In Bishop Patrick’s 2018 Pastoral Letter to mark the start of a new Liturgical Year he outlined 3 themes that would become the Diocesan Priorities for the years ahead:
ENCOUNTER, DISCIPLESHIP and MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP.
First of all, ENCOUNTER: I would like to ensure that people of all ages in our parishes, schools, and chaplaincies are helped to discover, or discover more deeply, the importance of a personal ENCOUNTER with Christ; so that they can become convinced that they are each loved by God and are invited to grow in their relationship with him. In particular I would like to see the development of times of Eucharistic Adoration in our parishes, schools and chaplaincies.
Secondly, DISCIPLESHIP: because of that personal encounter with Christ, I would like to encourage each of us to hear and respond to his invitation to be his DISCIPLES, to follow him more closely, and to seek to serve him generously in our daily lives.
Thirdly, MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP: that, with a greater recognition of, and openness to, the help, guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can all become MISSIONARY DISCIPLES; faith-filled, joyful and outward-looking Christians who are growing in confidence to speak humbly of the difference that knowing Christ makes to our lives, and who bear witness to His love in our service of our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need. The service to which Christ calls us is always the action of the Holy Spirit working in us.
Right Reverend Patrick Joseph McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham
