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Bishop Richard has written a new Pastoral Plan for the Diocese The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission (January 2024). The publication marks an important new stage in the development of diocesan parish structures, creating new pathways for apostolic mission and meeting the challenges of an increasingly secular society with renewed confidence and openness to the Holy Spirit. The Call to Mission focusses on the significant potential of diocesan parish communities to act as “beacons of light... not in an era of change, but in a change of era” consolidating the work already undertaken across the diocese to place prayer, formation, and mission at the heart of diocesan parish and school community life. Reflecting on the new plan Bishop Richard reiterated his overarching vision for the diocese:
“I invite everyone - lay faithful, religious, deacons and priests - to join with me in forging our parishes into communities of saints and strong, lively, and welcoming schools of discipleship. May they be communities where the Lord is known and loved; where the liturgy is experienced as an encounter with the wonder of heaven; where daily prayer is a natural part of life and where all are welcomed and their dignity as children of God always recognised.”
You can read Bishop Richard's new Pastoral Plan below:
Bishop Richard, Lizzie Wakeling, and Jon Harman from our Formation Team hosted a Pastoral Plan Webinar for people across our diocesan community in January 2024. You can watch the recording below:
Bishop Richard was installed as the fifth bishop of the diocese in 2015, writing in his first Pastoral Plan issued in 2018 he said: “There is much good work already being done in our parishes and deaneries, in our schools and chaplaincies - we must look to the future with renewed resolution and energy growing from ever-deepening prayer". You can read The Word Who is Life Pastoral Plan 2018, and 2022 and by clicking on the buttons below:
