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Bishop Richard ordained Gary Carter and Scott Coleman to the Catholic priesthood on Saturday 5 July, with people from across the Diocese and beyond, joining members of clergy and religious for the Ordination Mass at Arundel Cathedral.

Fr Gary and Fr Scott received their priestly formation at The Royal English College of St Albans in Valladolid; St John’s Seminary, Wonersh; and Allen Hall in Chelsea, enjoying a number of pastoral placements to prepare them for priestly ministry, at diocesan churches including St Joseph’s, Guildford; Christ the Prince of Peace, Weybridge; St Joseph's, Epsom and St Peter’s, Hove. Reflecting on the call to priesthood, Fr Scott said:

“I was going to university to study law when I discovered the Christian Faith. I was baptised into the Church of England at the end of my first year and began questioning what God was calling me to do in life. I wondered whether I could do what ‘the man at the front of the Church’ was doing and later worked in Anglican parishes in London, where I realised the importance of love put into action.

“I went to Anglican Theological College but soon felt the pull of the Catholic Church, which taught the fullness of the Faith, practised the sacraments, and which is genuinely universal and spread throughout the world. I was received into the Catholic Church and felt a similar call to priesthood; I knew that the Catholic priesthood was distinctive in essence, practice and culture, so I spent a year living with a priest and working in a parish. That experience led me to apply to seminary, and seven years later, to ordination.”

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Fr Gary grew up in Surrey and was baptised ten years ago, exploring his priestly vocation he said:

“The Lord has placed so many important people on my formation journey. I grew up in Walton-on-Thames with my parents and sister, and have lived locally for most of my life, apart from five years studying Theology at The University of Chester for my undergraduate and master’s degrees.

“I was received into [the Church at] St Erconwald’s in Walton while working at a local Catholic secondary school; it was during this period that I began to feel the Lord's call to the priesthood through prayer and in conversations. I was supported in my discernment by my local parish priest and the Salesians at the school and there came a point where I knew that I had to take a 'leap of faith' to discern a priestly vocation – it is a leap I have never regretted.”

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Speaking during the homily, Bishop Richard emphasised the gift of priesthood, the ministry of the priest, and the call to mission:

“This is a celebration of immense hope for our diocese,” he said. “Through your ministry you will bring Christ’s peace to the people with whom you minister and serve, sharing with them the wonder of the Resurrection through your preaching, sharing of the Gospel, the teachings of the Church and the Sacrifice of the Mass.

“The Eucharist is the greatest gift to the world; it is the source of everything we do as His followers and the highest of callings. You come to the Diocese at an important time, as we look to the future and the diocesan Pastoral Plan. This is a great moment to be coming to priesthood as we grow in mission – in which you have a very special place – amidst those you have been sent to serve. May your ministry continue to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and may you always be God’s instrument, both to the Diocese and to the world.”

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Reflecting on the future, Fr Gary said:

“As I look ahead to sharing in Christ's priesthood, I am struck by a feeling of awe at what He has done for me and what He will do through me for others, so that they may come to know Him and love Him. I feel a great excitement to go where the Lord sends me in imitation of Him, and out of love for Him and His people.”

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Fr Scott added:

“I am incredibly excited, full of joy and hope and a little nervous, wondering with hopeful expectation how God will make use of me in this new ministry. The priest’s identity is bound up with the altar, and it will be an enormous privilege to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

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Towards the end of the Mass Bishop Richard announced that Fr Gary will begin his priestly ministry at St Joseph’s in Epsom, with Fr Scott joining Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath & Keymer.