I pray that you are having a blessed Eastertide.
I am writing with a purely practical note to ensure that you have to hand details of various forthcoming events in the See and more widely. Please do prioritise these in your diaries and encourage as many as possible of your lay faithful to join in the Festivals and pilgrimages. I know from conversations in recent months how encouraging these moments are in building us up in the Faith and in our witness to the beauty and fulness of Catholic life and worship.
Database revision and update
First, an administrative request. Communication across the See is vital and, by the very nature of our life, complex! To that end, I am undertaking a revision and expansion of the database that my office holds to ensure that we have as much relevant information to hand to enable us to serve you and your parishes more fully. Please follow this link https://forms.office.com/e/xAy7X3b1NH?origin=lprLink to complete the short questionnaire. Can I ask that you also share the link with any Richborough clergy who may not already be on this circulation list and so won’t have received this email. Thank you.
Richborough Festivals
The first two Festivals held last year in Portsmouth and Leicester were wonderful occasions. My intention is to establish a pattern of Festival masses across the year in different regions of the See. Please find attached relevant posters for some of the forthcoming celebrations and also, where there is one, the registration link for Society clergy wishing to concelebrate the mass with me.
Corpus Christi Festival Mass with confirmation – Saturday 6th June, Lincoln Cathedral
https://forms.office.com/e/b61VKjmMVH?origin=lprLink
St Wistan Festival Mass – Saturday 20th June, Wistow, Leicester
Richborough Summer Festival – Saturday 18th July, St Mary’s, Wellingborough (the intention for the mass and Rosary will be for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood)
https://forms.office.com/e/7BMbZGASic?origin=lprLink
Rochester Society parishes pilgrimage – Aylesford Friary Saturday 29th August
October Devotion to Our Lady – Saturday 17th October, 12noon at Our Lady in the Undercroft, Canterbury Cathedral (please note in the diary. More details to follow)
Richborough Clergy Study Day (tbc) November 5th. This is in the early stages of planning and more details will follow.
Also this month:
the Egmanton Pilgrimage (18th May)
the National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (25th May)
Website and Social Media
The See of Richborough website has recently been updated and refreshed The See of Richborough and the See Facebook page (now also linked through the website) continues to be a helpful means of sharing news of our life together. Forthcoming vacancies will be advertised on both platforms, information about booking confirmations is also available on the website as is the Richborough Cycle of Prayer in the resources section.
Finally, may I ask your prayers for Fr Nicolas Boisson whom I have the privilege of ordaining to the Sacred Priesthood at 7:15pm on Ascension Day in All Saints’, Northampton.
Very much looking forward to seeing you and your faithful across these Festivals and pilgrimages and in pastoral visits to your parishes.
With daily thanksgiving for you all at the altar, and with every blessing,