From Student Life to Spiritual Life: My Journey to the Priesthood

Fr Marc Pitson • January 17, 2025

 

I graduated from Leeds Trinity in 2014 with a BA in Theology. It was during my time at University that I was introduced to the Catholic faith by some friends and the staff in the Chaplaincy. I was brought up in an evangelical Anglican family, and faith and church were very much a big part of my life. It was while I was at 6th form, in my native Hull, that I first thought about dedicating my life to service of God and His people. However, being an Anglican I naturally thought that this would be within the Church of England. After speaking to my local Vicar, he suggested that I do a degree first and continue to discern during this period of study.

 

I chose Leeds Trinity for two main reasons. Firstly, I liked the fact that it was a Catholic University. While I didn’t really know much about Catholicism at the time, I was just glad to see a university that took its Christian faith seriously, and this was reflected in the prominence of the Chaplaincy. The second reason was due to its size. I valued that it was a small university and that you could really get to know people rather than just being a number in a crowd.

 

During my time at Leeds Trinity, I spent a considerable amount of time in the Chaplaincy. It was my go-to place before, between and after lectures. I found a community here that helped me grow in my faith and deepen my friendships – it was here that I met some of my dearest friends. It was also here that I was introduced to the Catholic faith.

 

At first, I was very sceptical. Catholicism was completely new to me, and I didn't know what to think. I mainly attended out of curiosity. However, the more I explored, the more I felt drawn to it. My studies helped too. The more I learned about the early Church and modern teachings, the more I realized that the Catholic Church had deep roots. This was a significant revelation for me, and it took some time to process. It was only in the final few months of my time at university that I began the formal process to join the Church. This happened at St Mary’s Church in Horsforth during the Easter Vigil in 2015, and I was welcomed into the Church by Fr Marc Homsey, the current priest Chaplain at Leeds Trinity.

 

After graduating, I stayed in the Horsforth area and got a job working for NPower, during which time I was getting used to being a Catholic. However, the nudge to serve within the Church never went away and I wondered if I was being called to be a Catholic priest. Through prayer and conversations I began my discernment to the priesthood.. This took me to a number of different places – the journey to priesthood hasn’t been a linear one. I began my journey as a Dominican Friar, and I was with them for 2 years before discerning out and joining Leeds Diocese. I spent the remainder of my seminary years at the Venerable English College in Rome.

 

I was ordained a Priest on Saturday 28th January 2023, the feast of St Thomas Aquinas (who is the patron saint of students!). I’m glad to say that there were number of Leeds Trinity Students, both past and present, there to celebrate and support me. A fun fact – I am currently the assistant priest in the Parish of Our Lady of Kirkstall, in which St Mary’s Church is in, so it is wonderful to be back there serving the community who welcomed me.

 

Attending Leeds Trinity changed my life completely, and I can say with confidence that I haven’t regretted it one bit. Leeds Trinity will always hold a special place in my heart as the place where I began my journey to the Priesthood, but more importantly, into the Catholic Church, a journey that may have had its ups and downs but has been, and continues to be, one of great joy and discovery.


Fr Marc is an Alumnus of Leeds Trinity University and Assistant Priest of The Parish of Our Lady of Kirkstall


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The Road to Accompaniment

By Cat Sayburn • December 12, 2024
As a teenager, I was always the go to friend. The one who people told their problems to and shared things that started with, ‘I’ve never told anyone this before …’ I didn’t know why or how I’d become that person, but somehow I had. I didn’t know, but God did! People often ask me how I came to be a Lay Chaplain and I think it started as far back as then, a teenager growing up in Blackpool trying to work out who she was and what her purpose was. It was far from straightforward – I definitely made a few wrong decisions in my youth, believe me! I was really blessed to have the accompaniment of those further on the journey and growing in my faith help to guide me along the way. I always knew I wanted to work with people and still now love hearing about people’s lives and the journey they’ve been on. I’m fascinated by their experiences, and I love to listen. Accompanying people and coming alongside them in what they are going through is such a privilege, and one I don’t take for granted. I left University unsure of what career path I wanted to take and soon found myself on a Postgrad in Youth & Community Work alongside a gap year working as a Youth Worker for a Church in Blackpool. Soon after came marriage, children, and a move to Leeds, interspersed with a Children’s Ministry job, and then a job as the New Wine Worship Ministry Manager, which included organising worship teams for large conferences. No matter the role, I always found myself accompanying people. I didn’t intend to have the deep and meaningful conversations with people, but more often than not, I found myself in them! It took me a while to recognise that this was something God had laid on my heart – to be available for people, to really listen and show them that they have value and a purpose, and are loved unconditionally by God. This is what led me to become a Lay Chaplain. I am motivated by my faith and a desire to love and serve as Jesus does. When this job at Leeds Trinity University came up, we had just moved back to Leeds for a second time, so the timing (or God’s timing) was perfect! It’s so easy in a job to get consumed by the little things – the logistics and paperwork – and whilst that is part of the role of a Lay Chaplain (and an important one), what’s more important are the people in front of us. From running our monthly prayer evenings, (‘Into the Light’ with the Franciscan Sisters) to Homeless Runs and Staff Prayer Breakfasts, Tea on the Landing to one to one’s with those who need to talk, no two days are ever the same, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Cat Sayburn is the Lay Chaplain at Leeds Trinity University

Kindness in Action

By Alex Ivatt • November 26, 2024
During October, I took the opportunity to take part in the homeless run through the Chaplaincy. It was also the first time the Chaplaincy had ran it out of the the City Centre Campus, which worked really well. For me personally, it was truly an eye-opening experience. We were split into groups of no less than three and given money to buy hot drinks from McDonalds and Greggs to give out to the homeless. There was a sense of community working with the Chaplaincy and other students who had volunteered to help providing essentials to those in need, and I found it rewarding to go out there and listen to people's stories. Taking part in the homeless run was well out of my comfort zone. I found it difficult to talk to the first person because I was unsure of what to say as I had never done this before. Additionally, I wasn’t quite sure how receptive the person would, or whether they would be in the mood to talk. But the more I put myself out there the easier it became. Helping others has always been a core value of mine especially those who need someone to talk to, want general conversation, or are thankful for just the food and drinks. Communities such as the Chaplaincy who have organised the homeless run do assist you along the way. There is a full briefing before, and we are given maps and told to follow a certain route so the Chaplaincy always know where to find us. It was a learning experience for me, and felt my group were making a difference in people's lives. Homelessness is a bigger issue than we realised. There are a lot of people who were grateful for the extra time we gave to make small conversation. I felt I had gained more insight into the subject of homelessness by listening to people's stories when talking to someone. Listening to the stigma surrounding homelessness was surprising, and something I didn’t quite understand as much as I do now. Examples such as, homeless people can remember the same faces every day when people walk to work, and some of these people do not acknowledge them. That information helped me understand that a simple hello or recognition has so much more meaning to them. It can go a long way to start a conversation, listen to their stories, and expanding on their interests. It is rewarding to be a part of an environment that cares, and there is a sense of community among the students and staff who volunteer and give their time to support vulnerable people. I would encourage anyone to get involved in the homeless runs. The key message I would give is to be confident, listen, and learn. These key areas, I believe, are important for doing the homeless run as it is nice to sit down with someone and chat with them, and really listen to what they are saying. Some might not want to talk, but others might be grateful for the chat. It is communities like the Chaplaincy that look after people in need. If you’d like to get involved, contact the Chaplaincy – they’d love to hear from you. Alex Ivatt is a level 5 student in Digital Marketing at Leeds Trinity University.

The Ministry of Presence

By Hannah Hayward • November 19, 2024
I begin my work long before I get to my desk. The walk from the car park to my office takes me through busy campus corridors where people are either rushing to their next meeting or killing time in between them. I once heard an experienced Chaplain talk about the importance of walking slowly on campus. Why? Because the ability to be distracted – availability – is a key characteristic of what it means to be a Chaplain. In Churchy language this is often referred to as a ‘ministry of presence’. Be there, be open, be available. Be the presence of God on campus. Jesus was always getting distracted. There are several moments in the Bible where we read that He had taken Himself off to pray alone and was followed by people who wanted to hear Him speak. He would be stopped mid-journey by people who needed healing, hope, and restoration. It is a real discipline to be able to live like this; to receive people freely and lovingly, in a world that is so busy and fast-paced. This is the discipline that a Chaplain must master because it is the way of Jesus. It is the way of true accompaniment. There wasn’t a defining moment when I felt ‘called’ to do this role, but I always loved meeting new people, hearing their story, and communicating my Catholic faith to them in a way that was comprehensible and relevant to their experience. Once I finished my A Levels I did a gap year in youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham (my home Archdiocese), and there I discovered the joy of relational ministry. In some ways, it was just a matter of time before I ended up a Lay Chaplain! I love days where I’ve barely had the chance to look at my emails because I’ve been away from my desk accompanying students and staff. I believe that real value in our lives is in our relationships. We remember how people made us feel, more than what they said. We remember the quality of our conversations, and it is in the concrete moments of our day-to-day relationships that God’s love is manifested in the world. When we die, people won’t remember us for what we earned, achieved, or owned. They will remember how we loved. Catholics believe that the fullness of this love is found in Jesus Christ. In Christ we see the generosity of a God who empties Himself, becomes man, overcomes man’s worst enemy – death itself – and fills each human person with the capacity to live forever and love others without limits. So that is my mission as a Lay Chaplain; to love like Christ, and to encourage others to do the same. Hannah Hayward is the Coordinating Lay Chaplain at Leeds Trinity University.

Raising funds for Andy’s Man Club during Mental Health Awareness Week

By Danielle Roman • October 29, 2024
A few months ago, I was approached by Jonny Wilson, a member of the Estates and Facilities team at Leeds Trinity University, who asked if The Chaplaincy would support a charity football match to raise funds and awareness for Andy’s Man Club — a charitable organisation set up to support men’s mental health. Of course, The Chaplaincy jumped at the chance. Andy’s Man Club is an amazing initiative which started here in Yorkshire and now reaches people across the country. The club has created a safe, non-judgemental space for men to gather and express the struggles and trials they may be facing. We were only too happy to help organise the match, which took place during Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 13 and Sunday 19 May). This year’s theme of ‘moving for your mental health’ made it particularly fitting to play a football match given the health benefits of physical activity such as decreased feelings of anxiety, increased cardiovascular health and overall fitness. It was heartwarming to see colleagues from across the University work together to put plans in place. Charles Isherwood from Student Recruitment is a qualified referee and offered to officiate for us, Aramark (a catering company) provided water, tea and coffee, the Porters were on the sideline as first aiders, our Trinity Sport team provided the bibs and footballs, and we had colleagues from a wide range of departments willing to pull on their boots to take on a student team. It’s this collective and collaborative effort that makes the Leeds Trinity community amazing and quite remarkable. We’re a small university, but we have a big heart. Everyone was aware that the match was for charity, making for a pleasant atmosphere in a game featuring players with a mix of abilities. Charles even let the staff team have 12 players, but it was to no avail as the students ran out comfortable 7-2 winners. In the staff team’s defence, they suffered two injuries within the first ten minutes, and in most cases were around 15-20 years older than the students on average. That’s got to count for something! Following the match, the players and the spectators gathered on the pitch for a minute’s silence to remember why we were playing, and for all those who have used or are using Andy’s Man Club as they battle to overcome their mental health challenges. Football is a team sport, and players depend on relationships with teammates to achieve success or come through difficult times. This mirrors the ethos in support groups, where you look to your peers for guidance and support regarding personal challenges. As well as raising awareness of Andy’s Man Club, our goal with this game was to get people talking and create new bonds, so I am absolutely delighted to hear that colleagues and students who were practically strangers beforehand have since stopped to chat in the canteen at our Main Campus in Horsforth. I really hope that the huge amount of support this fundraising effort received helps play a part in breaking the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues. Seeing people come together for this great cause proves that people care and will hopefully inspire others to seek the support they need. Indeed, if you’re a man struggling with mental health issues, Andy’s Man Club could be for you. Danielle Roman is Chaplaincy Administrator at Leeds Trinity University.
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