The Media have kept us in touch with the Election of a new Pope in succession to Pope Francis RIP. We give thanks for the gift of a Shepherd for the Universal Church. He is the 267th to follow Peter the Apostle. He is the Bishop of Rome, the head of the College of Bishops. The Vicar of Christ and the Shepherd of the Universal Church. A priest of the Augustinian Order, a missionary in Peru building up the Particular Churches or Dioceses along with other priests of the Order such as the ones in Chulucanas. At every Mass along with our Bishop Richard, as Your Servant Leo our Pope, he will be remembered.
Bishop Richard’s Weekly Message
Dear brothers and sisters,
Through our baptism, each and every one of us is called to be a “Pilgrim of Hope.” With eyes fixed on the person of Jesus, our minds and hearts are opened to His call to us. This Sunday, the Church throughout the world reflects on the particular calls to priesthood and to religious life. I ask you to join with me in praying that those who are called to give their lives in service as priests, and those called to religious life, may be truly open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Fr Tristan Cranfield, our Vocations Director, has provided an easy-to-use resource that will support our prayer for vocations to priesthood, in particular, during these coming weeks leading to Pentecost. The vocational call is heard in prayer and, so very often, in quietness. Let us all give a little extra time to prayer in these coming weeks for those whom God is calling, for our seminary students and for the families of our Diocese – that our homes will always be places where an openness to God’s call is nurtured.
Pray, too, for the priests, deacons and religious of our Diocese, in thanksgiving for their wonderful ministry, example, and service to us all.
With every blessing,
+Richard
Statement On The Election Of Pope Leo XIV
The Diocese of Arundel & Brighton welcomes yesterday’s election of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church. Responding to the news, Bishop Richard said:
“We give thanks that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Cardinals have elected Pope Leo XIV.
“Pope Leo brings to the office of the Holy Father considerable experience as a bishop and pastor including in Chulucanas, so closely associated with our diocese, together with his more recent service as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. His prayer for peace in his first words from the balcony at St Peter’s will resonate with Catholics and all people of good will.
“This is a significant moment for the Catholic Church and for the world, and we offer our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins his Pontificate.”
Pope Leo, the first Pope from the United States of America, was born Robert Provost, on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1977, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in the province of Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Saint Louis. On 29 August 1981 he made his solemn vows. He studied at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, receiving a diploma in theology.
At the age of 27 he was sent by the Order to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University (Angelicum). He received priestly ordination on 19 June 1982. He received his licentiate in 1984, and was then sent to work in the mission of Chulucanas, in Piura, Peru (1985-1986); the Diocese of Chulucanas.
In 1987, he was awarded a doctorate with the thesis: “The role of the local prior in the Order of St Augustine”. In the same year he was elected director of vocations and director of the missions of the Augustinian province of “Mother of Good Counsel” of Olympia Fields, Illinois.
On 3 November 2014, Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, elevating him to the dignity of bishop and assigning him the titular diocese of Sufar. He was ordained a bishop on 12 December, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the cathedral of his diocese, and was created a Cardinal by Pope Francis on 30 September 2023.
Bishop Richard will celebrate Mass for the Holy Father’s intentions at the Confirmation Mass at Arundel Cathedral this Sunday at 2pm, with additional Masses celebrated across the Diocese.
Good Shepherd Sunday
During May we are encouraged to pray for Vocations especially for the Priesthood.
As Catholics, we know that God has called each of us by name and that everyone has a vocation; some to the married life, some to the priesthood, some to religious life, and some to the single life. This year, in the light of the Pastoral Plan, The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission, the whole Diocese is invited to come together for four weeks of prayer to the Holy Spirit to grant us a missionary spirit, through the raising up of new vocations to all walks of life in the Church.
Foremost among these vocations, we need priests. The priesthood is a special gift to the Church, through which Christ is always present to pour out His Spirit on His people through the holy sacraments.
It’s not always easy to know if God is calling you to priesthood. Our diocesan Days of Discernment aim to explore some simple tools for finding out, with time for prayer and an opportunity to learn more about the beautiful vocation of the diocesan priest, along with other men following the same path. Certainty is not required: the day may just be a chance for you to start thinking, to pray, and to ask questions. Our next day is on Saturday 10 May in Crawley, led by Fr Nicholas Harden. If you are a Catholic, unmarried man who is considering this vocation and would like to attend, please contact our Vocations Director Fr Tristan Cranfield.
Mass Schedule
- Sunday 11th May 10am 4th Easter (Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV)
- Monday 12th May 8:15am St Mary’s House
- Wednesday 14th May 9:30am St Matthias (Apostle)
- Friday 16th May 9:30am
- Sunday 18th May 10am 5th Easter
Migrants’ Mass
Sunday May 11th St Joseph’s Church Elm Grove. 5.30am Bishop Richard Presiding. All welcome. See Poster.
Regina Caeli
The Son whom you merited to bear, Alleluia
Has risen as he said, Alleluia
Pray for us to God. Alleluia
(Eastertide anthem to Mary, replacing the Angelus)
St Thomas More Church, Patcham, Brighton 
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