ABOUT ALLEN HALL

Allen Hall is the seminary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, one of seven seminaries of the dioceses of England and Wales, where men are prepared for ministry as Catholic priests.

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Things to read about priesthood and vocation

There are many good books, websites and articles about priesthood and vocation. This is just a small selection. It is good to be reading something that helps and inspires us.

• Stephen Rossetti, The Joy of Priesthood - A very positive, inspiring, and realistic view of priesthood, which faces the big issues, written by someone who has spent much of his priestly life ministering to priests.
• Tony Philpot, Priesthood in Reality - Reflections on priesthood in his own life and his rich experiences with other priests.
• Michael Hollings, Living Priesthood - Autobiography and reflections of a much-loved Westminster priest.
• Francis P. Friedl and Rex Reynolds, Extraordinary Lives: Thirty-four Priests Tell Their Stories - Short, simple, inspiring testimonies from a wide selection of priests with very different experiences – all of them still devoted to their priesthood.
• Roderick Strange, The Risk of Discipleship - A theology of priesthood, together with reflections on what is happening to priesthood in the world today.
• Pope John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis - Pope John Paul’s most important writing on the priesthood and on priestly formation. Full of rich theology; quite difficult in parts.
• Timothy M. Dolan, Priests for the Third Millennium - Talks given to seminarians by a hard-hitting rector, now bishop in the States. Pithy, rich, and full of stories and anecdotes.
• Benedict J. Groeschel, From Scandal to Hope - Co-founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. An analysis of difficulties confronting the Church in the West, but which contains a strong vision of the heart of the priesthood.
• Matthew Levering (Editor), On the Priesthood: Classic and Contemporary Texts - Writings about the priesthood from the early saints to John Paul II.
• Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests: Presbyterorum Ordinis - This is the main text from the Council about the priesthood. It can be found in a collection of documents: Austin Flannery (Editor), Vatican Council II.

Another great source of inspiration is to read the lives of the saints, especially the priest-saints! There are too many to list here. Find a biography of a particular saint that you love; or find one of the many collections of short ‘lives of the saints’ that are available.

Shopping and browsing

If you want to browse in a Catholic bookshop, three good ones in central London are:

St Pauls by Westminster Cathedral [just on the right of Westminster Cathedral]
Morpeth Terrace
Victoria
London SW1P 1EP

The Catholic Truth Society Bookshop [just in front of Westminster Cathedral, before McDonalds]
25 Ashley Place
Victoria
London SW1P 1LT

Pauline Books and Multimedia
199 Kensington High Street
Kensington
London W8 6BA