Seven new priests were ordained for the Archdiocese over the summer, the largest number for eight years, in what Archbishop Vincent Nichols called a ‘summer of exceptional grace’.

This season of grace began on 7 June with the ordination of Cecil Rogerson at our Lady and All Saints, Stourbridge by former parish priest, Bishop David McGough.

A congregation of over six hundred worshippers, including fifty priests attended the ordination of John Peyton at Sacred Heart & Holy Souls Church, Acocks Green on Saturday 19th July. Pictured are Fr John's sister-in-law and nephews, from L-R, James, Thomas, Joseph, Christine and Philip.

In his sermon at the ordinations at St Chad's Cathedral on Saturday 12th July 2008 Bishop William Kenney said that in the reading from the prayer of Christ as part of the farewell discourse, we can see that there are at least three themes which are relevant to the priesthood. (Bp Kenney pictured with Fr Robert Devaney (L) and Fr Bernard Garratt (R))

Fr Paul Smith was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese on Saturday 5 July at the Parish of St Ambrose Barlow in Hall Green.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols ordained Fr Andrew McCann to the Sacred Priesthood, at St Augustine of England parish in Solihull, West Midlands, on Sunday, 6 July, writes Peter Jennings.

Fr McCann, aged 37 has been appointed to serve as Assistant Priest at St Augustine, where he has been working as a Deacon for the past ten months.