ARCHBISHOP’S
HOUSE,
WESTMINSTER,
LONDON SW1P 1QJ
Pastoral Letter for
the Fourth Sunday of Easter
26th April 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, the whole church prays for vocations
to the priesthood. We are blessed with so many wonderful priests serving in the
Diocese and I ask you to join with me in praying in thanksgiving for their
ministry amongst us all. Please pray, too, for those who are in formation for
the Priesthood and for the staff in our seminaries who are entrusted with the
important work of their formation.
The ministry of the priest is one of service. This was expressed
during Holy Week in the Renewal of Priestly Promises, which took place at the
Chrism Mass as our priests resolved to continue their ministry, following
“Christ the head and shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zeal for
souls.”[1] This
spirit of service, itself a self-emptying in imitation of Christ Himself,
brings with it the utmost joy for all those called by the Lord to share in His
priesthood.
Priestly ministry flows, in a very particular way, from the
celebration of the Eucharist. The celebration of the Eucharist is the “source
and summit” of our lives.[2] This
celebration is vital for our lives, for the life of the Church and the priest
is called by Christ Himself to celebrate the Eucharist with and for the People
of God. From this celebration flows his ministry of servant-leadership for all
those entrusted to his care -in whatever circumstance he may carry this out.
This priestly service: a response to Christ’s call, rooted in
His gift of the Eucharist and nourished by the Word of God and daily commitment
to prayer, is a great endeavour, enabling all whom the priest serves to grow in
Christian life and in the mission of the Church.
The discernment of this vocation, as Pope Leo reminds us, calls
for “a relationship based on prayer and silence.”[3] Such
prayer and silence require a commitment of time, but this is time that will
bear great fruit. It is important for us all – in our parish communities,
schools and homes – to foster time for such prayer and support those whom the
Lord calls to share in His priesthood.
A diocesan resource has been produced that will assist us in
this path of prayer for vocations to priesthood leading to the celebration of
Pentecost.
The practice of Eucharistic Adoration is an aspect of parish
life in many parts of the Diocese. Times of Adoration provide excellent
opportunities for prayer for priestly vocations and I ask every parish to hold
a Holy Hour each week over the next month for this intention.
The praying of the Rosary is a part of many people’s lives of
prayer. I invite parishes to form groups of people who will commit to praying
the Rosary for vocations to priesthood, whether this be together or alone but
united with others through prayer.
The call to priesthood, more often than not, comes in quiet
ways: the example of a priest; the example of parents and family members as
they persevere in faith; a thought about service to the Church; a renewed
experience of God’s presence when on retreat or at a day of prayer and
celebration; a reawakening of awareness of the Real Presence of Christ in the
Eucharist. Above all, the call to priesthood comes through the gentle
promptings of the Holy Spirit.
To those of you who sense these stirrings of the Holy Spirit, calling
you to service of Christ and his Church, “pause, listen, entrust yourselves. In
this way, the gift of your vocation will mature, bringing you happiness and
yielding abundant fruit for the Church and the world.”[4]
With every Blessing,
Yours
sincerely in Christ,
✠ Archbishop
Richard Moth
Archbishop of Westminster