The Closer to Christ Campaign is an extraordinary undertaking that has and continues to benefit the Diocese through funding:
- the training of our seminarians
- supporting our priests in all stages of ministry through to retirement and
- providing resources for our parishes to continue their mission to bring people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church.
Parishes are the largest beneficiaries, receiving 33% of the funding. Seminarians and active clergy follow closely, each receiving 23%, while retired priests receive the remaining 20%.
Supporting our clergy through all stages of ministry
Assisting our men in training for the priesthood
The seminarian must be open to hearing the Lord’s call in his life and be eager to respond to it. Seminary is a place to study but is (more importantly) where men test and formally discern their vocation to the priesthood, with the help of the Church.
The Diocese currently has 10 men in formation for the priesthood. Seminary formation takes between six and seven years to priestly ordination, at an annual cost of £30,000.
As the current cohort of priests ages, the demand for more young men to come forward and dedicate their lives to the mission and service of the Church will only increase and therefore so will the requirement to resource their formation financially.
Go, make disciples of all nation. Matthew 28: 19
Supporting our clergy to be happy, healthy and holy
Ensuring our priests have the necessary care and resources in place throughout their lives is essential.
To be better prepared for the future and to find new ways to serve our people, it is important that our priests can carry on with their development and growth to meet the growing demands made on them. Our Diocese is blessed to have over 93 priests in parish ministry, providing pastoral care and support to parishes as far north as Oxford and as far south as the Channel Islands.
The Closer to Christ Campaign enables us to provide an appropriate level of support and on-going formation to these men who give their lives to the Church.
The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. St Jean Marie Vianney
Providing for our retired priests following a lifetime of ministry
While most priests retire at the age of 75, many remain very active, continuing to serve their communities, working in our parishes, schools and chaplaincies. We have a responsibility to our priests.
It is our duty to make certain that no priest is worried about meeting essential costs during their senior years, so they can enjoy their well-deserved retirement.
With 39 priests in retirement and an additional 24 retirees expected over the next decade, it is critical that extra resources are provided.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, lives in me, and I live in him. John 6:55-56
Reviving and enabling the parish
Each parish that has taken part in the campaign receives a share of local donations. This share helps to enable the parish to become financially sound and remain adequately resourced so that the laity, supported by their clergy, can realise the local parish vision.
Please contact your parish office if you would like to find out more about what’s happened locally. Details on how to contact your parish can be found here.
