CHANGE IN THE AIR

When things don't turn out as you thought then you can either carry on or change them.
Carrying on may mean that things will improve in the future or it could mean that they get worse. I realised that doing vocations work full time is not right for me and that it was not working out as I thought it would. There are several reasons why it has not worked out but I won't bore you with them.
So I asked for a change. I am not giving up the vocations work yet but I asked the Bishop to consider me for a parish again when one became available. One did come up and I was asked to go and I said yes. So from 1st May I will be parish priest of All Saints in Anfield, Liverpool.
There are several reasons to be delighted with the appointment. It is a good parish and I look forward to getting to know the people. It is near the area in Liverpool I was born and lived for the first 2 years ( I don't remember those 2 years ) and in which I went to school from the age of 11 to 16. Going there means I can continue the vocations work as well as being involved in the parish. For me it is a great appointment.
It is also great for my 2 brothers who go to watch Liverpool FC as the football ground is only about half a mile from the church. They can park outside the house while they go to the match.
It may be good for me as well. As a liverpool fan I can go to the match. Well now and again perhaps. I wonder if the club are looking for a Catholic Chaplin. I could advise Rafa about the best team to put out. I may knock on the club door and ask, you never know they may say yes or they may chase me off the premises.
Anyway that is what is happening for me in May.
Before then we have Holy Week and Easter to look forward to. I decided to do something different this Holy Week and Easter because it is the only time I will not be in a parish. I managed to get on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I am joining a group from America which is being led by a Fransiscan Priest and I will be in the Holy Land for the Palm Sunday Procession and all the Triduum and on Easter Sunday we will go to Emmaus after the Easter Day Mass. I am very lucky to be going on such a pilgrimage and I hope it will be a time of blessing for me.
In mid April, ( 12th/13th ) we have Vocations Sunday. With that in mind may I encourage any of you reading this to consider your vocation and if you feel that you may be called to priesthood or religious life then do something about it. Talk to your parish priest or your vocations director. If you are in Liverpool then get in touch with me. Above all be open to what the Lord may be calling you to do in your life. As I have said before you will not be sorry. Serving the Lord is a great blessing and privilege. Please act upon the prompting that the Lord is giving you by reading this. I look forward to hearing from you.

God bless all of you and have great and holy Holy Week and Easter.
Fr Steve