Summer 2025 Pastoral Letter from Bishop Stephen

To all God’s Beloved within the See of Beverley

Like many people of note within Holy Scripture and hagiography, not much is recorded or known about Mary Magdalene, but what we do have and know reveals someone with a deep and abiding love for her Saviour. There are twelve references to her in the Gospels, more than many of the Apostles, and through these insights we encounter someone who is healed, probably physically, but most certainly spiritually.  She is one of the women who travelled with Jesus and, Luke tells us, supported him and his group financially.  She was present at the Crucifixion and proclaimed the Resurrection to the Apostles.  She had a distinctive ministry that was different, but no less important, from that of the Apostles.  Pope St Gregory the Great tells us that one of her ministries was that of perseverance and that “perseverance is essential to any good deed.”  With Mary Magdalene, may we discover afresh the healing love of Jesus and, so refreshed, may we discover new ways to support His ministry as one of the group that has chosen to follow Him.  May we have the strength and the courage to persevere as Mary Magdalene did, even when at the Cross and empty tomb all looked bleak and hopeless.

Vocations

Being able to ordain new deacons and priests has been a great honour and privilege once again this year, and I hope it will continue to be so for as long as I am in active episcopal ministry.  Unfortunately, there is a growing vocations crisis in the Church of England as the numbers offering themselves for ordained ministry continues to drop.  If we want to proclaim the Gospel in this and future generations, we will need faithful priests and deacons to serve faithful Christian communities in order for the whole church to fulfil her vocation.  It is wonderful that so far this year two hundred and twenty-four people have been Confirmed in See of Beverley parishes.  People are discovering the Faith through the witness of our parishes – are we able to encourage, from within our own number, even more active public ministers such as children and youth ministers, catechists, evangelists and deacons (something all the Baptised can be called to) as well as men who might serve in the office of Sacred Priesthood within the inherited catholic tradition we uphold?

I’m really asking us all to consider the vocation of our See of Beverley / Society of St Wilfrid and Hilda parishes within the context of the whole church in the North of England.  Do we have a vocation that is unique to us?  What is it that we are called to be and do today?  Please look out for information on vocations events that will happen.

Avila Pilgrimage 2026: A study tour with the Spanish Mystics – an update

We have had enough people registering an interest in this pilgrimage to make it viable, which is wonderful.  I hope to get more news out as soon as possible, but please do still register your interest via my office.  Equally, if you are no longer hoping to come along then let us know that too.

In partnership with the Bishop of Blackburn and Bishop Norman Banks, I would like to take Society Deacons and Priests in the Northern Province on a Pilgrimage to Avila between 13^th and 18^th of April 2026.  This should be a wonderful opportunity to engage afresh with our respective vocations as we listen to and learn from the Spanish Mystics. It is possible that that cost will come down of we can secure grants, but for that we will need to know the number of people interested in coming.  It may also be possible to use CME funds for this so it may be worth speaking to the relevant person in your diocese.  Details are here: Avila Study Tour 2026 – The See of Beverley

Some diary dates to note

Clergy quiet days:

14 October, 10am to 3pm, North-east region.  Seaham, County Durham.

Events within the See:

2^nd August, 12noon, Annual Festival Mass, Milner Chapel, Parceval Hall

9^th August, 10:30-3pm, Pilgrims of Hope – Catholic spirituality to strengthen our journeys of faith and discipleship, St Aidan’s, Carlisle

6^th September, 11am, Translation of St Cuthbert Festival Mass, Durham Cathedral

13^th September, Ready with a Reason, organised by the Society in the Diocese of Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral, with Bishop Lindsay Urwin.

26^th September, 7pm, Catholic Evangelism Lecture, St Matthew’s Carver Street

27^th September, 12noon, Walsingham Festival, Horden, Co Durham

11 October 2025, Children, Youth and Family Ministry Development Day, Christ the King, Bowburn, Durham – save the date, details to follow

And, finally…

I have been helped greatly by Ian Burgess over the last year.  It is wonderful that he has been recommended for training and formation that will lead, God willing, to ordination in a few years’ time.  He will finish working for me and the See of Beverley at the beginning of September and start at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, in October. This is good news for him and the wider church, but he will be missed here.  Please hold Ian and all those seeking to discern God’s call on their life in your prayers.

May Our Lady of Walsingham, Mary Magdalene and all the saints pray for you.  And may the grace of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit go before you.

+Stephen Beverley