REMEMBERING MY TIME WITH THE PRIESTS OF ENGLAND

In June of 2008, I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker at the annual convention of the PRIEST COUNCILS OF ENGLAND AND WALES in Leeds, north of London, England. It was a gathering of the priest representatives of all the dioceses of England and Wales. My topic was building stronger presbyterates in unity with their bishops. We met at the Catholic affiliated Leeds Trinity University in Leeds. 

This was such a good experience that it led to an invitation to lead the annual Priest Retreat in the Archdiocese of  Cardiff in Wales in 2010 - another powerful experience. 

After my visit to England in 2008, I sent every Catholic Bishop in England and Wales a free copy of my book A BISHOP AND HIS PRIESTS TOGETHER: Resources For Building a More Intentional Presbyterate  published in 2011. (I also sent free copies to all the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa and the United States.) 

Leeds, by the way, is a Sister City to Louisville, Kentucky. In 2006, Leeds officially became Louisville’s 8th Sister City, however there has been a longstanding and valuable exchange relationship between both cities’ law schools that dates back to the 1950s.

Each year professors from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville participate in faculty exchanges with law professors from the University of Leeds. These exchanges have led to joint research, seminars, and publications that take place on both sides of the ocean. The former UK Secretary of State for Defense Geoffrey Hoon is among those from Leeds who lectured at Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law.

In 2010 an art exchange began, sponsored by the Frazier History Museum, when local photographer Michael Brohm traveled to Leeds; In Sept 2011 Leeds Photographer Jon Eland travelled to Louisville as part of the reciprocal agreement.

The SCL Leeds Committee has worked with Leeds Trinity University and Bellarmine University on establishing reciprocal exchange and internship programs.

In Spring 2017, Kentucky Country Day and Woodhouse Grove School started exploring a Sister-School relationship. They began their trial twinning with a student visit to Leeds in October 2017. KCD expected a reciprocal visit from WGS.

2008 ANNUAL CONVENTION AGENDA

PRIEST COUNCILS OF ENGLAND AND WALES

A TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS – SUMMONED TO HOLINESS

Rev. J. Ronald Knott

Keep guard over yourselves and the flock the Holy Spirit has given you to guard.

Acts 20:28

KEEPING GUARD OVER YOURSELVES

 PRIESTHOOD: A SHARED SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

“Ordained ministry has a radical communitarian dimension and can only be carried out as collective work.” (JP II, PDV)  In this talk, Father Knott will address the fact that priests do not carry out their own ministry, but have been given a share of the bishop’s ministry. Priests may indeed be leaders in the forefront of the Church, but they are still not the only leaders in the Church. This talk places the ministry of priests within the context of others’ ministries and addresses some of the collaborative efforts these relationships will require.

ASCETICISMS FOR UNIFIED PRESBYTERATES

The fact that ordained ministry has a radical communitarian dimension that can only be carried out as collective work in true in another sense.  Priests are not priests one by one, but serve the mission of the Church is a presbyterate under a bishop. Presbyterates will never be able to deliver excellent, unified and coherent ministry to the People of God if the priests who make up that presbyterate are all “doing their own thing” or, worse, working against each other. In this talk, Father Knott will outline the personal asceticism each priest must adopt to make the presbyterate an intentional, unified ministry team. 

 

KEEPING GUARD OVER THE FLOCK

THREE PLATFORMS FOR PRIESTLY LEADERSHIP

Any priest who is serious about spiritual leadership must claim his pulpit, claim his ritual books and claim his role as spiritual leader in the community. In this talk, Father Knott will explore the world between the mere observance of the laws governing valid and licit celebration of the rites of the Church and engaging in intrusive spectacle, personal taste and endless experimentation. He will suggest some ways to ensure that the faithful will be engaged knowingly, actively and fruitfully in their own spiritual growth because of the skill of the priest.     

THE LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES OF PASTORING

Being a pastor is a call within a call. Pastors have a special responsibility for the common good. As such, he oversees the preaching, sanctifying and governing ministry of the parish in cooperation with others presbyters, deacons and the lay faithful of the parish.

Besides his ministry to the faithful, he is obligated to bring the gospel message to those who have ceased practicing the faith and those who do not profess the faith. All priests, but especially the pastor, are called not only to be personally good, but also good at it pastoring.