On Saturday, July 5, 2025, Friar John Paul BANKS, OFM Conv., was ordained to the priesthood. The event took place at the St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, England.
The ordaining prelate was the Most Reverend John SHERRINGTON, Archbishop of Liverpool. He was appointed by the late Pope Francis on April 5, 2025, and had just received the pallium from Pope Leo XIV one week before performing this ordination. Friar John Paul’s priestly ordination was the first to be carried out by the new archbishop. Friar John Paul is a member of the Provincial Custody of Bl. Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain-Ireland.
During the Mass of Ordination, Archbishop SHERRINGTON delivered a powerful and touching homily, offering the newly ordained friar-priest this counsel: “As a teacher, faithfully communicate the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by carefully loving and studying the scriptures and the teaching of the Church. Break these down so that the people of our age and culture may understand the message they communicate. This is a challenge for our technocratic and secular age.”
He continued: “As a Conventual Franciscan, you are called to model your life on St. Francis who was humble and poor, who loved creation and all God’s creatures calling them ‘brother’ and ‘sister’, who loved so deeply that he carried the stigmata in his body. As Pope Francis wrote: ‘He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.’ (Laudato Si’ 10). Like Francis, see that the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise.”
In a touching moment at the end of the Mass, Archbishop SHERRINGTON went over to embrace Friar Giles ZAKOWICZ, OFM Conv., who had, just the day before, celebrated his 50th anniversary of priesthood.
Friar Gerard Mary TOMAN
