15 August 2024
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
To all Priests and People in the See of Beverley
Dear Friends,
We rejoice together, with the whole Church, on this Feast Day (also known as the Dormition – or Falling Asleep – of the Blessed Virgin) which has been part of the Church’s devotional life since the 6th century. Those of you familiar with the Holy Rosary will know that the Assumption is the fourth of the Glorious Mysteries, following on from the Resurrection of Our Lord, The Ascension and The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The mystery of Mary’s earthly and heavenly life is inseparable from the mystery of her Son’s life. Another beautiful and equally glorious mystery, I would suggest, is that we are all invited to share in their relationship as Son and Mother, Saviour and the First of the Redeemed. I would recommend reading Pope St John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptoris Mater: On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life of the Pilgrim Church either today or in the coming weeks not least because, “when the fulness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!'” (Gal. 4:4-6 NRSV). These words of St Paul, the saintly Pope teaches, are words “which celebrate together the love of the Father, the mission of the Son, the gift of the Spirit, the role of the woman from whom the Redeemer was born, and our own divine filiation, in the mystery of the “fullness of time.””
The Common Worship Post-Communion prayer for today includes these words: “Strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience.” The walk with Mary is both an earthly and heavenly walk, just as the Common Worship Collect for today indicates – “grant that we … may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom”. The Roman Catholic Mass Collect prays that “we may merit to be exalted by you on high”, once again emphasising the unbreakable link between the Saviour, his Mother and us. The Glorious Mystery of the Assumption is about the Blessed Virgin, but it’s about us too. Here is the link to the Papal Encyclical: Redemptoris Mater
See of Beverley Festival: We Believe in the Holy Spirit
It was absolutely wonderful to see so many people in York Minster on 27th July for the Northern Provincial Festival. There are fantastic photographs here
Many people have asked for a copy of my Sermon, which is here. The excellent talk given by Fr Tom Woolford is also here.
Gathering together in great number is one way of encouraging ourselves to continue living out our particular vocation within the Church. We believe and trust that at this point in time we have been given a particular task to proclaim the love of God the Father, revealed in Jesus Christ, as catholic Christians within the Church of England. Pray daily that the Holy Spirit may enable us to fulfil that vocation gently and courageously. Thank you, once again, to everyone who was involved in planning and delivering such a splendid celebration. I hope there will be more events for us to come together at, but some of us need to catch our breath before embarking on the next project!
Walsingham Youth Festival
Visiting the Youth Pilgrimage for just 24 hours provided me with enough encouragement to last for months. Those of you who were there for longer will have received many more blessings! It was lovely to see and chat with many people, young and old, from the Northern Province as they received teaching and fellowship. Next year’s Pilgrimage is set for 4th to 9th August – please, if you have 11 to 18 year olds in your church, try and encourage participation in the Pilgrimage.
Developments
It won’t be long, I hope, before a new group is formed as the Bishop’s Council. This body, of lay and ordained members, drawn from across the See of Beverley, will advise me and help deliver aspects of our shared ministry in the Northern Province.
I have already been working with a small group of lay people in what is now called the Lay Catholic Revival Group whose aim is to listen to, help and encourage the laity within the See of Beverley, especially those who find themselves responsible for keeping parish ministry going during Vacancies. If you would like to know more about this, please be in touch with me.
There are adverts for new clergy appointments on the See of Beverley website – and more may be placed there soon. Please pray for these parishes and be in touch if you would like to discuss them.
Ian Burgess, who has been working with St Matthew’s Carver Street and a couple of other parishes in Sheffield Diocese, has kindly agreed to work with me two days per week between now and next summer. He will help in a variety of ways, not least with data control, communications and vocations. He may even accompany me as chaplain from time to time – please don’t be surprised if he contacts you on my behalf.
Summer Ordinations
Ben Jennings, Lee Dunleavy and James Bartle were ordained deacon and Gareth Gladman and Ray Parkin were ordained priest during Petertide. Please continue to pray for them and pray too for an increase in vocations to the diaconate and sacred priesthood.
Safeguarding
Please make sure that your DBS certificates and Safeguarding training are kept up to date. Limits on what we can do will be placed on us if we neglect these.
Clergy Quiet Day 21 October. 10am to 3pm with me at St Peter’s Church, Woolley, WF4 2JU. Invitations will follow nearer the time.
May the grace of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit go before you.
+Stephen Beverley