"I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you" (2 Tm. 1:6)
‘The words of St. Paul to Timothy can appropriately be applied to the ongoing formation to which all priests are called by virtue of the “gift of God” which they have received at their ordination. … permanent formation is a requirement of the priest’s own faithfulness to his ministry, to his very being. It is love for Jesus Christ and fidelity to oneself. But it is also an act of love for the People of God, at whose service the priest is placed.’ Pastores Dabo Vobis, Pope Saint John Paul II.
Welcome to the webpage for Ongoing Formation for the priests and deacons of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. We hope you will find this page informative and easy to use.
As the above extract from Pastroes Dabo Vobis begins to make clear, ongoing formation is our response to the gift of our vocation and to the continuing call to be configured to Christ, so as to better serve God and his people. As such, it involves every aspect of our life and activity following ordination, and is something for which we, in the first place, are primarily responsible.
Provision of opportunities for ongoing formation is the responsibility of the Bishop, in collaboration with others, and the purpose of this website is to publicise and make available opportunities for formation arranged by the Ongoing Formation Committee and others. As you will see, the events are wide-ranging and provide opportunities for clergy in the areas of spiritual, pastoral, human and intellectual formation, of which we hope you will take advantage.
Further information can be obtained from the Ongoing Formation Coordinator, Deacon Michael McKearney,
Fr. Richard Walker
Chair, Ongoing Formation Committee
Fr Richard Walker (Chair); Bishop Robert Byrne; Fr Gary Buckby; Fr Dominic Cosslett; Fr Michael Dolman; Fr Paul Fitzpatrick; Canon John Gilbert; Deacon Michael McKearney; Fr Paul McNally; Deacon Gerard Nosowski; Fr Cecil Rogerson; Mr Paul Smallwood; Fr Jonathan Veasey.
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