His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth. James Abbott interviewed Bishop Philip Moger recently about his new appointment.
The following is a transcript of that interview:
James Abbott: “Bishop Philip Moger, some big news. You’ve been announced as the next Bishop of Plymouth by our Holy Father Pope Francis. I’d just like to start by asking you how you felt when you received that news from the Nuncio, the Pope’s representative in the UK.”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Well, I was surprised. I’ve only been a bishop for a year and a half. I moved to the Diocese of Southwark in February 2023 and into my current home in August of that same year. So I’m really just getting the last of the pictures on the wall when I have to move again.”
James Abbott: “And tell me, what will you bring to the Diocese of Plymouth? Tell us a bit about your style and your character.”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Well, when I believe that God was calling me to the priesthood, all I wanted to be and all I expected ever to be was a parish priest. And when I was rector of the Shrine in Walsingham, I tried to bring that, that style of ministry to that place and to Our Lady’s Shrine. And I’ve tried to do that as an auxiliary bishop. Now clearly the ministry is different, but that’s who I am really, a parish priest. So it’s the idea of pastoral care; it’s building up communities, uniting people, trying as a bishop to be a focus of unity in the diocese, bringing people closer to God and to each other.”
James Abbott: “Now we can tell from that accent that you’re a Yorkshireman. What’s it going to be like, I mean you’ve as you say made many moves so far in fact, but how are you going to transplant that little bit of Yorkshire into the southwest of England?”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Well, I don’t know, that will be a work in progress. Having moved from the Diocese of Leeds to East Anglia Diocese, then to Southwark and now to Plymouth, there’s not much further to go apart from the Antarctic.”
James Abbott: “And on a serious point, obviously the diocese has been without a Catholic bishop for a good time. Are you aware of the needs of the people to have their Catholic leader after this time?”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Yes, it’s come to my attention that people are very keen to have a bishop, which I understand. I hope that I can be of service after all this time. Now, invariably there are a few months before the installation on the 9th of November.”
James Abbott: “So, tell us a bit about how you can just get used to life in the southwest while carrying on as you are for the minute.”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Yes, it will be a challenge of course, because mentally, although I’m living in London still, I’m going to be going up and down to the diocese for various things and to start moving some things. So I think it will be phone calls; it will be maybe Zoom meetings, no doubt there will be lots of stuff on the internet. I’m very well supported in the presence of Canon Paul Cummins who’s been the very able diocesan administrator for the last two years and he’s been a great help and support to me already.”
James Abbott: “Now it’s one of those parts of the country that many people know from annual holidays going down to the southwest, to the coast. But there are many, many people in the diocese, born and bred or live there permanently. How much of a focus is it that we remember it’s not just a holiday destination?”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Yes, yes, I think you’re right. There’s certainly a challenge because the impression can be gained very easily that it’s a place of great wealth and prosperity and everything in the garden is lovely and there is no doubt that it is a beautiful diocese. The counties of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall are very lovely, but nevertheless there are people who live there permanently who need to make their living there and that’s not always helped if if you only have people there in the summer or for the odd weekend. Communities thrive on constant engagement. So it will be a process for me of learning what things are like, getting to know people and getting to know places and that will take some time inevitably. And of course our Catholic faith has to grow and the next generation is very important.”
James Abbott: “Obviously there are plenty of Catholic schools down in the Diocese of Plymouth. How important is that next generation in connecting and living their faith?”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Oh, I think it’s crucial. It always has been. I can remember people saying back in the 60s and 70s, before the Berlin Wall came down, that in Russia the only people in churches are old people, but they were saying that in the 20s, the 30s, the 40s. So somehow, the faith was retained and spread. Now, I think that we can always be discouraged by figures and facts and how many people we don’t see at church, but I think the mission of our schools is to introduce children to Catholic living, to Catholic truth, and to the knowledge that God loves them. And that somehow in their lives, that is something they can pass on.”
James Abbott: “And a quick word for the priests?”
Bishop Philip Moger: “I am a priest with you and you know that’s the most important thing. I’m not some special being. God has called me to this ministry. I haven’t chosen it myself, it’s God’s will and we’re all in it together and I’m there to support you and to get to know you and to love you.”
James Abbott: “And so finally, Bishop Philip, a message for the faithful of the Diocese of Plymouth. What would you say to them?”
Bishop Philip Moger: “Well I think I could do no better really than to use the words which are the theme for next year’s Holy Year, that we be pilgrims of hope. There are many things both in our world and in our country and no doubt in our own lives that can dampen hope. but the Lord is with us. He has promised to be with us until the end of time. And so as we try to live our Catholic Christian lives and reach out to others and encourage others to come to know Jesus Christ, we have to be confident that the Lord is with us always.”