Bishop Declan Visits the University of Bristol
Bishop Declan Lang challenged students at the University of Bristol to
embrace the poverty of modern day Britain and proclaim the good news of
the gospel during Mass and a talk at the University of Bristol Catholic
Chaplaincy. As part of the chaplaincy’s spring term programme, which
has included Dr Brendan Smith’s Irish take on the Catholic Church and
Fr Robert Ombres’ Aquinas lecture ‘God, angels and us’, Bishop Declan
came not only to preside and preach at Mass but also to talk about the
role of Bishop. He also took questions from the students.
Bishop Declan spoke of the threefold role of a Bishop: to teach, to sanctify and to shepherd. As the Bishop of Clifton he has the responsibility of leading the local Church and maintaining communion with the universal Church. He explained that there can be a misrepresentation of the Church by not understanding that a Diocese is the local Church and that all ordinaries, or diocesan bishops, share in the collegiality of bishops’ conferences and the universal Church.
Speaking about his role as chair of the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE), Bishop Declan reminded the students that they share in the life and mission of the Church: called through their baptism to proclaim the good news of the Gospel; in a world that often speaks of doom and gloom we are to be a people of hope. Responding to questions from the Students the Bishop spoke of the need for good liturgy to joyfully reflect the particular pastoral and spiritual needs of a community. We should be uplifted by the celebration of the Eucharist.
With great poignancy and pastoral care Bishop Declan thanked the students for being the Church explaining that his role as a bishop is best summed up by St Augustine: with you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.
This year the University Catholic Chaplaincy celebrates its ruby jubilee. For details about the anniversary celebrations or about the programme of events at the Chaplaincy visit the website below.
Father Robert King, Chaplain to the Univeristy of Bristol
Useful URL : http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Union/Cassoc
Bishop Declan spoke of the threefold role of a Bishop: to teach, to sanctify and to shepherd. As the Bishop of Clifton he has the responsibility of leading the local Church and maintaining communion with the universal Church. He explained that there can be a misrepresentation of the Church by not understanding that a Diocese is the local Church and that all ordinaries, or diocesan bishops, share in the collegiality of bishops’ conferences and the universal Church.
Speaking about his role as chair of the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE), Bishop Declan reminded the students that they share in the life and mission of the Church: called through their baptism to proclaim the good news of the Gospel; in a world that often speaks of doom and gloom we are to be a people of hope. Responding to questions from the Students the Bishop spoke of the need for good liturgy to joyfully reflect the particular pastoral and spiritual needs of a community. We should be uplifted by the celebration of the Eucharist.
With great poignancy and pastoral care Bishop Declan thanked the students for being the Church explaining that his role as a bishop is best summed up by St Augustine: with you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.
This year the University Catholic Chaplaincy celebrates its ruby jubilee. For details about the anniversary celebrations or about the programme of events at the Chaplaincy visit the website below.
Father Robert King, Chaplain to the Univeristy of Bristol
Useful URL : http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Union/Cassoc
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