A Pastoral Letter On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations To be read at all Masses on Sunday 26th April 2026 My dear brothers and sisters, On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Leo calls young people across the world to listen to the voice of the Lord.
A Pastoral Letter
On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations
To be read at all Masses on Sunday 26th April 2026
My dear brothers and sisters,
On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Leo calls young people across the world to “listen to the voice of the Lord who invites you to a full and fruitful life.” The Holy Father urges the young to seek something more than self-knowledge, for, he insists it is in “the beauty of the Divine light” they will find their vocation by “the interior encounter with Christ in prayer.”
Today, I want to join Pope Leo in inviting all considering their calling to take these steps to discover their vocation, whether this will be found in Christian Marriage; the Consecrated Life of Sisters or Brothers; the Catholic Priesthood; the service of the Diaconate; or the greatness of the lay vocation lived in the midst of the world.
Today, in Shrewsbury Diocese, we must give thanks for the 12 men who are at various stages of their training for the Priesthood; for the constant stream of men coming forward to engage in our Discernment Programme in both Stockport and Shrewsbury; and for those regularly attending our Vocations Group to first consider their calling.
Our Lady is the model of this joyful faithfulness, as Pope Leo observes, showing every member of the Church how to listen in prayer and receive the gift of their vocation. Let us entrust to Our Lady’s prayers, the 12 men now preparing for the Priesthood, and all coming forward to consider the priestly vocation on which the future mission of our Shrewsbury Diocese so much depends.
United in this prayer,
+ Mark, Bishop of Shrewsbury
Mark Davies, born in Manchester on May 12, 1959, was baptised at St Richard’s Church. He attended local schools before training for priesthood at Ushaw College. Ordained in 1984, he served in various parishes and became private secretary to Archbishop Patrick Kelly in 1988. From 1992 to 2003, he was parish priest of St. John Bosco and Dean of North Manchester. In 2003, he was appointed Vicar General of Salford Diocese, serving in multiple parishes until 2009. Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Shrewsbury in 2009, he became the 11th Bishop of Shrewsbury in 2010.
