It is very meet, right and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee.
The Order of Mass – Divine Worship the Missal

Bishop David at St Mary's College OscottDear Friends,

As I write this letter, I am preparing to fly to Rome to join those Ordinariate Pilgrims who are walking to Rome from Siena; we will be joined by others as we gather in the Eternal City.

The heart of our time in Rome will be our celebration of the Feast of St John Henry Newman on 9th October. We are privileged to be able to sing Mass in Newman’s titular church on his feast day. In the afternoon we will enter St Peter’s Basilica through the Holy Door and we are very honoured to be allowed to pray Evensong in the Vatican Grottos close to the tomb of St Peter and also of Pope Benedict XVI.

The following day will include a visit to a catacomb, where we will celebrate a Mass. It is customary when making such a pilgrimage to gather one’s intentions and to offer them in the holy places one will visit.

As I go on this pilgrimage to Rome I am very conscious that I go as your Bishop and, alongside a few personal intentions, I take with me the Ordinariate and all its illnesses — yes all of these — but above all, a profound sense of Thanksgiving: thanksgiving to God for all the gifts he has poured upon us; thanksgiving for being called to be your Bishop.

Most of you will not be able to join us in Rome, but I would like to ask you all to join me in giving thanks for all the blessings we have received by praying the General Thanksgiving to coincide with the pilgrimage:

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks
for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men;
We bless thee for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for thine inestimable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies,
that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,
and that we shew forth thy praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives;
by giving up ourselves to thy service,
and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost
be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

In Christ
✠ David