“Hope is essential to the Christian life. It’s hope that gives us joy, energy and enthusiasm. It makes us smile, it puts a spring in our step, it assures us that with God the impossible can be possible, that obstacles can be overcome and gloom can be transformed into light.”
Mass at Sacred Heart
It was a real pleasure to welcome Bishop Philip to Sacred Heart Hook at the weekend where he acknowledges our growing parish, discusses the importance of Advent, calls us all to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, evangelise our faith and grow our parish by inviting our wider family and friends to join us.
He also reminds us during Advent to pray for the gift of hope each day.
The Bishop also handed out vision booklets which are also available to read online here.
Watch the Video of Bishop Philip’s Sermon
Video of Bishop Philip’s Vision
“As the shepherd of the Diocese I wish to commit us all to Bringing People closer to Jesus Christ through his Church.”
Vision Summary
The following has been taken from the Portsmouth Diocese page here.
1. Mission to all
That we enable immeasurably more people to hear the Gospel afresh and to come to know, serve and love Jesus Christ in the saving communion of His Catholic Church so that, persevering in faith, hope and charity, they may one day reach the happiness of Heaven.
2. Conversion of Catholics
That we assist all Catholics, especially those who are not yet practising, to reach a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, to be more intentional disciples and, discerning their charisms, to become more actively engaged in the Church’s mission.
3. Dependence on the Holy Spirit
That shifting from maintenance to mission, we trust more completely in God through prayer, imploring the Holy Spirit to inspire our clergy and our laity with constant joy and creativity to develop and realise new, innovative ministries and ways of Christian living.
4. Outward-looking service
That we help our parish and school communities to become outward-facing service-centres, brighter beacons of mission, dialogue and service to people around, especially to the poor, the homeless, those in need.
Focus Areas
These four priorities lead to three specific focuses or areas of attention:
Focus on youth
That we do all we can to teach and hand on the gift of Faith through the Church’s Scripture and Tradition to young men and women, young couples and young families, converting, forming and equipping them as joyful missionary-disciples of Christ.
Promoting vocations
That we earnestly pray for, foster and support vocations to all states of life and ministry in the Church, including new movements and new communities, but especially to the sacred priesthood.
Prioritising resources
That managing wisely our property and our resources, we use our God-given patrimony more flexibly and more determinately in the service of mission and the new evangelisation.
Our Most Basic Need
Holiness through communion in diversity
That we seek holiness of life in imitation of Jesus, obedient (ob-audire) to God and legitimate authority, loving and respecting one another, and filled with the Holy Spirit, that we foster a joyful, positive, ‘can-do’ attitude.
Vision Statement
That each person, each parish community, each Pastoral Area and Deanery, each school and every ministry within the Diocese is called:
♦ to seek out and draw in the un-churched and the unbelieving;
♦ to [help Catholics] develop life-long discipleship, spiritual growth and a living relationship with Jesus Christ, above all, in the Holy Eucharist;
♦ to discern the gifts, charisms and vocations God has given;
♦ to form and support existing and new ‘creative apostolates’.
Summary
Bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church.
To see Bishop Philip’s most recent videos – please click here.
