On Saturday March 28, at St Mary’s Cathedral, FATHER DOUGLAS McKITTRICK became the first priest to be ordained for the Diocese of Middlesbrough by Bishop Marcus. Here, he looks back on this very special occasion…
My ordination to the sacred priesthood was the greatest, most joyful day of my life.
For some weeks leading up to that day I was conscious of prayers being offered for me by so many people from so many different places, all of which helped me enormously in preparing for my ordination.
I truly felt that the Spirit of God was upon me as I prepared myself for priesthood. The atmosphere in the cathedral was one of prayerfulness, and it was deeply moving to know that something profound was happening.
I want to thank those who accompanied and encouraged me as I moved towards the possibility of being ordained a priest. In truth, there are too many to mention, but I do specifically want to thank the Abbot of Ampleforth Abbey, Robert Igo, and all the community of monks; Monsignor David Hogan; Bishop Terry Drainey; Sister Mary Peter and the community of sisters at Stanbrook Abbey.
Last, but by no means least, I want to thank Bishop Marcus for agreeing to ordain me. In addition, I would like to thank the Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral, Canon Paul Farrer, and his entire team involved in the life of the cathedral, from musicians to stewards, plus the wonderful team of ladies who produced the superb buffet lunch after the service, which included a bespoke, delicious cake to celebrate my ordination. Thank you all!
Bishop Marcus was so generous in his memorable homily in acknowledging my former 46 years as a minister in the Church of England.
His warm words addressed to my close friends present from the Church of England were very much appreciated. I continue to cherish their friendship, even though there has been, in the words of St John Henry Newman, “The parting of friends.”
Bishop Marcus rightly spoke of that crucial relationship between the priest and the Mass. His words reminded me of words written by Pope St John Paul II in his last letter to priests for Holy Thursday: “The priestly life must have in a special way a ‘Eucharistic form’. The devout daily celebration of Holy Mass, the centre of the life and mission of every priest, contributes to this end.”
I hope I might be forgiven for in addition referring again to St John Henry Newman, who wrote in a letter to a friend: “Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overwhelming as the Mass. I could attend Masses forever and not be tired. It is not a form of words – it is a great action, the greatest action that can be on earth. He becomes present on the altar in flesh and blood, before whom the angels bow and devils tremble.”
I pray to God that I, and all my brother priests, will always have that sense of being “overwhelmed” when celebrating the Mass.
One of the many marvellous aspects of my priestly ordination, which I experienced on the day and again the following Tuesday at the Chrism Mass, was the sincere fraternity among the diocesan clergy.
For several months now, I've been serving the two parishes of Malton and Pickering alongside the parish priest, Father Tim Bywater. The two congregations have been so welcoming, so loving and I'm very grateful for their prayerful support and encouragement. It is for me a joy to be part of their life in witnessing to Christ.
Finally, I must thank God for the grace given to me at my ordination to faithfully carry out that priestly ministry entrusted to me and so with all the faithful be an ambassador for Christ, reconciling all to God as St Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20: “We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.”
· Father Douglas served as the Anglican Archdeacon of Chichester from 2002 to 2018. One of his predecessors in the role, from 1841 to 1851, was Henry Manning, who was received into the Catholic Church in 1851 and, four years later, became the second Archbishop of Westminster to be made a cardinal.
