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Canon Jonathan Martin was elected as our Diocesan Administrator last week by the diocesan College of Consultors, Monsignor Tony Barry, Fr Tony Bridson, Canon Jonathan Martin, Canon Kieron O’Brien, Fr David Osborne and Canon David Parmiter. Canon Jonathan will serve and guide the faithful of the Diocese until a new bishop is appointed by the Holy Father. Watch the video above for an introduction to Fr Jonathan and his new role.

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Transcript

Hello, I've been asked to introduce myself to you. I'm Father Jonathan Martin. I'm the parish priest of St Pancras Catholic Church in Lewes, which is where I'm speaking to you from now. And as you may have picked up from the diocesan communications that's sent out, I'm now the Diocesan Administrator.

The Diocesan Administrator is the priest from the Diocese who effectively looks after the Diocese while there is no bishop. So since Bishop Richard has been appointed to Westminster and since his installation, the College of Consultors - that's six priests in the Diocese who are the bishop's advisors - they met and they have elected me. And I accepted the election. And the election is until we have a new bishop. So I'm praying, right at the top of my list, that there'll be a short interregnum, that we will be sent a new bishop by our Holy Father as soon as possible.

At the time of recording this, I've been in post as Diocesan Administrator for just one week. And I have to say that it's been quite overwhelming, overwhelming by the amount of stuff that has landed on my desk. Nothing had quite prepared  me for that, but also overwhelming in terms of the huge amount of support and appreciation that you have sent via emails and letters. And it's that that really will sustain me, together with your prayers.

Remember that we are in this together, we are all united in the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. And throughout our parishes and in the Diocesan offices, we are utterly committed to sharing with others the story that we ourselves have taken to heart, which is nothing short of the story of the person of Jesus Christ.

So please pray for me. Be assured of my prayers for you and your parishes each and every day. I have a window here of St Philip Howard, the patron of our diocese, and I'm invoking his prayers very much for us all in these months until we are sent a new bishop.

God bless you all.

Canon Jonathan Martin