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.

Let’s start by saying it’s a demonstration. We’re demonstrating our faith that we all need to do something to attract and encourage young men to listen to God’s call to become priests. We’re demonstrating this truth firstly to ourselves. We’re saying clearly and actively that priesthood matters. The words of St Jean Vianney have been ringing in my ears during this Year for Priests. They were used by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, in his Letter which introduced the year back in June 2009: ìWithout the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the LordÖ The priest is not a priest for himself, he is a priest for you’. We need priests if we are to have Jesus Christ. How can we rest when all the facts point to the truth that without a change in current trends, it will be so much harder to receive the Sacraments in the very near future, simply because there will be fewer priests. Does Jesus Christ want this? Surely not. Do I want thisÖ do you want this? Surely not. Let us demonstrate this to ourselves and also to the others who will join us on that day.

So it’s a demonstration but not with placards or loud hailers because it’s firstly to ourselves. But it’s also a prayer, a prayer in action. We already do this all the time as Catholics. We pray not only with our lips, our minds, but also with our bodies. In fact, we throw a certain boldness, a greater generosity into our prayers when we back it up with an action. Think how often we stand, we kneel, we make the sign of the cross; sometimes we fast. On this occasion we’re going to walk. In our walk we’re not just saying to God that we care about the shortage of priests, that we would like more priests, we’re showing we care, with the very weight of our bodies. And we’ll surely be praying as we walk along, silently and perhaps sharing the rosary in small groups.

And how appropriate that our silent and not so silent conversation with the Lord along the way will end with a face to face meeting in his house, at the Breaking of Bread. As afternoon moves to evening, we will arrive at our destination and we will turn to the Lord and ask him to stay with us for the day is almost over. We will celebrate our Holy Mass together and remember just why we need priests so much, so that we can continue to meet him in this great Sacrament of Love.

I hope you share this instinct that a walk for vocations to the priesthood for our Diocese is the right and good thing to do. If you are unable for whatever reason to join us on the day, unite yourself with us in spirit by praying with us for this important intention during that afternoon. I know that nothing we ever do can make us win or deserve God’s generosity. But I also know and never tire of repeating that the Lord is never outdone in generosity.