Vocations

Clifton Diocese Vocations Director Father Robert King together with Bristol-based film-maker Dr Stuart Lyall has created an innovative video series about the Catholic Church in the West of England. 

You can watch all of the videos in the cliftondiocese.com cliplayer.  Just follow the links below.

The first episode premiered here on cliftondiocese.com on Vocations Sunday (3 May 2009) - a special day when the Church around the world focuses on the unique opportunities the priesthood offers. 

The second video went online on 10 May 2009 and features Bishop Declan talking about his personal journey.

Our third video premiered on 29 May 2009 and allows you to meet James Finan who is Assistant Priest at Holy Rood in Swindon, the largest parish in our diocese.

Father Tom Gunning our Dean of Bath and Parish Priest of St John the Evangelist is the subject of our fourth video which was posted online on 17 July 2009.

Father Robert King said:  “Our video series celebrates life as a priest and features interviews with the Bishop of Clifton, Bishop Declan, and some of the priests ministering to thousands of people in villages, towns and cities throughout the West of England.  Father Tom Gunning, the Dean of Bath and Parish Priest of St John the Evangelist, together with Father Zygmunt Fraczek from Bristol’s Polish Church, Our Lady of Ostrobrama, are among the other priests who feature in the series.

“I encourage people to watch the videos.  I’m sure they’ll be fascinated by what they see.  The videos not only have the potential to be a catalyst in vocational discernment; they provide an insight to our remarkable ministry as priests.”

Dr Stuart Lyall said:  “These films deal with the many different motives that have led men towards the Catholic priesthood, revealing the trials and tribulations they have encountered on their journey in the service of others through serving God.

“As a non-believer, I’ve always been fascinated with religious devotion and with this series of short films I have attempted to uncover what lies behind the real men in black.”

The Pope’s message for Vocations Sunday 2009 can be read online and Bishop Declan Lang wrote to all parishes in the Clifton Diocese.  You can also listen to the Bishop read the pastoral letter.

A leaflet and two posters to reflect the heroic nature of priesthood have been produced by the Clifton Diocese.  The material features Father James Finan, ordained in 2006.  With the slogan 'Real Active Service' the leaflet sought to answer the question of why the Church needs priests.  You can download them in the multimedia panel on the right.  They formed our focus for Vocations Sunday in 2007.

Last year our first series of videos were made.  You can still download them online.

How do I find out more?

Ask your parish priest or contact our Vocations Director, Father Robert King who will be happy to answer any questions or to help explore a possible vocation to serve as a priest in the Clifton Diocese.   You can write to him at 103 Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LL or call 0117 914 0003.

The Directors of Formation of Permanent Deacons, Deacon Tom and Mrs Fiona Douglas, can be contacted by writing to 25 Kenmore Crescent, Filton Park, Bristol BS7 0TJ or calling 0117 979 1404.