This Sunday is the Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood. We welcome Daniel Stanton to our 3 Churches. He comes from Maesteg, and is studying for the priesthood for our diocese in St Mary’s College Oscott, outside Birmingham. Daniel will speak at three of our Masses. It’s good for us to meet him, and for him to mix with people from different parts of our diocese.

I recently reached 38 years since I was ordained priest at St Brigid’s on April 1st 1978. I learned many years ago that priesthood is not something you “receive” at ordination and then you just “do it” for the rest of your life. We live our priest lives under two ever changing influences. Firstly, there is you, the people of God. There are always new people to meet, new situations to encounter, new calls on our ministry. But more importantly, we are to be God’s men, and God is always doing something new. If we are really living and serving as men of God, brothers of Jesus the High Priest and filled with the Holy Spirit, then our lives will be the most exciting and rewarding that anyone could have. Like everyone, I have had my difficult times but I can honestly say I am both proud and humbled – and excited – to be a priest of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis recently encouraged the Church to pray for vocations, so that God may send priests and religious that are for Him only. Prayer is the source, the well spring of our Christian life. Everything we do as Christians should be in a spirit of prayer that our actions may flourish through the power of the Holy Spirit. Praying for vocations should be the very first act we do in order to promote vocations. Pray every day for vocations. Pray for everyone who struggles to find their God-given vocation in life that they may be open to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

There is a retiring collection today to support those in seminary for Cardiff – five at the moment. Please use a Gift aid envelope if you can.

Fr Matthew