Called by Name: A letter from Bishop Patrick

This weekend, at every Mass across the Diocese of Nottingham, a letter from Bishop Patrick is being read. It announces the launch of a new campaign, Called by Name, inviting the whole Diocese to take part in identifying young men who may be called to the priesthood.

The campaign begins next Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, 26 April 2026, but the Bishop's invitation is one every parishioner is being asked to carry into the week ahead: to notice, to pray, and to prepare to participate.

More information about how the campaign will unfold will be shared in the coming days. For now, Bishop Patrick's letter is reproduced in full below.

Letter from Bishop Patrick to be read at all Masses celebrated for the Third Sunday of Easter; Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April 2026

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today I am announcing a special campaign for Vocations to the Priesthood in our Diocese. The ‘Called by Name’ Campaign is based on a project run by the Archdiocese of Denver. The aim is to identify faithful young men in our Diocese who, through God’s providence, may have a vocation to the Priesthood.

The campaign will take place next Sunday - Good Shepherd Sunday.

Our Diocese has been blessed with many good priests, but we still have a need for ‘more workers for the harvest’. In the past our Diocese has benefited from priests from Ireland and, in recent years, from Africa and Asia. It is my belief that we have future priests in our own parishes and schools, but we need the entire Church to identify them, so that we can accompany them as they discern their vocations.

I invite all Catholics to submit the names of young men, 18 years and older, that you would like to honour for having a love for Christ and his Church, and who exhibit a strong faith, and have a heart for service and leadership.

I will send each one of these young men a letter of congratulations and encouragement and arrange a meeting with them. In addition, our Vocations Director, Father Neil Peoples, will offer support as they discern their vocations, especially inviting them to join regional get-togethers to consider the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood.

The Diocese values all vocations but, at this present time, we have an urgent need to nurture vocations to the priesthood. So, I ask that you participate in this campaign and join me in praying that the Lord will raise up many new Shepherds for our Diocese!

With prayers for you all,

+Patrick McKinney

Bishop of Nottingham