin formation for the priesthood here in Westminster diocese.Read more
I start to write this reflection on Diocesan Priesthood on the thirty sixth anniversary of my ordination. Many of the emotions and feelings of joy, excitement, reticence and anticipation of that day come flooding back to me like it was just yesterday.Read more
'Get on the ground you fat git,' my platoon commander - a man a little over half my age- shouted at me. Thank goodness my parishioners don't address me in the same manner I thought as I flung myself to the ground, yet again, in a meaningless act in the name of training. We were under enemy fire (blanks) in hostile territory (the Surrey Downs) and rapid responses were paramount.Read more
Ever since the day when a three year old asked me, as a spotty teenager, whether I had measles, I've always been scared of children, and so one of my hopes for being a priest was that I'd never have to work with them again.Read more