Walking for Vocations

On Saturday 3rd July pilgrims led by Father William Massie, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Middlesbrough, will walk in the steps of Blessed Nicholas Postgate on the day of the annual Postgate Rally.

The walk, aided by the Middlesbrough Knights of St Columba, will start at St. Anne’s Church in Ugthorpe, leaving at 12 noon and, hopefully all in one piece, arrive at Egton Bridge in time for the Mass at St. Hedda’s which commences as usual at 3pm.

Father Massie describes the wok as “a wonderful opportunity to maintain the vocational focus and tie in with one of our closest martyrs to the faith”.

Participants can register for the walk on the day at St. Anne’s from 11am.

By webmaster on June 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

Be Surprised By Grace

Friday June 17, 2011toSunday June 19, 2011
Sunday July 3, 2011
3:00 pm
Monday August 1, 2011toFriday August 5, 2011

Helping young people to discern their vocation

“The ability to foster vocations is a hallmark of the vitality of a local Church.” Bishop Terry drew our attention to these words of Pope Benedict in his Pastoral Letter for Vocations Sunday recently. He went on “So what is it that we need to do? First of all it is important for us to help children and young people at every level – family, parish, parish groups and associations – to grow into a genuine friendship and affection with the Lord.” As the summer approaches, let me draw your attention to some events which will aim to do just that. Read More »

By webmaster on May 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

Vocations Sunday 14th/15th May 2011

Dear Sisters and Brothers

After a long hard winter it has been lovely to enjoy both some spring weather, and the first green flush of the leaves on the trees which for so long have seemed barren and lifeless. New growth encourages new hope. I think this is true of every sphere of life, not just the horticultural variety. Activity which does not lead to growth, development and increase can be frustrating and discouraging. The same could be said of our life in the Church. Growth, outreach and mission should be very evident in all activities of the local church, otherwise it could appear like the winter trees: barren and lifeless. One of the ways we can experience and measure this dynamism is in relation to the growth of vocations in their various forms. In his recent message for Vocation Sunday, our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI reminded us: “The ability to foster vocations is a hallmark of the vitality of a local Church.” Read More »

By webmaster on May 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

Priests’ Training Fund Box Appeal 2011

A Message from the Director of Vocations

My first words have to be a huge ‘Thank You’ to all those priests who have wholeheartedly taken on board this important fundraising initiative within their parishes and I am confident I can count on their continued support.

I especially want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the good and generous people in our parishes throughout the Diocese who have taken boxes, committed themselves to monthly standing orders or have given a one-off donation towards this worthy cause. Our aim is to encourage young and not so young men to discern the Lord’s plan for them in priesthood. It is a long and sometimes arduous journey in faith and they need all our prayers, support and encouragement. Read More »

By webmaster on March 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

Would you fast for Vocations?

Now don’t be put off. Read on. I want to suggest why we should fast for anything – ponder the value of fasting, and then suggest why it’s appropriate to fast for vocations to the priesthood; and finally, suggest just two forms our fasting might take.

The best teaching on fasting that I’ve ever heard came not from within our Church but from an evangelical ‘non-denominational’ minister called Derek Prince. He points out: the people of God have always fasted from the time of Moses; Jesus fasted; Jesus said his disciples would (and therefore should) fast; the early Church did fast. Let’s be honest, fasting is not exactly popular nowadays. What are we missing out on? Read More »

By webmaster on March 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

PTF Box Appeal

Thank You from the Vocations Director

So far £30,000 has been raised through the Appeal and many parishioners have opted to make a standing order monthly commitment. If your box needs emptying please bring it along to church (don’t forget to sign the gift aid declaration if you are a taxpayer). If you are willing to make a one-off donation, there are leaflets at the back of church for this option.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support towards the training of our young men training to be priests. During our Holy Father’s visit he talked of the need for vocations and your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Fr William Massie, Vocations Director
By webmaster on October 21, 2010 | Leave a comment

Invocation

Five young men and women and Fr William Massie from the Diocese joined hundreds of young Catholics, priests, religious and seminarians from across the country at the first ever national vocations event in July. Read More »

By webmaster on September 6, 2010 | 1 Comment

“I’m not a ‘walker’”

I’m not a ‘walker’, a Sunday stroll with my family or the odd extended walk across the moors at a very leisurely pace is usually my limit. However, a friend and I decided we would join this year’s walk for vocations and set off with the group on Sunday afternoon. What an enjoyable afternoon it was! Read More »

By webmaster on September 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

Would you help to train a priest?

We all know there’s a shortage of priests. What people perhaps don’t know is that by September we could have more seminarians in training at the same time than we’ve had for fifteen years. This is great news for our Diocese and also quite an expense. It costs £20,000 a year to train a seminarian; that’s about £50.00 a day. Be reassured that once they’re ordained, they’ll cost their parishes much less to keep! In the meantime, we need to meet these expenses and the costs of vocations promotion. The Bishop has agreed that this very important cause justifies special fundraising. To date, the proceeds of the annual collection for the Priests’ Training Fund meets the annual cost of just one seminarian. To meet the shortfall we’ve made available to all parishes small yellow collection boxes. Please look out for them and ask for one if you can’t see them at the back of your church. We ask you to fill it and not with coppers but to collect at least £50.00 before you hand it in to your parish priest or Priests’ Training Fund Box Co-ordinator in your parish.

photo of a Priests' Training Fund box

Please be generous in collecting for this most vital cause. St Jean Marie Vianney, patron saint of the parish clergy, put it very simply. Explaining to his parishioners the importance of the sacraments, he said ‘Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of your life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for its journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption on earth. … What use would be a house filled with gold, were there no one to open its door? The priest holds the key to the treasures of heaven: it is he who opens the door: he is the steward of the good Lord; the administrator of his goods. … The priest is not a priest for himself, he is a priest for you’.

Fr William Massie
By webmaster on June 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

Why join the Walk for Vocations – Bishop Terry writes

When the suggestion was first made to me that we should have a ‘walk for vocations’, I had a gut instinct that it was the right thing to do. Only later did I discover that it was hard to put into words just why it’s the right thing to do. We’ll be walking from Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby on a summer afternoon. Is it a demonstration? Kind of. Is it a march? Not quite. Is it a pilgrimage? Not really. Read More »

By webmaster on June 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

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