Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At the beginning of Advent two years ago, I presented my vision for the Diocese. Some of you will have seen the DVD. It is a vision of us as a people who are confident, confident in God and confident in one another. It is a vision of a community who can, with that confidence, enter into a conversation with God, with one another, and with people of other faiths and none. It is a vision of us engaging in confident conversations and making real connections with one another and with the community we serve in the name of Jesus Christ.
The thinking behind my vision was shaped in prayer, in listening to many priests and people, and in response to two pressing issues. Firstly, religion is being removed from the public square. Secondly, the number of our priests is reducing. In the course of 2009-2010 seven of our priests are retiring or moving elsewhere. There is only one replacement. Thanks be to God, a third priest from the African Missionary Order of St. Paul is coming to the Diocese.
Now this Advent and into the New Year, I would like you to reflect on your parish and the parishes in your Pastoral Area, and identify what makes them thriving Catholic communities. Then I would like as many of you as possible to contribute to produce a plan for the future shape of the parishes and schools in the pastoral area. I hope that each Pastoral Area will be able to present me with their groundplan around Eastertime. Then there can be some input at Diocesan level prior to approving the plans, under God’s providence, as a way forward in the coming years.
In themselves those plans will only be a tool to assist the continuing life and mission of the Church in our Diocese. What matters much more is that we deepen our living and our understanding of the faith. In particular, I wonder how better we can support family life and the commitment of husbands and wives in marriage. How can we bring our young people to value the preciousness and holiness of marriage and of family life on, and also have a real love for our Catholic faith. For it is only in that context that vocations to the priesthood and the religious life can really flourish.
So, this Advent is a time for us really to engage with the life of our Catholic community, and to ask God to strengthen our faith as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.
That agenda is very different from the focus of most of the people around us at this time of the year. So, there is a challenge to operate on parallel tracks, to join in festivities around us that anticipate Christmas, and at the same time prepare a way for the Lord. Remember Our Lord’s words in the Gospel, “Stay awake, praying at all times.”
During this season of Advent may God make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in love.
With my prayers and every blessing for Advent and Christmas,
Peter, Bishop of Northampton
To be read and/or made available at all Masses on 28/29 November