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People from across our family of faith journeyed to Worth Abbey on Saturday for a Mass of Welcome celebrated by Bishop Stephen Wang.

Bishop Stephen was ordained as Bishop of Arundel & Brighton at Arundel Cathedral on Monday 19 October. Addressing the congregation at the abbey church on Saturday, he shared the happiness and peace he has experienced since his appointment and the beauty of journeying together in faith: “I felt like [my episcopal ordination] at the Cathedral was going up to the top of the mountain,” he said, “we've come down into the valleys now, into the plains. To be together as God's people, as a diocese, is a real joy for me.”

Nearly 1,000 people from across the Diocese joined the celebration, with lay representatives from diocesan schools, deaneries and new parishes gathering with consecrated women and men, and members of clergy.

Speaking during his first public homily, Bishop Stephen explored the four gifts he received during his episcopal ordination which symbolise his role as a teacher of the Gospel, a faithful spouse to the Diocese, and a shepherd who brings people closer to Jesus and his Church. Highlighting their significance, he connected each symbol to the ministry of a bishop and the shared mission of all the baptised:

“[Archbishop John Wilson] gave me the book of the Gospels; the Word of God... the teaching of the Bible and of the Church. I need to read this book, these words, and hear them every day to learn from Jesus. Isn't that true for you as well? The Word of God, a gift to the Church, this is why we stood for the Gospel...

“[Then he] gave me a ring... It has the letters IHS written on, which is Latin for the name of Jesus... which means a lot to me because I was ordained a priest on the feast day of the Holy Name of Jesus. To wear this ring as a bishop is a sign of my marriage to the Diocese; that I must be faithful to you, just as a husband is faithful to his wife, his bride, and I must give my life in love for you - for the Diocese - and serve him. We must support and love one another; no one can follow Jesus alone.”

Speaking about his hat, the mitre, he explored its connection to the Holy Spirit and the “flames of fire” experienced by the apostles at Pentecost, and as a symbol of God’s protection: “[It’s] a call to holiness,” he said, “but never forget, this is also a hat, a helmet. It's a safety helmet. It's a soldier's helmet. It's a symbol of God's protection for me as a bishop, which we all need as Christians, the ‘helmet of salvation’ that St Paul speaks about.  

The last of the four gifts was the bishop’s staff or crozier, the symbol of a shepherd and a practical tool for “keeping everyone together.” Reflecting on this last gift, Bishop Stephen highlighted the importance of service and sharing the love of Jesus with people of all faiths and none across our diocese: “God wants us to grow in holiness, to grow in love for each other, and to grow closer together in our communities. And then, with that renewed confidence, to reach out to others in love and service, inviting them to know Jesus and his Church and his love for them. 

“Do you know how many people live within our diocese? Two million, nine hundred and fifty thousand people... how can we love each other more?... And how can we reach out to all those other people to share the love of Jesus with them? What a wonderful mission God has given us.”

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‍You can see photos from the Mass on the diocesan Flickr page.