How to be a good priest in England

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

Blogged by James Preece on 26th September 2007

From the Catholic Communications Network (Ł300,000 a year publicity wing of the Catholic Bishops Conference):

A new course specifically for foreign priests wishing to serve the Catholic Church in England and Wales has just started at the northern seminary of Ushaw in Durham. The three week induction programme, endorsed and recommended by the bishops of England and Wales, aims to provide the priests with practical advice and information that will enable them to integrate into UK life and make effective use of their pastoral skills in an alien culture.

What sort of things do alien priests need to know?

The course will seek to dispel unhelpful notions of Britishness, such as maids cycling across village greens, warm beer and drinking tea

The idea that british people drink tea is an "unhelpful notion"?

We do drink tea. Gallons of it. I average three cups a day and I bet the average priest is laughing at how pitifully small that number is. Besides which, knowing about tea is a very helpful notion. If somebody shows up at the presbytery door offering them a cup of tea is a very polite thing to do and if you are an alien priest you can probably break a lot of ice asking your guest how they like it. Then you can sit down and share a cup of tea, perhaps offer a biscuit.

So what do the good bishops of England and Wales (who have 'approved' this course) think is important?

Students will look at issues affecting the Church in England and Wales in the third millennium – power, authority, the role of women, lay/diaconal ministry, ecumenism and much more. This is important preparation for future pastoral work and liturgical celebrations.

Power? Authority? The role of women? Do we even live in the same country?

Read the full press release here.

Reader Comments

Sparkledust said...

Sorry, had to comment - think you are being a teeny bit flippant there. The whole point is surely to introduce non British Priests to this Country and our Culture, which may be very different from whence they have come. After all, it was not that long ago that the liturgy was changed from 'Given for you and for all men' to 'Give for you and for all.'

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.