Pope Leo XIV appointed Fr Stephen Wang as the new Bishop of Arundel & Brighton on Thursday 2 July 2026. Bishop-elect Stephen will be installed as the sixth Bishop of our Diocese at Arundel Cathedral on Monday 19 October.

‍In the last of Deacon Jon Harman’s reflections, he explores what happens when a priest is ordained bishop.

The ordination of a bishop is not simply an appointment or an installation into a new role. Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, Fr Stephen will be ordained to the episcopate - the Order of Bishops - and will receive the fullness of the sacrament he first received as Deacon and then as a Priest.

The Mass will begin with Fr Stephen being questioned about his willingness to undertake the responsibilities of the episcopal office. In the Promise of the Elect, he will publicly declare his readiness to serve the Church faithfully, to proclaim the Gospel, guard the faith, and care for the people entrusted to him.

The Litany of Supplication follows. Fr Stephen will lie prostrate before the altar; with people across our family of faith calling upon Our Lady and all the saints to pray for him. This is a powerful reminder that Fr Stephen does not begin this ministry alone: the whole Church on earth and in heaven, accompanies him in prayer.

At the heart of the ordination itself are two particularly important moments: the laying on of hands and the Prayer of Ordination.

During ordination, the bishops present will lay their hands upon Fr Stephen’s head. Through this visible sign, the Church invokes the Holy Spirit and expresses the ‘handing on’ of the apostolic ministry; the unbroken mission of the Church handed down from the time of the Apostles. The laying on of hands is followed by the solemn Prayer of Ordination, in which the Church asks God to pour out the grace Fr Stephen needs for the ministry to which he has been called.

The Book of the Gospels has a central place in the celebration. It is held over the head of the Bishop-elect during the Prayer of Ordination, signifying that the proclamation of the Gospel is at the heart of his ministry. After his ordination, the Book of the Gospels is presented to him as a reminder of his responsibility to proclaim the Gospel faithfully, and to teach the people entrusted to his care.

Another significant moment is the anointing of his head with Sacred Chrism (perfumed oil). The chrism used during this Mass was consecrated by Bishop Gerard Bradley, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, at the Chrism Mass at Arundel Cathedral in April. This anointing is a visible sign of the Holy Spirit's presence and of the bishop’s consecration for his ministry.

Then come the familiar symbols we explored last week: the ring, mitre and crozier. The ring is presented as a sign of the bishop’s fidelity to the Church and his bond with our Diocese. The mitre is placed upon his head as a sign of his episcopal ministry, while the crozier is given to him as a reminder that he is called to be a shepherd of God's people.

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Please pray for Fr Stephen as he prepares to begin this ministry, and pray for our whole Diocese as we enter this new chapter together.

‍Space within Arundel Cathedral is limited, with the Mass of Episcopal Ordination by invitation only. People across our parishes and schools are warmly encouraged to join the celebration online by watching the Cathedral’s livestream.

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