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On Friday 20 January 2026, Archbishop-Elect Richard Moth celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for his time in Arundel & Brighton, ahead of his installation as the new Archbishop of Westminster. More than 80 clergy and over 600 lay faithful joined +Richard to celebrate over a decade of service to the Diocese and wish him well as he leaves for Westminster. Invited guests included the Duke of Norfolk; the Earl & Countess of Arundel; Georgina, Duchess of Norfolk; the Bishop of Chichester and the Abbot of Worth. In addition, a virtual congregation of over 500 joined the Mass via the Cathedral's livestream. After Mass, attendees gathered in the Barons' Hall, Arundel Castle, by kind invitation of the Duke, to continue the celebration.

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Dear brothers and sisters,

As I said at the beginning of this Mass, our purpose in coming together lies in giving thanks to God. I give thanks for a little over ten years in service to this Diocese spread across its many communities – parishes, schools, hospitals, prisons, universities – and in the mission in which we have, all of us, shared over this time: the mission of being Christ’s instruments, Christ’s presence, in this part of the world he has given to us.  

St Paul, writing to the Ephesians, speaks of God’s choice for each one of us. This a mystery, wonderful beyond words. God gives us the gift of life – life that is precious from the first moment of our existence to the moment He calls us to Himself. He not only gives us life; He chooses us, from the very beginning, to be holy, to be His and, in His Son, to share in grace. We are part of His plan that all things be united in His Son. This is our Hope. It is a hope that is neither some vague optimism nor something that will never be fulfilled – it is real. It is the hope we celebrated throughout the Church in the Jubilee year. It is the Hope that we see in the Cross, that becomes real for us in the Resurrection of Christ. It is the Hope that informs our life here and now is will be fulfilled in the Kingdom.

When I arrived here in Arundel & Brighton, I spoke in the homily at my Installation, of the words we find in John’s first letter: “The Word Who is Life: this is our subject.” I said that we have no other subject but Christ. This informed the development and, more recently, the unfolding of the Pastoral Plan for the Diocese – a Plan that calls us to witness to this Hope in the Kingdom, calling our brothers and sisters to share the journey in lives lived in the love that is the gift of that Hope in the person of Christ Jesus.

This evening, I give thanks for the life and the hope I have experienced in the community of this Diocese and in the fruit that I see this community produce: the commitment within our parishes and the growth in that commitment to work ever more closely together that is the heart of the Pastoral Plan. I rejoice in the life of our schools, drawing our young people to Christ and preparing them for lives of witness to the Gospel in the service of all. I rejoice in the welcome given to the refugee, to the abiding presence of God’s love through chaplaincy in our prisons and to those affected by crime – for the Lord calls us to ensure that those who are marginalised know they are loved by Him. I rejoice in the healing presence of the Lord in the various ministries exercised in our hospitals. I rejoice in experience that such a great number enjoy on our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and for the impact of that journey in the life of our parishes. I give thanks, too, for the work of our Diocesan offices, supporting us all – often in hidden ways – in the mission to which the Lord has called us.

The fulfilment of this mission – the fulfilment of our lives as Christians, as Catholics – individually and as the community that is the Church, relies on our remaining in Christ, as the branches remain part of the vine.

As disciples of Christ, we shall always face challenges. This has always been so – we need only to look to the shrine of our Patron, St Philip Howard to be reminded is this – and it will always be so. Yet we need not fear, for the Lord is with us. If we rely on ourselves, we shall not discover the answers to these challenges, no matter how hard we look; but the Lord has the answers and our openness to the Spirit that He has sent us will show is the way.

We cannot bear fruit in isolation – without the nourishment that comes to us through the Scriptures, through the Sacraments – especially the Eucharist – and through our prayers with and for one another, we simply shrivel and die. Jesus calls us to ‘abide’ in Him – to live in Him and He in us. The more we are open to live in the love that exists in Christ, the more fruitful we shall be – the more effective our mission. All depends on relationship: relationship with Christ and a closeness and commitment to one another in the work to which the Lord has called us.

Join with me in giving thanks for all who live consecrated life, in all its forms, for this witness calls us to Hope and to the Kingdom – and for those who live the vocation of marriage, in witness to one another and, especially, to their children whose enthusiasm for life and openness to prayer and service inspire us all.  There are so many signs of new growth and life that are present across the Diocese – there is much for which to give thanks.

Let us give thanks for the response that is so evident in our priests and our deacons. Let us pray every day for those discerning and in formation for these vocations.

Brothers in the priesthood and diaconate, words cannot express the commitment that you show to one another and to all whom you serve.  This is a Diocese that is truly blessed by the closeness and strength of both presbyterate and diaconate – for which we must all truly give thanks.

If I may speak personally, I rejoice that I have been privileged to be a part of this work, here in Arundel & Brighton, over these last ten and a half years. I am very conscious of my failings, and I thank you for your patience and kindness. You have given me so much more than I could have every given to you. I shall take with me so many happy memories of my time here in this Diocese.

As the time comes for me to move on, may I assure you of a daily remembrance in my prayers. Through your continual abiding in the Lord who is the Vine; through your deepening closeness to the Word Who is Life, may your lives of Faith continue to bear fruit in the mission to which we are all called: the mission that is lived out in hope and love: the life that is Peace and Joy in the Lord.

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Archbishop-Elect Richard Moth
Arundel Cathedral
30 January 2026