Due to the absence of Canon Wiener: Monday, May 4th to Friday, May 8th – no Masses at St. Winefride’s church. The schedule resumes on Saturday, May 9th.
Pastoral Letter – On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations
On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations
To be read at all Masses on Sunday 26th April 2026
My dear brothers and sisters,
On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Leo calls young people across the world to “listen to the voice of the Lord who invites you to a full and fruitful life.” The Holy Father urges the young to seek something more than self-knowledge, for, he insists it is in “the beauty of the Divine light” they will find their vocation by “the interior encounter with Christ in prayer.” Pope Leo encourages them to do this by spending generous time in Eucharistic Adoration, meditating on the Word of God and frequenting the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist (i).
Today, I want to join Pope Leo in inviting all considering their calling to take these steps to discover their vocation, whether this will be found in Christian Marriage; the Consecrated Life of Sisters or Brothers; the Catholic Priesthood; the service of the Diaconate; or the greatness of the lay vocation lived in the midst of the world. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, I want to focus on the one vocation on which all other vocations in the Church depend: namely, the Ordained Priesthood. During his apostolic visit to Britain, Pope Benedict called for an outpouring of prayer for vocations to the Priesthood because, he said, “the more the lay apostolate grows, the more urgently the need for priests is felt” (ii).
Saint John Vianney invited everyone to consider the place of the priest in their lives, from the day of our Baptism to every Mass and Holy Communion, to every Confession and Absolution, and in the great crises of life, most especially the last. We might think of the many priests we have known, yet the Scriptures remind us there is but one Priest and Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is into His Priesthood that every priest is ordained, to give his life for the salvation of his brothers and sisters (iii). By this total self-gift of each priest, we can recognise the true Shepherd of our souls (iv), He who came “that (we) may have life and have it abundantly”(v).
Today, in Shrewsbury Diocese, we must give thanks for the 12 men who are at various stages of their training for the Priesthood; for the constant stream of men coming forward to engage in our Discernment Programme in both Stockport and Shrewsbury; and for those regularly attending our Vocations Group to first consider their calling. The flourishing of all these initiatives is supported by your prayer and the dedicated prayer every day at our Diocesan Shrine of Eucharistic Adoration at Saint Joseph’s, Stockport.
The Second Vatican Council insisted every member of the faithful has a responsibility to so pray and support new vocations to the Ministerial Priesthood(vi). This is a good day for us to consider our part in praying and supporting new and generous vocations to the Priesthood, not least by the joyful living of our own vocation. I want to thank all the priests of the Diocese for their faithful witness; and recall the moving moment when they gathered at the Cathedral on the eve of Holy Thursday, to renew their priestly commitment in the light of that day when the Eucharist and the Priesthood were ‘born together.’ They declared their resolve from the day of ordination to the end to “follow Christ the Head and Shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zeal for souls” (vii).
Our Lady is the model of this joyful faithfulness, as Pope Leo observes, showing every member of the Church how to listen in prayer and receive the gift of their vocation. Let us entrust to Our Lady’s prayers, the 12 men now preparing for the Priesthood, and all coming forward to consider the priestly vocation on which the future mission of our Shrewsbury Diocese so much depends.
United in this prayer,
+ Mark
i Message of Pope Leo XIV for 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 26th April 2026
ii Mass at Westminster Cathedral, 18th September 2010
iii Cf. Preface of the Chrism Mass
iv I Pet. 2: 25
v Jn. 10: 10
vi Cf. Decree on the Training of Priests, Optatam Totius, No. 2
vii Renewal of Priestly Promises at the Chrism Mass
Lenten Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Shrewsbury
Lenten Pastoral Letter
A Church Ready for Converts
My dear brothers and sisters,
As Lent begins, we see a growing number of men and women, many of them young adults, who are seeking faith and baptism. This stream of new converts is evident across our Diocese and country and indeed across the western world. It is all the more remarkable because this new generation of converts have been drawn to the Church by no special initiative on our part, rather by the constancy of faith, the reverence of worship and the authentic witness they have found. They may be statistically small in number compared with the overall decline of Christianity in our land, yet their search for Christ and His Church represents a moment of grace.
As Shrewsbury Diocese began its mission some 175 years ago, Saint John Henry Newman spoke of “a Church ready for converts.” Seeing so many today, often coming from no religious background to find the faith of the Church, I recalled these words of Cardinal Newman. We must now be ready to support new converts who are seeking Christ and His Church amid all the confusions of our time.
At the beginning of Lent, the Scriptures remind us of the deceptions which have marked humanity’s struggle from the very dawn of history and of Christ’s victory over Satan in the wilderness (i). It is with Christ that we are to renounce the evil one who seeks to pervert all that is good and true (ii). It should not surprise us that, through the shadows of our time, many are coming in search of Christ, the truth of His teaching and all the means of grace He has entrusted to His Church in the Sacraments, and supremely in His Eucharist.
The journey of these new converts brings us back to the original purpose of Lent as the time when adults prepared for Baptism. The Church quickly recognised this time was needed by all the baptised as part of their continuing conversion.
It is for this reason, that we now keep these 40 Lenten days devoted to greater prayer, self-denial and generosity as we each prepare to renew at Easter the promises of our Baptism, confess our sins and receive the Holy Eucharist with ever renewed faith and love. It is by striving to live our own conversion that we can best support a new generation of converts. For Lent calls us to recognise that every member of the Church must always be a convert.
On my visits to parishes, I often remind you of the many thousands of souls in every place who depend so much on your prayer and faithfulness. Today, with a prayer card distributed at Mass, I invite you to pray for all those in your lives and for the many adults who are seeking the faith and the new life of Baptism. May we truly be a Church of converts, that is always “ready for converts.”
United in this prayer, and as a convert with you,
+ Mark
Bishop of Shrewsbury
Visit of Sisters Adorers
On Sunday, September 14th, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we will have the joy and honour to receive the visit of the community of Sisters Adorers in Preston. They will sing the Mass (“Nos autem gloriari oportet …”), join us after Mass in the hall during the usual reception. At 3:00 pm they will give a talk and answer questions regarding the spiritual charism of the Institute’s Adorers.
Canon Wiener Vacation
Canon Wiener will be on vacation during the week commencing 10th August. Please refer to the newsletter for the amended schedule.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary : 15 August 2025
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation and Mass will be celebrated at 6.30pm
Funeral – Father McGuiness
The following arrangements shall take place for funeral of the late Father McGuiness
5th August – A Requiem in the Vetus Ordo will take place at St. Winefride’s at 7.00pm
6th August – A Requiem using the Novus Ordo will take place at Shrewsbury Cathedral at 12.15
† In Memoriam: Rev. Father Gerard McGuiness †
Called to Eternal Rest: 9 July 2025
Father Gerard McGuiness, beloved priest of the Diocese of Shrewsbury and in particular St Winefride’s, entered into his Eternal Reward earlier today, following over sixty years of devoted priestly service.
Having celebrated his Diamond Jubilee in June 2023, Father Gerard was a steadfast shepherd. He ministered with humility and fidelity, demonstrating a profound reverence for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. A strong supporter of the Vetus Ordo, he, alongside the late William Quirk of the Latin Mass Society—ensured its continued celebration through leaner times, providing spiritual sustenance to the faithful in Shrewsbury.
Father had a great devotion to Ss Thomas Moore and John Fisher – poignant that he was called to his Heavenly rest on their feast day.
His legacy endures in the hearts of those he served and in the presence of the Institute today. May Christ, the Eternal High Priest, welcome him into the joy of Heaven, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Ss. John Fisher, Bishop & Martyr Thomas More, Martyr
On Wednesday, 9th July 2025, Mass will be at 6.30pm
March for Life
Join March for Life UK on Saturday 6th Sept in London! The right to life underpins every other right we have and without it every other right is rendered meaningless. Unite with thousands of others at this family-friendly event where we recognise the value of life from conception and stand up for all those impacted by abortion. A coach leaves from St Winefride’s Church, 187 Crowmere Rd, Shrewsbury SY2 5LA (6.30am). Coach seats: adults £30, under 16 £10, payable in advance. For more info/to book a seat contact
Isabel 07773 501721, Ben 07885 505116