On Friday 25th March, Bishop David presided at the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Deacon Liam Castle. On a sunny Friday morning, Deacon Liam was joined by his family and close friends swell as brother priests from our own diocese and friends from his seminary years.
Bishop David knows Fr Liam well as he was Rector tot he seminary at Oscott from seven years, the entirety of Fr Liam’s student years. The bishop announced that Fr Liam will remain at St Martin De Porres Catholic Church as Assistant Priest and continue with his chaplaincy responsibilities to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. He is well known to the community in Luton as he has been on pastoral placement there for the last few months.
Fr Liam’s cousin is also priest, Fr Daniel Rooke (pictured above with Fr Liam) was ordained in 2020 and is now Assistant Priest at St Augustine’s in High Wycombe. Fr Daniel, who studied for the priesthood alongside Fr Liam helped to vest him during the service.
Speaking to Fr Liam during his homily, Bishop David welcomed him to the priesthood by saying,
“Welcome to the brotherhood of the broken”
In these words Bishop David was encouraging Fr Liam and all our priests that they are not called to Priesthood because of the gifts they bring but rather because of their “weaknesses and inadequacies”.
Recognising our depleting numbers of priests Bishop David acknowledged that 25% of our active priests are over the age of 70 and in a few years time, he may well ask Fr Liam, “which town to look after?”. Until then, Luton are blessed with a new priest who with all the brokenness of all of us, will serve the people there with God’s strength and love.