On Saturday 4 February, St Chad’s Cathedral hosted the annual Day for Religious, at which religious brothers and sisters renew their commitment to the service of Jesus Christ, Light of the World.

The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Longley with Fr Simon Bishop SJ delivering the Homily.

Fr Simon said:

“When, your Grace, you came to Winson Green Prison to celebrate Christmas, you spoke of the journey of our lives – with its twists and turns and of God’s faithfulness as our Companion along the Way. And this experience of journey, of walking together, is precisely the focus of our day together as we consider the Synodal pathway and religious life and celebrate the Jublilarians who have walked this Way faithfully with our Lord over so many years.

“I am currently teaching a course at St Mary’s College, Oscott, to the seminarians, on Discernment and when I asked them for a description of ‘discernment’, one of them said: ‘journeying with God.

“It’s good isn’t it: recognising the movement and change of our lives, not static, not alone, but with God and with one another, pilgrims, in a pilgrim Church.”

Read the full homily

Ten jubilarians were also celebrated for their lives of service. The jubilarians met with Archbishop Bernard Longley ahead of the Mass and  after Mass Sr Gemma Simmonds gave an inspirational presentation about synodality and religious life.

2023 Jubilarians:

DIAMOND JUBILEE

Sr Ruth Kidson. Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary

Sr Jean Shedden. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

Sr Margaret Murray. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

Sr Julian Burrows. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

Sr Jude Bogie. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

Sr Anita Duhig. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

GOLDEN JUBILEE

Sr Patricia Murphy. Sisters of Charity of St Paul. The Apostle

Sr Jean Searson. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

SILVER JUBILEE

Sr Ermina Lucaci. Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle

Sr Alphonsa Muttungal. Daughters of St Francis De Sales