On 27 December, the archbishop gathered with our six seminarians for a time of prayer and fraternity.

The archbishop celebrated Holy Mass at Saint Charles Borromeo Church with Bishop Thomas Neylon and Father Ron Johnson, vocations director, on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, as the seminarians and members of the parish joined their prayers and intentions with his at the altar.

Archbishop John thanked each of our seminarians for their generosity in entering seminary and offering themselves to the formation programme of discernment and discipleship. Following Holy Mass, the archbishop met the seminarians and clergy for lunch at Saint Charles' presbytery, when there was a time for conversation around the lunch table to share with each other the memorable moments of the past year.

We keep each of our seminarians in prayer as they continue their formation and preparation for priestly ministry, and we pray for more men to consider the Lord's call to priestly ministry within Liverpool Archdiocese. We look forward to Rev Mr Daniel Howarth's priestly ordination later in the year.

If anyone would like to explore where God is calling them, please feel free to contact Father Ron Johnson, vocations director, via email at r.johnson@rcaol.org.uk or by calling 0151 727 2493.