Shortly before Christmas it was announced that Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, was to be appointed by Pope Leo as the next Archbishop of Westminster. The Archbishop of Westminster is the most senior Catholic clergyman in the country, and is often regarded as the ‘leader’ of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
As the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, Bishop Richard has had responsibility for all of the Catholic schools in the diocese, including Notre Dame. We have been blessed that he has celebrated Mass here on a number of occasions, most recently in May 2024 when, joined by the Archbishop of Birmingham, he celebrated Mass on the 75th anniversary of the canonisation of St Jeanne de Lestonnac, the foundress of the Company of Mary.
Bishop Richard will be installed as Archbishop of Westminster on 14 February. I have told him that I will keep him in my prayers, and that I will invite our whole Notre Dame School community to do the same. To be a bishop is a huge responsibility. To be Archbishop of Westminster magnifies that responsibility very considerably. Please do pray for Bishop Richard, with thanksgiving for his service to Arundel and Brighton, and that he may be blessed with all wisdom, courage, fortitude and faith as he prepares to commence his new role.
