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Bishop Richard Moth joined University Chaplain, Fr Rod Jones OSB, and Catholic Society (CathSoc) students and staff based at Sussex and Brighton universities on Tuesday evening, with the celebration of Mass at Sussex University’s Meeting House followed by a shared supper, and talk given by Bishop Richard at Howard House, in Falmer.

The occasion marked an important milestone in the transformation of student pastoral care across the City of Brighton & Hove, with the sale of Howard House contributing towards the complete redevelopment of St Joseph’s Church Hall in Brighton, and the creation of a brand-new community space and hub for Catholic student activity, offering meeting rooms, a library for study and small group meetings, and a main hall.

The Diocese is part-way through a month of prayer for vocations and, reflecting on his vocation story, Bishop Richard spoke to students about its “rightness”:

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“I began thinking about being a priest aged 10 or 11, we had a great parish priest, and I wondered what it would be like to do what he did. I applied for seminary when I was 17, was interviewed by the Archbishop of Southwark, and started there a month after my 18th birthday on the 26 Aug 1976 - we spent the first 3 days at the seminary in silence!

"The key thing in those early days was a growing awareness that my priestly vocation was the right thing to do, it had ‘a rightness’. One thing I particularly remember was the Seminary Rector saying that there was ‘no holiday from the spiritual life’, which is wholly true – it’s been a varied and really very exciting life; you meet people of all ages and backgrounds and walk with them in good, and sometimes very bad situations, accompanying them throughout their lives.”

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Students were encouraged to ask questions and explored a range of issues including the role of the Second Vatican Council (1962-5) in highlighting the importance of ecumenism, encouraging interfaith dialogue, and informing our understanding of other faiths; the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as “a sacrament of grace, a guarantee of God’s forgiveness and a great gift”; and the importance of using time spent in study at university - and the qualifications gained as a result - in the service of God and the Church.

Highlighting the many opportunities the students would have to share their faith and act “as a beacon, invitation and inspiration to others” Bishop Richard said:

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“To have the opportunity to undertake years of study is a privilege, and it is important to ask yourself how you can use the qualifications you receive at the service of the world after graduation. Faith can inspire people and change lives; explore how you can work for the common good and identify the need you can answer with your particular gifts and talents.”

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Many thanks to all those who contributed to the Mass, and subsequent evening event at Howard House, including those who prepared dinner and tidied up afterwards. You can find out more about CathSoc here.