The Priest as an Agent of Generosity

On Sunday 19^th October, a group of over thirty clergy from across the Church of England and some from the Church of Sweden, descended on Walsingham for what has become an annual three-day event. It is billed as an ‘Additional IME’, to supplement, from a Catholic perspective, what each Diocese puts on for its own curates in the way of training during Initial Ministerial Education Years 4-7. However, its benefits go far beyond education: it is a great opportunity for those who share a common understanding of Christian priesthood to come together not only to study and learn, but to relax and share in one another’s company, both socially and sacramentally, which is ever so important as we move forward in faith through the challenges presented to the Church of today.

The theme of this year’s conference was ‘The Priest as an Agent of Generosity’, which took as its strapline ‘Be generous as your Father in heaven is generous’. Five sessions, scattered throughout the three days, drew on examples from the wider Church, from our own Tractarian history, from the pastoral experience of participants and leaders, and from Holy Scripture, in encouraging us to be generous in our various ministries, as God himself has been and continues to be generous with each of us.

The conferences are organised by the Vocations Group, led by the Bishop of Richborough, and generously sponsored by Catholic societies, for which the participants are extremely grateful. The Group plans to run a cycle of themes, so that curates are able to attend sessions on each theme during the course of their curacy.

Please continue to pray for the Vocations Group in its important work in fostering and nurturing vocations within the Catholic tradition of the Church of England; and keep praying for Priests – for those ordained, and those discerning, that God may continue to raise up faithful and generous pastors for his Church.

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