On 5 May 2018, in the newly refurbished church of St Augustine's, Hammersmith, west London, Bishop Michael Campbell OSA, Emeritus Bishop of Lancaster, ordained to the priesthood Arthur Bolivar OSA and Gladson Dabre OSA, in a two-hour ceremony that was characterised by outstanding music and a powerful sense of congregational participation. They were the first Augustinians to be ordained in Britain since 2005.

Both of them had spent part of their discernment period and training in St Joseph's, and it was heartening to see a number of Broomhouse parishioners present, in spite of the long distance they had to travel. 

The following day, Fr Arthur said his first Mass in the chapel of Charing Cross Hospital, where he had worked as a nurse and where he first felt a calling to the priesthood with the Augustinians nearby. The little chapel was packed with former colleagues and friends, many of them fellow Filipinos. 

The first Mass for Fr Gladson was held in St Augustine's Church at the routine 12.15pm Sunday Mass, and among the concelebrants were his three uncles who had travelled from India to be present.

After visiting their families in the Philippines and India, who had been unable to obtain visas for the ordination, they will both return to their respective communities in Birmingham and London to begin their pastoral work as priests.  Fr Arthur will be working in St Mary's parish, Harborne; and Fr Gladson will continue his work as Vocations Director for the Augustinians in Britain.  Beginning in September, he will be overseeing a vocation discernment community for men in Hammersmith.

On Sunday 29th April, thousands of Catholics across the British Isles joined together in pilgrimage to pray the Rosary on the Coast for peace and life in the British Isles.

A contingent of almost 70 pilgrims, comprising the parishes of St John the Baptist, Corstorphine; St Joseph's, Broomhouse & St Kentigern's, Barnton gathered on Crammond Foreshore in Edinburgh to participate in the event.

The Rosary was led by Fr Jeremy Milne, Parish Priest of St John's and St Kentigern's, supported by our own Fr Paul.

The inspiration for the event came from a similar event recently held in Poland, which saw the faithful praying the Rosary on the coast of the country for peace and stability in the nation. Having seen the powerful effect this had, a number of faithful decided to try the same thing in Britain.

And it worked. Our event felt very special. The preaching of the Gospel, the stirring rendition of "Faith of our Fathers" and of course the rosary was incredibly moving. It was also a joy to have our three neighbouring parishes come together in pilgrimage for the first time (but hopefully not the last!)