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(Vatican Radio) The Catholic diocese of Southwark in south-east England has a new auxiliary bishop, Paul Mason, who has served for the past two years as the Episcopal Vicar for Kent.

Bishop Paul’s ordination took place in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, at midday on May 31st, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Originally from North Shields, in the north of England, Bishop Paul worked in Turin and London before training for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome in the 1990s. He served for a decade as hospital chaplain to St. Thomas’ & Guys Hospital Trust in London before taking up a position as Pastoral Director at Allen Hall seminary in the diocese of Westminster.

Shortly before his episcopal ordination, Bishop Paul talked to Philippa Hitchen about his job and about the challenges facing the Church in the diocese of Southwark…

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Bishop Paul explains that the archdiocese of Southwark is divided into three areas, South East London, South West London and Kent and the Medway.

In the area of Kent where he has been working for the past two years, he notes that a lot of the traditional Catholic population in rural areas has moved away, often up to London, but there has also been a great influx of people from Eastern Europe. These new arrivals, from Poland in particular, he says, have brought “a rebirth of the Catholic population” in many parts of the county.

Bishop Paul says that often the Eastern European immigrants will have Masses in their own language, which helps with community cohesion. On the other hand, he adds, it’s important for people to integrate and become part of the local population, which often takes a generation as children grow up in local schools.

Making immigrants feel welcome

Asked about prejudices against immigrants, the new bishop notes that there are tensions in certain areas, such as Dover, because of pressure on social services, but he insists it’s important to try and make people feel welcome.

Speaking in particular about refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, he says “we should be prepared to roll up our sleeves and respond positively” to the challenges they face. Parishes in the Kent area, he says, are sensitive to the needs of people who’ve lost their homes, their families and their sense of identity.

Recounting a recent experience when he visited the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp in Calais, Bishop Paul says one of the hardest problems is how to channel and coordinate the good will of people who want to support those most in need. He encourages anyone wanting to respond to the ongoing needs of refugees there to make a donation to an agency like Catholic Social Action Network (CSAN) who can “put the money where it’s needed, on the frontline.”

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