Lent – Easter 2025 Pastoral Letter from Bishop Stephen

To all God’s Beloved within the See of Beverley

Last evening, with great joy, I ordained Fr Lee Dunleavy as Priest into the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. St Cyprian’s Church in Nottingham was filled to the rafters with the delightful sound of celebration and renewal. Please continue to pray for Fr Lee, together with Sally and Charlotte and all those whom he will serve with and amongst. Through him, sustained by the prayers of Our Lady, St Cyprian, St George and all the saints, may the Holy Name of Jesus be proclaimed and God’s church strengthened.

Please pray too for all who are preparing for ordination as Deacon or Priest later in the year.

Today, on the Feast of the Annunciation, we give thanks to God for Mary’s “Yes” and for her participation in the unfolding story of salvation. Pray for courage and grace that you too may say “Yes” to God that you might serve Him and His people in new and unexpected ways within the catholic faith we have received.

Pope St John Paul II made the following statement 21 years ago: all that he said then continues to resonate today: 24 March 2004 | John Paul II.

Vocations Retreat

Again, thank you to those who have signed up for this 24-hour retreat.  It would be good for me to be able to spend time with people who are already in a training and formation context, those who have been recommended and those just beginning to consider a formal vocation – and it would be good for others in these various situations to meet with and encourage one another.  Please do consider coming along – details are here: Vocations Retreat 2025 – The See of Beverley

Lourdes Pilgrimage: With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope

The Bishop of Blackburn and I would like to encourage as many people as possible from the Northern Province to join the Society of Mary pilgrimage to Lourdes this coming August.  Bookings will close on Easter Day.  It would be particularly good to know as soon as possible if children / youth will be coming so that the necessary safeguarding plans can be put in place.  Details may be found here: Diocese – SOM – Tangney Tours

Avila Pilgrimage: A study tour with the Spanish Mystics

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 2025.  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 the cost will come down if 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

Chrism Masses:

6^th April, 6pm, Horbury Parish Church, Wakefield

13^th April, 6pm, St Aidan’s Grangetown, Sunderland

14^th April, 12noon, Goldthorpe

15^th April, 11:30am, Manchester Cathedral

To register please sign up here Chrism Masses 2025 – The See of Beverley – this is for clergy and lay people.  Registration closes the Wednesday before (2nd April for Wakefield, 9th for all others).  It would be wonderful if we could fill all four churches as a sign of our support for one another and our desire to proclaim the Gospel.

Clergy quiet days:

17th June, 10am to 3pm.  South-east region.  Woolley Parish Church.

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

Events within the See:

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

13^th September, Resourcing Evangelism, organised by the Society in the Diocese of Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral, details to follow.

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

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

Children, Youth and Family Ministry Development Day

11 October 2025, Christ the King, Bowburn, Durham – save the date, details to follow

And, finally…

It remains for me and us all to formally welcome The Society Parishes, Priests and People within the Diocese of Leeds into the wider See of Beverley family.  They were cared for with great love by Bishop Tony Robinson until his retirement as Bishop of Wakefield last year and although I have already begun to offer pastoral and sacramental care to them, with the announcement of the appointment of the Venerable Malcolm Chamberlain as the next Bishop of Wakefield it seems to me that this is the moment for us all to mark a new beginning.  I look forward to working closely with the new Bishop of Wakefield, as I try to with all the bishops in the Province, and to receiving the gifts The Society in the Diocese of Leeds bring to the See of Beverley.

I pray that you all have a holy and blessed Passiontide, Holy Week and Easter.

May the grace of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit go before you.

+Stephen Beverley