Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury is to launch a fundraising appeal to support evangelisation and the training of priests.
In his pastoral letter for Lent, to be read out at Masses on Sunday, Bishop Davies said the appeal would fund “pastoral and missionary goals, including the training of a new generation of priests; the formation of lay catechists; the creation of a youth mission team; and efforts to promote and support the vocation to marriage and to develop the social mission of the Church”.
The bishop said the diocese would also be taking “a fresh look at our planning for the parishes of the future”.
In his letter Bishop Davies said: “I am sometimes asked whether it is my plan to close parishes. I would suggest this is the wrong question to ask. The real question is surely this: how can we continue our mission in every part of the diocese? I hope we will always be realistic enough to recognise situations where we can no longer sustain a parish structure or a church building. However, it has never been my wish to see parishes close. Indeed, it has been a great joy as your bishop to celebrate Mass in every parish, and to see how the Church’s mission continues through your faithfulness.”
The last closure in the diocese was that of St Raphael’s in Stalybridge in 2011. Otherwise the diocese has been able to avoid the large-scale closures affecting other dioceses in the north.
The bishop said: “I am certain that, at this moment in history, we face a choice: either to be weighed down by problems, and there will always be problems until the end of time, or to recognise anew the abundance of grace given us now to accomplish our mission.”
Last week the bishop called on Catholics to “re-propose” marriage to young people.
At a Mass in celebration of marriage and family life at St Columba’s, Chester, he said: “I ask you to speak boldly of the beauty of marriage, especially to the young.
“Tell them of the grace given you, and of the faithfulness which God makes possible in your lives. Speak of how you have been called in the sacrament of marriage to a love and self-giving beyond your own weaknesses. This is the Good News many are waiting to hear!
Marriage is a sacrament by which God’s grace makes it possible for ordinary men and women in the love and faithfulness of family lives.”
Catholics and Anglicans distribute ashes to shoppers
Churchgoers in the north-east of England were due to take to the streets on Ash Wednesday, distributing ashes to shoppers.
St Mary’s Catholic Church and Sunderland Minster, an Anglican church, were expected to work together to offer “Ashes to Go”.
The initiative was to take place in Sunderland city centre, starting at Sunderland Minster, passing through the city streets and ending at St Mary’s Church.
The bishops taking part were Bishop Seamus Cunningham of Hexham and Newcastle and the Anglican Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler.
Speaking before the event, Fr Marc Lyden-Smith, parish priest of St Mary’s and chaplain to Sunderland AFC, said: “This will be a tremendous witness in our city, with Catholics and Anglicans working together to start the season of Lent, perhaps reminding those who have fallen away from the Church, or have never been before, that the Christian faith is alive and active in Sunderland.
“I hope it will remind everyone that we have a loving and merciful God.”
Canon Sheila Bamber of Sunderland Minster said Ashes to Go was about “bringing the important traditions of our faith out from behind church doors”.
Faithful mourn Scottish bishop
The funeral Mass for Bishop Emeritus Ian Murray of Argyll and the Isles was held last week.
His remains were brought into St Columba’s Cathedral, Oban, last Wednesday and stayed until the funeral Mass on Friday. Bishop Murray, who died aged 83, served as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1999 to 2008. Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh said he was a “happy priest, a good bishop and a father to his people”
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