Two men were ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Westminster on 27 July.
Revs Julian Davies and Benjamin Woodley were ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Westminster in the presence of family, friends and parishioners from a number of parishes where both men have served. The ordination Mass was celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols at Westminster Cathedral. Among the concelebrants were Bishops John Sherrington, Nicholas Hudson and Michael Campbell OSA, priests from Westminster as well as a number of other dioceses of England and Wales.
The Cardinal in his homily cited the words of Jeremiah 1:5 - “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you”, adding that the call to the priesthood “has been God's intention for these two men from the moment they were first conceived”.
“No wonder there is a deep sense of fulfilment about today, as that intention of God, pondered over so steadfastly in prayerful discernment, comes to this decisive moment,” he added.
He thanked “all who have encouraged each of these men along this path and who love them so much in this moment of thankfulness”.
Declaring that the Holy Spirit is “the decisive actor in this event” he said: “Only by the gift of God can this change take place in the consecration of these two men as priests of the New Covenant”.
He added that Julian and Benjamin will shortly take their places among the priests of the diocese, as co-workers with the bishops, “in service of the mission we all share”.
This mission, he said, “requires the work of the Holy Spirit to bring it about.”
He said that in today’s society “there is little or no shared vision around which to gather; our culture offers no reason or encouragement to offer forgiveness to those who do wilful damage and harm.”
“Yet, from the cross of Christ flows the vision, the grace, the new life, which is so needed today. This is our task, in word, sacrament and example,” he continued.
From September, Fr Julian is appointed Assistant Priest at the Parish of St Alban and St Stephen in St Albans and Fr Benjamin is appointed Assistant Priest at the Parish Our Lady in St John’s Wood.
The candidates were presented by Canon Roger Taylor, Rector of Allen Hall, where Rev Julian studied, and Mgr Philip Whitmore, Rector of the Venerable English College, where Rev Benjamin studied.
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