Homily of Archbishop Richard Moth
Mass at Northampton Cathedral
Thursday 30 July 2026
I am very conscious that this is not an easy time for the family of the Diocese of Northampton. Over these last months, long before I thought I would ever find myself as Apostolic Administrator, you have all been in my prayers.
At a time like this, I think we need to focus very strongly indeed on the things that the Lord wishes to say to us. As the one appointed by Pope Leo to have some oversight of this diocese for the time being, may I just say that I wish I had been able to celebrate this Mass earlier than now. I do not wish to offer excuses, but, as you all know, I have not been in Westminster very long, and it is a rather large diocese: 206 parishes, 204 schools, in addition to all the national work. My diary was very full.
I have been coming up here, trying to give a day, or more or less a day, each week to the work of this diocese, assisted very ably by the Moderator of the Curia, Canon Christopher Perry, Canon Michael Harrison, the Vicar General, and the central staff of the diocese. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all that they are doing for all of you at this time.
We must pray, each and every one of us, for everybody involved in what is now a legal process. We must pray for everyone engaged in that difficult work.
Jesus speaks to the people in parables because, it seems to me, the ways that we follow are often difficult. Those of you in this Cathedral Church who are teachers will know that it is so often easier to speak by way of story. Somehow we can get a handle on things when we listen to a story that illustrates the point. That is why Jesus uses parables.
If Jesus had given the Apostles and those who chose to listen to Him a very early account of all that was to happen to Him, they probably would not have followed Him. Little by little, bit by bit, very gently, Jesus gradually unfolds the wonder of salvation to those who are able to listen to Him.
We find Jeremiah the prophet this evening, in that first reading, with the illustration of the pot that is remade by the potter. We can see here the reality that God renews us always, makes us ever new, and makes us ever closer to the image in which He has created us.
This evening, I would like to say to you, the lay faithful of this diocese, and to you, brothers in priesthood and diaconate, that as the family of this diocese, as Christ’s people here in this part of His world, this is a moment when we must focus our minds and our hearts ever more closely on Him.
When things are difficult and we cannot find our way, it is the Lord who will show it to us. That is true of each and every one of us in this cathedral this evening, and of all those in this diocesan family who cannot be with us.
Let us listen to Him. Let us recognise that He will always renew us, especially when life is hard, when we have questions, and when we cannot see our way. It is at those moments, more than any other, that the Lord will remake us in His image and draw us ever closer to Himself, so that we can fulfil the mission He has given to us.
No matter what may happen, that mission will always be, and must always be, at the centre of our Christian and our Catholic life.
We are blessed today to be celebrating the feast of one of the Beati of this diocese. Blessed Everard was put to death in the same year that he was ordained. Since he died on 31 July, at best he had been a priest for only six months. Yet, despite the difficulties he faced, he continued the work that the Lord had given him to do. And so will we.
As I said at the beginning, we keep in prayer all those involved in what will be a very difficult legal process. We continue to pray for one another, that we will be open to the Lord’s call to each and every one of us to persevere in that mission, that task He has given to us.
May the Lord bless us. May we be ever more open to the promptings of His Spirit, that we will continue, as individuals, as parish communities, and as a diocese, to be the presence of the Lord in the world He has given to us.
Let us gain strength from His word, and most especially from the gift of Himself in the Eucharist that we celebrate this evening. For we know that if we eat of His Body and drink of His Blood, we will have a life in us that can never be taken away, a life that we can share with our brothers and our sisters.
