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Diocesan Jubilarians celebrated their jubilees of priestly ordination at Arundel Cathedral on 12 June with Mass presided over by Bishop Richard, followed by a celebratory lunch with brother priests.

Ad multos annos to Fr Chris Benyon (60 years); Fr Graham Bamford and Canon Paul Jennings (50 years); Fr John Allen, Mgr Tony Barry, Fr Tony Bridson and Fr Hugh Flower (40 years); Fr Charles Howell and Fr Paul Wilkinson (25 years).

In his homily, Bishop Richard reflected on the reading from Isaiah for that day’s feast and the prophet’s response to the Lord’s call: “Here I am, send me.” He gave thanks for the response of the jubilarians assembled, and all our diocesan priests who have given that response to the Lord’s call to them.

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“The mission of the priest: sanctifying, preaching and leading, is a share in the threefold munera, the threefold service of Christ himself, who is priest, prophet and king.”

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He explored this mission, in the prayer life of the priest, in the Eucharist, the Daily Office and in praying with others, especially in the most difficult moments of their life; in the life of servant leadership – “leadership that is bearing fruit as we see a gentle but certain growth in the life of the church” and in the call to be prophets, both as preachers and in this time “when the call to the priest to be truly prophetic is especially needed."

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“Let us not forget that Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s call was to be his prophet, filled with courage and zeal for the Lord.

“The response to the call to the priestly vocation does require courage: a courage grounded in prayer. The living out of priesthood requires perseverance, a quality we see in the prophets as they continue their mission in the face of opposition and rejection. In our present society, courage and perseverance are needed in great and equal measure, together with a healthy sprinkling of zeal. For ourselves and those entrusted to our care, we are called to lead them in witness to the Gospel in a sometimes hostile world.

“Each and every day let us reflect that the Lord has sent us into the world: the Lord who consecrated himself that we be sanctified in truth. The world is thirsting for this truth, the message of Christ, for His Resurrection gift of the peace that the world cannot give.

“As prophets for our own age, let us proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour: Good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, liberty to the oppressed, the favour of the Lord.”