Clergy Anniversaries

PLATINUM JUBILEE

Father Robert Rutledge 1952 - 31 May – 2022

Seminary: St Mary’s College, Oscott

Ordained: 31 May 1952, St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina

Assistant Priest: Holy Souls, Scunthorpe 1952-1953 St Augustine, Apostle of England, Woodborough Road 1953-1956 Mount St Bernard Abbey, Leicestershire 1958 Mansfield – Ransome Sanatorium 1959-1959

St Bernadette’s, Scunthorpe 1959-1960

St Mary Immaculate, Grantham 1960-1961

Parish Priest: All Saints, Ashbourne 19611976

Our Lady of Lourdes, Ashby-de-la-Zouch 1976-1988 Retired 1988

By Father Colin Patey and Marie Allen

Father Robert was born in 1928. His, mother, who should know, told him his birthday was 3rd July, but the state records show his birth as 12th July. He was baptised on 5th July, so presumably mum was right!

When he was thirteen, he entered St Muredach’s College, Ballina, the Killala Diocesan Junior Seminary. At the end of his third year his father died suddenly making life very hard for his mother, Robert, and his siblings, Violet, and Francis. At eighteen he moved to St Peter’s Seminary, Wexford. He describes it as being a bitterly cold place both in temperature and in discipline. During his philosophy studies, Bishop Ellis accepted him for Nottingham Diocese and sent him a message to proceed to Oscott for theology.

He arrived at Birmingham station having no idea where to find St Mary’s College. A friendly passer-by put him on the right bus, paid his fare, and asked the conductor to put him off at the college gates. The welcome and the regime were so much warmer than Wexford that he initially feared he had turned up at an Anglican College by mistake! He continues to speak of Oscott with the greatest of affection, and is proud of its links with St John Henry Newman and the “Second Spring Sermon”. During his time there, Mgr Ronnie Knox gave a retreat, and young Robert served Mass for him one day. Mgr Knox put his stole on with such enthusiasm that he managed to lasso the young seminarian behind him in the sacristy.

He was ordained for our diocese at St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on 31st May 1952. He was a curate at Holy Souls, Scunthorpe and then St Augustine’s, Nottingham. He tried his vocation at Mount St Bernard where he and Blessed Cyprian Tansi served Mass for each other. It became clear that the Cistercian life was not for him, though he still speaks affectionately of the Abbey and has stayed in touch with some of the community. He moved on to St Philip Neri, Mansfield, but contracted TB and was admitted to Ransome Sanatorium. Then he was sent back to Scunthorpe, this time to St Bernadette’s, and from there to St Mary’s Grantham. He received his first appointment as parish priest in 1961 and moved from the plains of the East of the Diocese to the hills of the West at All Saints, Ashbourne. In 1975 he moved to Our Lady of Lourdes Ashbyde-la-Zouch. His health was never good and in 1988 Bishop McGuinness gave him permission to retire. He returned to his home village in Newtown-Cloghans, Co Mayo.

In 2014 he moved back to our diocese and initially lived independently in a flat in Ashby-de-

la-Zouch. During the first lockdown in 2020 he gave up his flat and moved in with Marie and Bill Allen, not far away. He regularly celebrated the Saturday evening Mass at St Charles, Measham until the first lockdown and celebrated or concelebrated the weekday Masses at Ashby until his stroke in January 2021. After some time in hospital, he moved to a nursing home in Ashby, where he remains at the time of writing. He loves having visitors, but COVID has severely restricted the number he is able to receive.

At the time of his Golden Jubilee, he quoted some words of Pope Leo XIII in the Year Book: “Why set limits to the providence of God?”. He said he looked forward to his 75th Anniversary. Only five years to go, Father. Ad multos annos!

Father Joseph Keogh 1960 - 5 June – 2020

Seminary: St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny Ordained: 5 June 1960, St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny Assistant Priest: Annunciation, Chesterfield 1960-1968 St Mary’s, Glossop 1968-1970 Parish Priest: St Hugh’s, Bilborough 19701974 Our Lady of Victories, Southwell 1974-1990 All Saints, Glossop 1990-2002

St Joseph’s, Ripley & Our Lady and St Therese of Lisieux, Wirksworth 2002-2019 Retired 2019

Father Brendan O’Callaghan 1960 – 5 June – 2020

Seminary: St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny Ordained: 5 June 1960, St Kieran’s, Kilkenny Assistant Priest: St Peter’s, Leicester 1960 Holy Cross, Hucknall 1960-1962 St Paul’s, Nottingham 1962

St Augustine’s, Nottingham 1962-1969 St Hugh’s, Lincoln 1969-1970

Parish Priest: Holy Family, Allestree 19701975

St Mary’s, South Wigston 1975-1990 St Mary’s, Grantham 1990-2003 Retired 2003

By himself

In a welcomed letter from Father Simon, our Diocesan Yearbook editor, he wrote “I am writing to you to ask if you would consider writing an article in recognition of your Diamond Jubilee 2020”. With ‘the covid experience’ where do I begin?

Coming, as I do, from ‘The Kingdom of Kerry’, it is in our tradition and culture that we have three priorities in life: family, faith, football. And it is in that environment and lifestyle that my vocation was nurtured and supported. Father James Leahy, family friend and neighbour was ‘home on holidays form England’. He was present at a football match I was playing in and at half-time he came to me and said ‘Brendan, we need priests in Nottingham’.

I returned to Saint Brendan’s College for my final year examinations and during a retreat for final year students, I reflected on those six words

‘Brendan, we need priests in Nottingham’. ‘And the rest as they say is history’.

‘His-story’, ‘my-story’; the story of my life, my priesthood in the Nottingham Diocese. We need priests. I felt I was being invited, challenged to respond to that need. (Can I make a plea here: It would be a positive step into the future if the Hierarchy and we priests stopped using that awful phrase ‘shortage of priests’. There is no such thing as ‘shortage of priests’. Don’t we realise we. Are talking about, referring to one of the two sacraments which Christ himself left to his Church; the Priesthood, the Eucharist.)

Sixty-five years – grace-filled, humbly responding to ‘the Call to Holiness’ with marvellous people whom I was called to serve. I have served the Lord in all humility and carried out the mission the Lord gave me and that was to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace (Acts 20).

I look to the future with great confidence and hope. Our people are ‘hungry for life’ (Patrick Kavanagh). We must preserve ‘the Call to Holiness’ in a positive and challenging way. We need to remind our people that by reason of their baptism and confirmation they and especially our young people are being invited and challenged to respond to their call.

I’m thinking of a heartfelt montage (banner) compiled by the young people of Saint Mary’s Grantham, and entitled ‘Hope’. A powerful part of the ‘story of the parish’.

I still support Kerry Gaelic Football Team, Leicester City and Leicester Tigers. I have often ‘gone back’ to play Hollingwell Golf Course, and look forward to playing in the Central England Mixed Foursomes at Woodhall Spa again, DV. I play with Father Tom McMahon regularly in Ballybunion, and with the Kerry Seniors: played on the Lincolnshire County Senior Team.

My understanding of Church is inspired by Romans 8:26-30, where Saint Paul says: ‘The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness; the Spirit expresses our pleas in a way that could never be put into words and the pleas of the saints, expressed by the Spirit, are according to the mind of God.’ To which I add the words of pascal: ‘The Church is us exchanging views with one another to discover the mind of the Spirit in the people.’

As for celebrations for my Diamond Jubilee. Covid restrictions were in place, but our parish priest Father Kevin McNamara (who died shortly afterwards, RIP) had a lovely liturgy / practice in place. He celebrated daily, weekend, and Sunday Mass from ‘The Door of Hope’, while parishioners were present in their cars in the car park and neighbouring streets listening (present) to Mass through a public address system or their car radios. He then led us in a Communion reflection / Spiritual Communion prayer. This was the format / liturgy we used for my Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It was something special, so moving and inspirational. I had celebrated Mass that morning privately at home, on the kitchen table as I gathered everybody in to my prayers. I was in my car for the parish liturgy Father tom in his car, my family, friends in their cars, and Father Kevin led the celebration. All beautiful memories and the experiences as my friends and neighbour, the world renowned poet Brendan Kennelly RIP would say: ‘memories are treasures that time can not destroy’.

Father Michael Eastwood 1960 – 11 June – 2020

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton; Wonersh Ordained: 11 June 1960, St Mary’s, Grimsby

Assistant Priest: Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough 1960-1961 Administrator, Catholic Children’s Society 1961-1962 St Joseph’s, Derby 1962-1971

Parish Priest: Infant of Prague, Bestwood 1971-1978

Christ the King, Mackworth 1978-1982 Assumption, Beeston 1982-2000 Chairman of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 1998-2019

St Winefride’s, Shepshed 2000 – present

By himself

I began my training for the Priesthood, along with 25 other students, at the newly opened Saint Hugh’s College, Tollerton, in October 1948. I continued my training at Saint John’s Seminary, Wonersh, in September 1954. It is worth noting that at that time there were five Major Seminaries in England and Wales and Wonersh was the only one that had room for me to be accepted. I was sad to hear that Wonersh closed as a Seminary in 2021.

I was ordained to the Priesthood on June 11th 1960 by Bishop Edward Ellis, in my home Parish of St Mary on the Sea, Grimsby. It was a great joy to have my family, friends and parishioners present at the Ceremony, as they had been such a support to me all through my training. My first appointment after Ordination was to Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough. As there were three Mass Centres to serve, it was essential that an Assistant Priest was able to drive. Because of an innocent misunderstanding, on the afternoon of my arrival, I had to inform the then Parish Priest, Canon Tom O’Keeffe, that I hadn’t passed my test. This came as a worrying surprise to him but after a while, he simply said to me, “Well, as you’re here, you might as well stay”! Canon came to be a real father to me and very kind to me in those very important first years of my priesthood. The driving problem was immediately addressed and it was a great joy when I eventually passed my test. My other appointments have been to St. Joseph’s Derby as an Assistant Priest, as Parish Priest to The Infant of Prague, Bestwood Park, Nottingham; Christ the King, Mackworth; Our Lady of the Assumption, Beeston and St. Winefride, Shepshed. I have been very fortunate in all my appointments.

The Priesthood and the Priestly Ministry as a whole is a great privilege to be called to share in. One particular joy and privilege that I will always cherish is my involvement in the Commission for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. I shall always be grateful to have been given the opportunity of being associated with this wonderful Lay Ministry and with all the dedicated members of the Commission, which lasted for twenty years.

There have been many changes over the last 60 years that we have had to adjust to. One could go on commenting on them. One important change that I often think and talk about came about in the last two years, as the result of the pandemic which has afflicted all of us. The pandemic slowed us down, giving us an opportunity to reflect on what life is really all about. A huge amount of care and compassion has been shown by many people for many people. As we gradually emerge from this crisis, hopefully this will continue.

As I come to this milestone in my life, I thank God for giving me the health to live long enough to reach it. I thank Him for the wonderful gift of being able to share in the Priesthood and for the many blessings and graces He has given to me throughout my priestly life. I also thank my family, four Bishops, Priests, People Breda, my loyal Parish Assistant for 30 years, who have all kindly helped me and given me such encouragement over the years. I have very often said to people I have tried to minister to - “It is my privilege”. I think that sums it all up.

Canon Bernard Needham 1960 - 10 July – 2020

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton; English College, Rome Ordained: 10 July 1960, Church of the Sacred Heart, Rome Bishop’s Secretary 1961-1974 Parish Priest: Mother of God, Leicester 19741977

St Hugh’s College, Tollerton, Rector 19771986 Honorary Chapter Canon 1980 Chapter Canon 1982 St Mary’s, Brigg 1986-1992 Zambia 1992-1997 St Hugh’s, Lincoln 1997-2000 St Joseph’s, Matlock 2000-2016 Dean, Amber Valley 2003, re-appointed 20062011 Retired September 2016

Canon Timothy O’Sullivan 1961 – 4 June – 2021

Seminary: St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny Ordained: 4 June 1961, St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny Assistant Priest: St Mary’s, Derby 1961-1964

Holy Souls, Scunthorpe 1964-1970 Parish Priest: St Mary’s, Worksop 1970-1972 Our Lady of Lourdes, Mickleover 1972-1976 Holy Trinity, Newark 1976-1993 St Mary’s, Derby 1993-2017 Chapter Canon 2001

Dean, Derby Deanery 2003, re-appointed 2006-2010 St Mary’s, Derby and Holy Family, Allestree 2017-2018 Retired 2018

Father Anthony Franey 1961 – 11 June – 2021

Seminary: St Edmund’s, Ware; Allen Hall

Ordained: 11 June 1961, St Joseph and St Theresa, Doncaster Assistant Priest: St Mary’s, Worksop 19611966

St Joseph’s, Shirebrook 1966-1971 St Joseph’s, Derby 1971-1973

St Mary & St Augustine, Stamford 1973 St John the Baptist, Melton Mowbray 19731974 Parish Priest: St Hugh’s, Bilborough 19741976

Our Lady of the Angels, East Leake 19761985

By John Boland-Lee

It was the year John F Kennedy became US president and Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space. Elvis Presley was top of the charts, Spurs won the double and on the 8th of June, the Duke of Kent married Katherine Worsley. Just three days later, at St Joseph’s and St Teresa’s Catholic Church in the Yorkshire village of Woodlands near Doncaster, a young man was ordained a priest.

Born in Woodlands, Anthony Franey was the sixth of the seven children of Edward and Mary Franey, His father Edward had come to Woodlands to work as a miner in the huge Brodsworth Colliery. It was at St Joseph’s and St Teresa’s Church where he married Mary (the very first wedding at the church). The couple qualified for a miner’s house where they raised their family. Anthony attended the local parish school and was a regular altar server at St Joseph’s and St Teresa’s.

Although the parish priest had asked him if he had thought of becoming a priest, it seemed to him that the road to the priesthood would be closed to him as he had not had a grammar school education. So, on leaving school at fifteen, he trained as an electrician. The life of a ‘sparky’ didn’t really appeal to him and then, a chance conversation with one of his old teachers, gave Anthony fresh hope. With his parish priest’s support, he and another prospective priest went to see Bishop Heenan, the Bishop of Leeds. It was arranged that the two young men should be tutored in Latin and Anthony surprised himself by taking to it like a duck to aqua!

Back in Woodlands, the family received the news with mixed emotions. Edward was delighted at the thought of a priest in the family. Mary, Anthony’s mother, like any mother was upset at the thought of her son leaving home and his sister Kathleen declared, “Huh, if you are going to a priest, I’m going to be a nun!” She never did! Overall, there was great pride that one of the family had been called to the priestly life.

Next came another visit to Bishop Heenan. Disappointingly, hopes were dashed as the Bishop had decided that his Diocese wasn’t in need of any more priests. Undaunted, they turned to the Diocese of Nottingham where they were accepted as candidates for the Diocese.

To start his training, Anthony was despatched to St Mary’s College for late vocations in Aberystwyth, North Wales. He recalls the train journey, “It was a great new adventure as I had never left Doncaster!” After a couple of years he then moved to Allen Hall, the seminary for the Archdiocese of Westminster. Here he faced six years of study during which the miner’s son from Doncaster achieved his dream of answering his calling.

And so, we come to June the 11th 1961; a great day for the parish of St Joseph and St Teresa, for the Franey family and for the 24 year old Anthony. The parish church was bursting at the seams, everyone eager to catch sight of the local lad. His parents and family took pride of place during the solemn ceremony at which Bishop Ellis of Nottingham laid his hands on Anthony and proclaimed him a priest. The new priest then gave his first blessing to his parents, brothers and sisters, a moment never to be forgotten.

After the ceremony, the parish gathered for a celebration in the local hostelry near the church. Father Anthony then had the privilege of celebrating his first Mass the next day in the church where he had been baptised, confirmed and ordained.

Then, packing his bags, he moved to St Mary’s in Worksop, his first parish. A new priest for Nottingham Diocese and sixty years later, another celebration here in Radcliffe-on-Trent for our parish priest.

Speaking with Fr. Anthony recently he recounted the following two stories:

Another Jesus. She had just received Holy Communion, this old lady from Yugoslavia, who now lived with her daughter and her husband in Bolsover. In her broken English and with earnest eyes fixed on me she said, “Father for me You are Jesus”. I was humbled because I was conscious of my many faults and failings. This good soul had just reminded me of what we were always taught in the seminary, ‘A priest has to be an Alter Christus’ (another Christ).

The wrong room? I was in the little hospital in Oakham, looking for Mrs Green, one of our parishioners. I made my way to room 5, knocked softly on the door, entered and knew immediately I was in the wrong room. There was a man in the bed with a woman standing by. I was about to withdraw when the woman smiled sweetly and said “Oh Father it’s nice to see you” She explained that her husband was very ill. His name I later found out was Bertie Connell but he wasn’t a catholic. I stayed a while, gave him a blessing and left. In the next few weeks I called to see him a few times. Christmas was fast approaching and other things were on my mind. Out of the blue just before Christmas, his wife, Margaret phoned to tell me Bertie had died and asked me if I would take his funeral the following Friday at the crematorium, which I did.

It was only after the funeral that Margaret told me that though she was baptised a Catholic she had been brought up as a Baptist. Shortly afterwards she asked if she could join our church, which she did, receiving instruction at the catechism class. She was officially received into the church and became a daily communicant and

a great asset to the church.

Father Anthony adds, “When I was first interviewed by the Bishop and asked why I wanted to become a priest, I replied honestly, ‘To save souls’. I did not foresee that anyone with such aspirations could still have feet of clay. But I can honestly say that despite all my many failings and set backs Jesus and His powerful Grace has always been there through prayer and the Sacraments. I can only be grateful for the mercy of God and the wonderful example and support of the many, many good people and priests I have been privileged to know during my life as a priest. Having said that I must ask for the prayerful support I know is mine from the people I continue to serve and hope to serve for the remaining years the Lord gives me. Laus Deo Semper (Praise to God always).”

We give thanks for Fr Anthony’s life of service to God, to the church and the diocese and to us his flock. Bishop Heenan’s loss was our gain!

Monsignor Canon Brian Dazeley 1961 – 29 October – 2021

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton; English College, Rome Ordained: 29 October 1961, Rome

Assistant Priest: St Teresa’s, Aspley 19621966

St Hugh’s College, Tollerton 1966-1974 Parish Priest: :Our Lady of the Angels, East Leake 1974-1976

St Wilfrid of York, Coalville 1976-1980

Ss Peter and Paul, Lincoln 1980-1985 St Barnabas Cathedral, Administrator 19851992

Rector, Beda College, Rome 1992-1998 Holy Trinity, Newark 1998-2008

Episcopal Vicar for Nottinghamshire 20012006

Provost of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter 2002-2011

Our Lady of Victories, Southwell 2008-2012 Sacred Heart, Skegness 2012-2015

Chaplain to Sick and Retired Priests Retired 2015

The musings of an old man: by himself

When Fr Simon Gillespie asked me to write something for the year book I could hardly refuse. We have known each other since 1985 when we worked together at the Cathedral although in somewhat different roles. So here goes:

The story begins on a Sunday morning in 1946. Our Parish Priest at the English Martyrs Parish in Derby announced that Bishop Ellis intended to open a school for boys who perhaps might one day be possible candidates for the priesthood. I have no memory of that but I do remember that over dinner I told my father I wanted to be a priest and I went to see the priest that same afternoon. And so the journey began.

I have a passionate love for rail journey and I like to picture life as a train journey which begins at a leisurely pace and then speeds up as the years pass. There is the opportunity to meet different people on the way and to share stories together, to dream and waste time without feeling guilty. The train I have travelled on called at the following stations: The English Martyrs, Derby, St Mary’s College,Tregyb in Wales, St Hugh’s College, Tollerton, the English College Rome, St Teresa’s Aspley and St Hugh’s Bilborough,Nottingham, St Hugh’s College Tollerton, Our Lady of the Angels East Leake, St Wilfrid’s Coalville, St Peter and Paul Lincoln, St Barnabas Cathedral Nottingham, the Beda College Rome, Holy Trinity Newark, Our Lady of Victories Southwell and St Anthony’s Calverton, The Sacred Heart Skegness and Our Lady and the English Martyrs Spilsby ,St Peter’s Hinckley and now St Peter’s leicester. I reckon there is one station to go before reaching a final destination and the beginning of a new journey. Once on a long train journey I started to compile a list of people I had met and who have been such good companions on the journey. It reads like a modern litany of the Saints and remains unfinished.

And now with time to sit and think, to read and doze a few things come to mind which I would like to share with you. I am more and more astonished by the goodness of our people and the goodness of people in general. I am particularly amazed and delighted that so many people come to Mass week after week. Recently I met a young couple with very young children. This was after the 9.45am Mass at St Peter’s Hinckley and I asked the parents what time they began preparing to come to Mass. They answered 6.00am. So their Sunday Mass began at 6.00and would end when they arrived home at 11.15. In recognising the goodness we see in one another, in our people and in the many people we meet along the way we are simply recognising the wonderful ways of God. In one preface we read ‘You are praised in the company of your saints and in crowning their merits you crown your own gifts and in another ‘you make your Church fruitful with strength ever new’.

And then there are meetings which have become an essential part of modern Church life. Might it be true that any meetings called and attended by Christians are sacred gatherings because Jesus Christ is always present as He promised. Meetings of those who hold other faiths may indeed also be sacred but I am not competent to speak of those. The purpose of any Church meeting must always be to discern as best we can with the guidance of the Holy Spirit the will of God our Father and to foster unity and fraternity. Our meetings should never be about what I want whether we are discussing drains or the programme for Holy Week. Should then our meetings always include time for prayer, a brief reading from Sacred Scripture and a time of silence? At the Cathedral we had regular ecumenical ministers early morning meetings. We began with 30 minutes prayer followed by breakfast lasting 30 minutes followed by a business meeting also lasting 30 minutes. The method seemed to work well and certainly fostered fraternity among the brethren. I reckon I have spent around 10000 hours over the last 60 years at meetings: food for thought perhaps.

The Jubilee year was certainly eventful. It was a year of 2 halves. The first half was taken up with some health issues: a bladder cancer, non recurring; a second hip replacement, successful’ and 2 hernias, not a problem at the moment. The second half was much more fun. The 3 diamond jubilarians asked Bishop Patrick if we might mark our jubilee by celebrating Mass with him at Bishop’s House. The Bishop readily agreed; a date was arranged and we enjoyed a simple and memorable celebration in the Bishop’s chapel followed by a splendid lunch prepared by Fr Jonathan Rose. It was a highlight of the year. The second event was a ‘pilgrimage’ to Athens to see my sister followed by a visit to Palazzola and the Beda College in Rome. It involved filling in forms and careful adherence to the Covid Regulations, which was not so difficult. The journey by train and ferry was a joy. The third event was the annual celebration in Rome in November for priests celebrating 40, 50 or 60 years as priests. Accomodation at Palazzola, the English College Villa outside Rome is free. Any priests celebrating their jubilees are invited and I would certainly recommend it. Five of us went from the Diocese and the three diamond jubilarians were invited to meet Pope Francis which was a great privilege. There have also been gentle celebrations in Skegness, Spilsby, Southwell and Calverton.

So what does it all add up to? Not a lot in the grand scheme of things I imagine. I ask myself so

what is at the heart of this vocation which began on the Sunday morning back in 1946. I think it can be summed up in two words - first the call to be ‘faithful’ to Our Lord. We are called to be faithful not successful. Secondly the call to accept failure in ourselves and others. One of the few places in the modern world where it is O.K. to fail is the Church, described by Pope Francis as a field hospital, a place of healing. When I fail Our Lord picks me up, dusts me down and send me on my way rejoicing. I think those two words ‘faithful’ and ‘failure’ are at the heart of every vocation. That is how I understand the vocation I have been given and I can live with that.

There are so many people who have helped me over these 60 years and I am deeply grateful. Your kindness, courtesy, good advice love, prayer and correction are clear signs of God’s enduring love for every person. I am particularly grateful to Fr Frank Daly for introducing me to the work of SPANNED. From that I learnt that everyone has gifts given by God which are essential for the good of the Church and for the good of humanity.

And now back to the reality of daily life. Fr Anthony Pateman and I share a house in Leicester and have done so almost seven years. He’s the brains and I’m the cook.

Permit me to end with two verses from my favourite hymn in the Divine Office. How great the tale, that there should be, In God’s Son’s heart a place for me That on a sinner’s lips like mine The Cross of Jesus Christ should shine.

Christ Jesus, bend me to your will, My feet to urge, my griefs to still; That e’en my flesh and blood may be A temple sanctified to thee.

Father Hugh Davoran CSSp 1969 – 14 September – 2019

Monsignor Canon Thomas McGovern 1970 – 7 June – 2020

Seminary: St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny Ordained: 7 June 1970, St Mary’s, Kilkenny

Assistant Priest: Infant of Prague, Syston 1970-1971 St Joseph’s. Leicester 1971-1976 St Peter’s, Leicester 1976-1979 St Hugh’s, Lincoln 1979-1985 Parish Priest: St Hugh’s, Lincoln 1985-1997 Honorary Canon of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter 1995

St Philip Neri, Mansfield 1997-1999 Appointed Vicar General 1997 St Barnabas Cathedral Administrator 19992006

St Augustine of England, Woodborough

Road and Our Lady and St Patrick, the Meadows 2002-2006 St Joseph’s, Oakham 2006-2010 Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary 2007

Ss Peter and Paul, Lincoln 2010-2017 Diocesan Administrator 6 May 2014-3 July 2015 St Bernadette’s, Scunthorpe and St Thomas of Canterbury, Gainsborough 2017-2019 St John the Baptist, Melton Mowbray 2019 – present

Father Tom - by his parishioners

Apostolic Blessing & Presentation. Father Tom, our Parish Priest, celebrates his Golden Jubilee on the 7th June 2020, marking 50 years since his ordination to the priesthood.

Sadly, the Golden Jubilee celebrations were curtailed due to lockdown and rescheduled for later in the year, when the parish can meet as a community once again. However, a small presentation was held in the Parish Office on Friday 5th June, where Father Tom was presented with an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis and a cheque from parishioners.

Mass couldn’t be celebrated mass physically on Trinity Sunday (7th June), but parishioners were able watch the live stream from St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny where Fr Tom was ordained in 1970. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Farrell.

All of us in Melton would like to wish Father Tom a very happy, Golden Jubilee.

Please remember to keep him in your prayers, as he keeps us in his.

A Short Biography. The Reverend Monsignor Canon Thomas McGovern, Protonotary Apostolic, or as we know him, Father Tom, was born in Leitrim, Ireland. He entered St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Peter Birch DD in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on the 7thJune 1970.

As you can imagine, being a priest for 50 years he has got to know the Diocese very well, working in the parishes of: Divine Infant of Prague, Syston (1970-71), St Joseph’s, Leicester (1971-76), St Peter’s, Leicester (1978-79), St Hugh of Lincoln, Lincoln, (1979-1997), St Philip Neri, Mansfield (1997-99), St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham (1999 – 2006), Our Lady and St Patrick in the Meadows, Nottingham (2000 – 2006), St Augustine, Apostle of England (2000-2006), St Joseph’s, Oakham (2006 -2010), Ss Peter & Paul, Lincoln, (2010 – 2017), St Bernadette’s, Scunthorpe (2017 – 2019), and is currently the 33rd Parish Priest of St John the Baptist, Melton Mowbray (2019 – date).

In 1997 he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Nottingham by Bishop McGuinness. Ten years later, in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr Tom as a Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary, an honourary title, which allows Fr Tom (amongst other things) to be addressed as Monsignor.

Following the installation of Bishop Malcolm as Archbishop of Liverpool in 2014, Fr Tom was elected by the College of Consultors to be the Diocesan Administrator – a position whereby ordinary power, usually exercised by a Bishop, is provisionally given to another priest until the Pope chooses a new Bishop.

His time as Administrator, could be described as rather eventful. During this period, a rather unusual situation occurred, namely the discovery of the mortal remains of a medieval English Catholic King buried under a car park in Leicester. As the provisional head of the Diocese, Fr Tom along with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, offered prayers for Richard III at the reburial in Leicester Cathedral.

Following the episcopal ordination of Bishop Patrick in July 2015, Father Tom’s time as Administrator came to an end and a few years later he stood down as Vicar General. You might think that retiring from Diocesan duties would mean more free time, however if you’ve been reading Father’s messages in the newsletter you’ll know that a parish priest’s work is never done, even in a small parish like ours.

A big thank you to Father Richard at St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, for sending the photographs of Fr Tom at College. Fr Richard is also a past pupil of St Kieran’s (ordained in 1984).

Canon Michael O’Donoghue 1970 – 14 June – 2020 Seminary: All Hallows, Dublin Ordained: 14 June 1970, All Hallows, Dublin Assistant Priest: St Joseph’s, Oakham 19701974 St Alban’s, Chaddesden 1974-1980 Director, The Briars Youth Service 1980-1991

Parish Priest: St Thomas More, Leicester 1991-2000

Ss Peter and Paul, Lincoln 2000-2008

Dean, Lincoln Deanery 2003, re-appointed 2006-2008

Holy Trinity, Newark 2008 – present Dean, Sherwood Deanery 2011

Our Lady of Victories, Southwell with St Anthony, Calverton Parochial Administrator 2013-2015 Appointed Honorary Canon 2019 Our Lady of Victories, Southwell, St Anthony,

Calverton and St Joseph’s, New Ollerton 2021 – present

By himself

The Jubilee year, the Bible explains, was to be a year of rest, including the forgiveness of all debts, and the liberation of slaves and servants to their native lands. June 14th 2020, The Feast of Corpus Christi, was supposed to be my Golden Jubilee of priesthood celebration in Holy Trinity Parish. Covid-19 made sure that there was no great gathering; but the occasion was marked with the 10.00am Sunday Mass on the day offered in thanksgiving for so many people that I have encountered during the past 50 years. Modern technology allowed for the livestreaming of the Mass which was watched by monitors worldwide followed by emails, text messages and a hot phone line during the day. My family who had planned to be at the parish celebration along with others were pleased to have some part in the day. Bishop Patrick McKinney marked the occasion with a Papal Blessing which was presented by Fr Peter Ingman who is resident at Holy Trinity. What a contrast to the Silver Jubilee and the Ruby Jubilee Celebrations! It was a time for reflection, gratitude for priesthood, thankfulness for so many experiences, grateful to be able to minister in different areas of the Nottingham Diocese for 50 years. The entire congregation for the Jubilee Mass was captured on camera; L to R: Mary Teresa O’Reilly, Chris Relton, Fr Michael O’Donoghue, Sebastian Mrowiec and Fr Peter Ingman.

A wonderful lunch, sufficient for a number of days, was provided by one of the parish families and kindly delivered for 1.00pm. Fr Peter Ingman and I had lovely cake for a number of weeks after the event. Holy Trinity parish was hoping that Covid-19 would be over by June 2021 but the plans for a parish celebration are still on hold. What a blessing to be able to undertake the Ministry of Priesthood and work in partnership with so many good lay people beginning with Oakham and Exton in 1970, faithful lay people with a deep love for the church giving such good example by dedicating themselves in volunteering for the sake of their faith. It was likewise in Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Newark. In the 1980’s as Diocesan director of youth services; setting up the ministry of the young by the young at The Briars was one of the big initiatives, the fruits of which are now energising parish youth ministry in the Nottingham Diocese and elsewhere, also. In 2021 it was decided to create three pastoral areas in the Sherwood Deanery, one of which is centred on Newark incorporating Southwell and New Ollerton, echoes of 1970 when the County of Rutland became a single parish with Exton and the various villages served from Oakham under the care of two priests. I am most grateful for 50+ years of memories with fellow clergy, faithful parishioners and many other friends that I have met along the way.

Father John Guest 1970 – 11 July – 2020

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton; English College, Rome Ordained: 11 July 1970, The Annunciation, Chesterfield

Assistant Priest: St Paul’s, Lenton, Nottingham 1970-1972 St Hugh’s College, Tollerton Staff 1972-1986 CBCEW Committee for Marriage and Family Life 1986-1992 Parish Priest: St Teresa’s, Aspley 1992-1998

Christ the King, Mackworth 1998-2003

Director of Diocesan Centre, Mackworth 1998-2009

Episcopal Vicar for Derbyshire 2001-2006 All Saints, Ashbourne 2003-2019 Vicar General 2006-2017 Moderator of the Curia 2014-2019 Retired 2019

50 Years on: by Father John Guest

Ten years ago I was asked to write an account for the diocesan yearbook of the first forty years of my life as a priest of the diocese. I don’t wish to repeat what I wrote then, but the following is a brief summary of that time.

After my time as a student in St. Hugh’s Tollerton and then seven years at the Venerable English College in Rome I was ordained in July 1970 in my home parish of the Annunciation in Chesterfield, at that time still belonging to Nottingham Diocese. My first appointment as an assistant was to Canon Colin Mitchell at St.Paul’s in Lenton, Nottingham, but after two years I was asked to join the staff at St. Hugh’s, Tollerton, for the first four years commuting to read French at Nottingham University (which included a year spent in Paris) and then teaching the same subject till 1986 when the school closed down. From 1976 to 1986 I also assisted Fr. Bernard Brady in his work as chaplain to Nottingham University. In 1986 I was asked to move to London for the next six years, becoming the national chaplain to the CMAC (Catholic Marriage Advisory Council - now Catholic Marriage Care) and secretary to the Bishops’ Conference Committee for Marriage and Family Life. In 1992 I returned to the diocese and was appointed parish priest of St. Teresa’s, Aspley in Nottingham. At the same time I was asked to assist St. Margaret Horan with the inspection of our secondary schools. In 1998 I moved to Christ the King in Mackworth, Derby, which also involved keeping an eye on the Diocesan Education Centre there. In 2003 I was asked to combine these responsibilities with becoming parish priest of All Saints Ashbourne, where I would spend the last years of my active priestly life in the diocese. With the arrival of Bishop (now Archbishop) McMahon in 2000 I became a member of his Bishop’s Council, first of all as episcopal vicar for Derbyshire and then as Vicar General with particular responsibility for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

And so we come to my last ten years. With the arrival of Bishop McKinney in 2015 Mgr. Tom McGovern and myself continued as vicars general till 2017 and then resumed a more regular parochial life. By this time I had unfortunately developed a heart condition which would gradually worsen from 2013 onwards and would result in my premature retirement in 2019. The event that stands out in my mind during this period was a sabbatical I took in New Zealand in early 2014. Why New Zealand you may ask. I had friends there who were urging me to visit but who were also much involved in church life there at

both local and national level, and it struck me as an opportunity to see how an English speaking country similar to ourselves had developed over the last fifty years since the Vatican Council. I spent time with my friends but also did two lengthy supplies in separate small towns to the north of Auckland and then did a round tour of the South Island…purely for pleasure! Two aspects of church and ordinary life stood out, aspects that have become more and more central to our own concerns as well. New Zealand was exposed to the effects of climate change earlier than ourselves. You could feel the strength of the sun through the gap in the ozone layer and therefore needed to take careful protection against its rays. The New Zealanders are also highly aware of how alien species have upset the balance of their native flora and fauna, so woe betide anyone who tries to take either foodstuffs or plant life into the country. The second aspect is the country’s treatment of its ethnic minorities. The dominant minority is of course the Maori population. In 1840 the British Government established a treaty with the Maori tribes which at the time served the purposes of both sets of participants. It gave the British a lead role in the place of the French, and it resolved the tribes’ ongoing internecine warfare. However, things did not progress equably, with rapid industrialisation playing into the British hands and the Maoris finding themselves and their culture diminished. Recent years have seen the Maoris claiming a much more active role in society and with that bringing their greater understanding of how relate to nature and the environment. They are a very spiritual people but find it difficult to define themselves by a religious denomination. So they will move fluidly between Maori and Christian practice and also between the Christian denominations. It is through their insistence that all civic council and other administrative meetings always begin with prayer. Maori music and song are a natural part of Catholic worship, and I notice in a recently issued church document that they have adapted the Maori title Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud) instead of the western “New Zealand”. When the Maoris meet you they are not interested in your job or social standing. They will want to know your river and your mountain. Rivers are fine in Nottingham and Derby but mountains? The Chinese and Japanese are a growing presence in New Zealand as the economic ties develop between their countries, but the churches have more of a presence of Samoans and other Pacific Islanders, who have a resonant influence on the churches’ spiritual and musical life. In their much smaller world there is a family feel about church life, and all members warmly welcome such strange characters as myself from the northern hemisphere.

I now live in retirement in Cornwall, a ten minute walk from the sea, and with family members close by. I have the occasional foray into the local church but less so since I caught Covid helping out last year at the first Mass of Christmas! The lockdowns have been helpful in allowing me to develop a monastic rhythm to life in contrast to the rush and bustle of all that has gone before. My thoughts and gratitude are always with my fellow clergy, friends and parishioners who have helped me get this far on life’s journey.

Thank you and God bless.

Father John Trenchard 1971 – 29 June – 2021

Seminary: Redemptorist Novitiate, Perth, Scotland; Redemptorist House of Studies, Hawkstone Hall, Shropshire Ordained: 29 June 1971 Parish Priest: St Joseph’s, Derby 2010-2020 Incardinated into the Diocese of Nottingham March 2012

Chaplain to the Diocesan Catholic Deaf Fellowship 2013 Dean, Derby Deanery 2015-2017 Retired March 2020

By himself

Celebrating 50 years of priesthood brought home to me how much I had enjoyed my job and it has reminded me of the origins of my work as a priest. I often see myself as a product of Vatican II. I think it is also relevant in my vocation to the priesthood that I was brought up in the Somerset Village of Farringdon Gurney which had a population of about 850 people, yet apart from my own family of my father, mother and two sisters, there was only one other practising Catholic. Yet I had a very Catholic upbringing; a Catholic primary school (five miles away), where we learned what is meant to be a Catholic complete with full instruction via the penny catechism: “Why did God make me? To know him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next.” Meanwhile, the second Vatican Council was taking place during my final school years with the Christian Brothers in Bristol and in my first workplace at Lloyds Bank in Watford.

It was in Watford sitting in the Catholic Church there, that I felt that I directly heard the voice of Jesus speaking to me personally, saying simply “Follow Me”. This led me to a decision to make a retreat in order to reflect on my future. I duly made an appointment with the Redemptorists because they did missions and retreats. On my arrival it became clear very quickly that the Redemptorist interviewing me presumed I wanted to become a Redemptorist. It seemed as though I was somehow inadvertently “swept in”, rather a different process from today’s careful and measured discernment procedures. Within 3-4 months I was on my way to the noviciate in Perth. The Redemptorists are a religious order dedicated to the preaching of the Gospel, especially on parish missions and I felt very much at home. The Church at this time was taken up with implementing the Second Vatican Council and I have always seen this Council as crucial in bringing the Gospel to the world of today. For example, it ensured that Mass is celebrated in the language of the people to whom we are preaching the Gospel, enabling people to feel at home in Church.

My first year after ordination was spent in a Sunderland parish and, briefly, in Perth in Scotland, before spending the following fifteen years in Hampshire at Redemptorist Publications. During my years there the mission of supporting priests and people was at the heart of everything we produced. It was essential that the weekly parish leaflets, and pastoral publications and books that we created were in popular formats to help people prepare for the sacraments. The team working together there at this time were a blend of lay and religious and we were all in our 30’s. That seems absolutely normal today, but at that time it was very unusual for priests and laypeople to work so closely and with shared responsibility. A number of our publications at that time became bestsellers and can still be found on many book shelves today.

As a Redemptorist in following years I was engaged in full time work with parishes, on missions and giving retreats. I worked as Provincial for nine years and was involved in Marriage Tribunal work. A couple of difficulties which have only recently been resolved, led to my joining Nottingham Diocese twelve years ago and beginning work in St Joseph’s Derby.

I have always enjoyed my work as a priest but never more so than in St Joseph’s. The local clergy, the schools and the parishioners created an atmosphere where I felt very much immersed in a sense of purpose which enabled me to feel very at home immediately. It was a place where I found I could be myself in a completely fresh way. The parish is a wonderful mixture of families who have long and deep roots in Derby plus newer arrivals, yet together the community creates a positive, “can do” approach to building the parish, the liturgy and the practical work of maintenance and mutual care and support. The regular signed Mass provision was so good – I was inspired to try to learn sign language but proved a miserable student! The flourishing Youth Club, which was able to return to its original home once the hall opened, The creative Folk Group all incorporating both young and old parishioners working together. The transforming of the garden into a place a remembrance and prayer was special, this initiative was entirely inspired and undertaken by parishioners and non -Catholic partners. An added bonus was the recognition that the site was adjacent to the place of martyrdom of Joan Waste the Protestant martyr on 16th century. We were able to include a remembrance stone for her as a sign of unity and respect for our fellow Christians. This list could go on….

I have had poor eyesight since childhood. Increasingly this deteriorated despite the best efforts of the Royal Derby Eye Department. I had always envisaged dying on the job in St Joseph’s, but such a dream was cut short with a rapid loss of sight which meant that I could no longer continue as parish priest and which which forced

me to face the reality of retirement. Fortunately, one of the team from those early days at Redemptorist Publications was able to offer me a home and care. The proximity of my new home in Cambridge provides access to the first-class medical services at Addenbrookes Hospital and as I am now registered severely sight-impaired I am receiving all sorts of training opportunities from specialist services. Unfortunately, rather like my poor attempts at sign language I am proving a slow learner! St Joseph’s proved to be a true Vatican II parish in the very best ways. My experience there was indeed of a community which I believe enabled many of us who are committed to the teaching of Jesus Christ, “to know him, to love him and to serve him in this world and to look forward in trusting faith to be happy with him forever in the next.” My life as a priest has made that a true reality for me.

Canon Alan Burbage 1971 – 17 July – 2021

Seminary: St Mary’s College, Oscott Ordained: 17 July 1971, Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough Assistant Priest: Church of the Annunciation, Chesterfield 1971-1975

The Briars Youth Centre, Crich 1975-1981 St Mary’s, Derby 1981-1984 Parish Priest: St Margaret’s, Gamesley 19841988 Zambia 1988-1990

St George’s, Derby with Holy Spirit, Sinfin 1990 – present Appointed Canon of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter June 2011

50 Not out, by himself

In my younger days I played a lot of Cricket. My father gave me a new Cricket bat as a present when I passed the old 11+ exam. We made a cricket pitch in a field by our farm house and I and my brothers and sometimes our dad would enjoy batting and bowling. However there was no proper coaching, plenty of hit and hope. Later at school and in our local village the lack of proper technique made it difficult to get runs for the team. A 50 was only achieved once in over twenty years of endeavour.

Life and Priesthood and cricket have a lot in common. To thrive you need plenty of coaching, training , practice and performance.

I have just celebrated 50 years of priestly ministry in spite of one or two health concerns along the way and invite you to accompany me as I look back over a long innings.

It all started when Bishop Ellis accepted me as a student for the priesthood and sent me off to Oscott College at Sutton Coldfield in 1965. The coaching , the training, the practising started with a lot of prayer and Philosophy and moved onto Four years of Theology , Scripture Studies and Spiritual Guidance by the priestly professors who formed us a priest.

There was also plenty of opportunity to keep fit with football and cricket and tennis and badminton. However in spite of a lot of practice and plenty of matches 50 runs were not achieved in my six years in Oscott.

After ordination in my home parish of Our Lady of Victories in Market Harborough by Bishop Ellis I was posted to the crooked spire town of Chesterfield now in the Diocese of Hallam, I was to be assistant priest to the formidable Fr. Ryan. He saw it as his important task to coach and train a new priest into the work of parish ministry.

Four busy years followed with daily Mass in the parish church and convent. The ministry included

baptisms funerals and weddings and chaplaincy work in the local hospital along with Saint Mary’s secondary school and primary school , when doing confessions on Saturday from 3pm -4pm I could gauge the progress of the Spireites home games, because the roar of the crowd if they scored would travel the short distance to our Church of the Annunciation .

A cricket memory from my time at Chesterfield was going to see the Australians play Derbyshire at Queens Park

The ferocious Jeff Thompson started his run up at one end of the ground and the wicket keeper took the ball to the other end the Derbyshire batsman often took evasive action.

Recently someone said “Father how long have you been at St. George’s parish” I answered “nearly 30 years” “ oh” they said “ I thought your Bishop moved you priest a lot”

Looking back and true to form after 4 years at Chesterfield the Bishop moved to the Briars centre in Crich to work with Fr.Bell. A Crich there were Six busy years looking after the needs of our guests and their programmes, with ages ranging from school children to retired people, here we had a small sloping field in which the young people played football but no cricket pitch, so after Six years, I was on to move again to St. Mary’s Derby to assist Canon Cantwell in the many and varied tasks and works of priestly service in a large city parish. Parishioners , hospitals, schools, convents, parish visiting , prayer meetings and a lot of Justice and Peace activity - St. Marys had the lot!

After four years at St Mary’s Bishop McGuiness assigned me to Saint Margaret’s, Gamsley near Glossop as parish priest, it was winter and from the clergy house I could see Snake Pass. Here I had the occasional game of cricket on the school playing field when friends visited but following four happy years off I went to Zambia in central Africa as a volunteer following the ill health of father Peter Coyle, whilst there I was initiated into the Zambian ways of church especially the music and the dancing and after four years Bishop McGuinness asked me to take care of St. Georges & All Solder Saints , Derby and next year I will be 30 years in situ and no moves because of certain health issues- but who would want to leave a parish with so many lovely people with plenty of help and pastoral support . And recently on visiting our parish school in my role as Assistant Chair of Governors and Chaplain I came across a game of cricket on the school field and being such a lovely kind children one asked “ Fr Alan do you want to bat?” cautiously I accepted aware that the credibility of a priest and Chapter Canon could be at stake with these keen 10 year old cricketers, fortunately the bowling was not too ferocious and a distant memory of a straight backed and small stroke enabled me to get to four runs in spite of a certain geriatric lack of mobility ! And recently somebody said “oh Fr Alan I thought you’d retired?” “No” I said “ I’m still so soldiering on , God willing still batting- so whilst I won’t get a 50 , I hope to get a few more singles.

Canon Daniel Bowdren 1971 – 24 July – 2021

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton; St Mary’s College, Oscott

Ordained: 24 July 1971, St Alban’s, Derby Assistant Priest: Holy Spirit, West Bridgford 1971-1974

Bursar, St Hugh’s College, Tollerton 19741986 Parish Priest: St Mary’s, New Mills 1986-1990 Zambia 1990-1997 St Wilfrid’s, Coalville 1997-1999 St Charles Borromeo, Hadfield, the Immaculate Conception, Charlesworth and Gamesley 1999 – present

Dean, Peak Deanery 2003, re-appointed 2006, 2011 Appointed Canon of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter 2006

An eccentric ministry: by himself

My journey of missionary discipleship began when I became a Catholic. This was in the font at Mary’s church in Derby in late September some years back. I returned to the same church for first Holy Communion and Confirmation. I suppose the inclination towards ordination came from

the good folk of my family. Having an uncle as a diocesan priest (Fr Joe Keogh), and an aunt as a Sister of Mercy in Derby must have helped. The journey to ordination in 1971 has many faded memories. Outstanding is the memory in 1965 of going to senior cemetery for the first time. This was in a remote country house in Warwickshire where young men and some not so young spent the first year of seminary life in training. This was the first of a number of closing events. At the end of our first year that particular training place closed. A certain sadness then as the way of training began to change. During the remaining five years of studies at St. Mary’s College in Oscott, cassocks were replaced by jeans and tee shirts as daily dress. Similarly, birettas went out of fashion, but Beatle hairstyles came in. These were the days of the Vatican Two changes, and it was a turbulent time. I was lucky enough to sing in the college choir, and our earliest presentations were of Latin motets to accompany the Latin liturgy of those days. When we moved to ‘Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore’ and ‘Our God Reigns’ we knew that plainchant and polyphony were going the same way as birettas and cassocks. Not always a pleasant transition. After ordination to the diaconate in 1970 and a year later to the priesthood I was ready, so I thought to set the Catholic world on fire. I will remember my dad telling me that if ever I was called to his death bed I was to leave behind the fashionable churchy folk songs of the day and sing or say the wellknown familiar prayers that were part of his life, and earlier mine. After ordination I spent four years in a parish South of Nottingham alongside the river Trent. My parish priest and mentor was known as a curate-breaker and there were some challenging times. He didn’t manage quite to quench the fire of my enthusiasm. I started a very fulfilling ministry to young people in the formation of a vibrant Youth Club. Off we went youth hostelling and route-marching, discoing and partying. Joyful times! Mercifully when the PP phoned the Bishop’s House to demand that I be removed instantly the bishop seemed to suffer from a temporary deafness. The bishop phoned later and surprised me by asking if I would take up a territorial army Commission as a chaplain. My 14 years connected with cadet and territorial work was hugely satisfying and I handed back my various uniforms with great reluctance years later. I stayed on until when in 1974 I moved into sensuous college, the dices junior cemetery. I’d already spent six years there in secondary education; now I returned to join the stuff for 12 years, 12 happy years in the countryside and amidst good companions. I became an undertaker again when that college closed in 1986 and I went off to new mills for four years and my first parish priest appointment. I managed to survive a vetting interview by members of the parish council. This was a happy appointment and I enjoyed extending my youth ministry to the formation of an active youth group. To my surprise the bishop then asked me to go to Africa and work as a Fidei Donum missionary in the diocese of Livingstone, alongside the Zambezi. It took 18 months to arrive and then five and a half years to develop a deep love for these people and their culture. Once again reluctantly my promise of obedience to the bishop was tested to the full when he asked me to return to ministry in the Diocese of Nottingham. Again, Fr Bernard and I became undertakers as our diocesan mission to Zambia finished as we got on a series of buses, finally arrived in Cape Town a week or so later to come home on a container ship. A wonderful journey!

I went into hiding upon return hoping that the bishop wouldn’t find me for three or four months. Not so! On the day that we got the sad news of Princess Diana’s death my other news was that I was appointed to Saint Joseph’s church in Derby. I was pleased with this appointment because it took me back to my hometown and the parish where my parents had worshipped

briefly. I knocked on the door of the presbytery to introduce myself. The housekeeper opened the door and did not have the most welcoming of dispositions. As I stood on the doorstep the parish priest appeared behind her and told me to clear off since he wasn’t going to retire after all. I went back into hiding again but was soon discovered and went to Coalville for the inside of two years. Amidst the joys of that place was Mount Saint Bernard’s Abbey bordering the parish. Entirely by accident I acquired my first dog, a rescue dog called Bella. Truthfully, she acquired me. She and I became good friends after a period of assessment and caution. I remember the first food I gave her in a soup bowl. It was the remains of my salad. Rejection! Off to the supermarket to the dog food shelves to be totally bamboozled by the array of dog food. So, in 1999 back to the Dark Peak and the two parishes which have been my responsibility since.

Having been an undertaker at the end of two appointments, I don’t plan to do the hat trick. So, an eccentric ministry me far from the centre of the diocese. A very fulfilling life as a missionary disciple, army Padre, missionary priest in the tropics and the furthest flung corner of our diocese. Full of golden memories and huge thanks to God and His very forgiving people.

Late last year, a wondrous delight to visit Rome as part of the golden jubilation – the highlight to be part of the Wednesday Papal audience and give Pope Francis a distant wave. Tiny bit miffed that only the priests ordained sixty years shook hands with and received a gift from the Holy Father. Off I go to diamond-hunting!

Monsignor John Hadley

1971 – 19 December – 2021 Seminary: English College, Rome Ordained: 19 December 1971, St Teresa’s, Aspley Assistant Priest: St Barnabas Cathedral 1972-1974 Cambridge 1974-1977 Oscott College (Staff) 1977-1984 St Joseph’s Leicester 1984-1985 Parish Priest: St Mary’s, Grimsby 1985-1998 St Pius X, Narborough 1998 – present Dean, Leicester West 2003, re-appointed 2006, 2011 Chancellor of the Diocese 2008 Our Lady of Victories, Lutterworth 2013 – present Dean, Leicester Deanery 2017-2021

By himself

I am the middle child of three children, from a family of teachers. My younger sister says, admittedly with some justification, that I am a perpetual student; and my father was very much of the opinion that the best way to study anything was to teach it. So I suppose it was inevitable that I would gravitate to teaching in some form. I enjoyed school most of the time, and managed to come through seven years of studying in foreign languages relatively unscathed, even though I am no linguist.

On my return to this country, Bishop Ellis appointed me to be the most junior curate at the Cathedral. This had its advantages – there was always plenty going on in the Cathedral and its parish, so boredom was not an option – but I had difficulty in coping with a regime which regulated every moment of every day. The system occasionally fell apart, and I never did get the hang of being in two entirely different places at the same time.

After two years and two weeks at the Cathedral, I was sent to do further studies, with the intention that I would teach for a few years. Having qualified as a teacher, I was asked to join the teaching staff at St. Mary’s College, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

My first term of teaching was an unmitigated disaster, but I think that the rest of the year was an improvement, and after a year or so I felt that I had settled into the role. In my final year at St. Mary’s, the Dean of Studies took a sabbatical, and since I would be leaving at the end of the year I stepped in as acting Dean of Studies. While teaching I also trained to be a marriage counsellor.

I was then appointed assistant priest at St. Joseph’s, Leicester, and quickly discovered that the system in that parish was the total opposite of my Cathedral experiences: instead of being completely regimented, life at St. Joseph’s was so unstructured that I was left almost entirely to decide for myself what I would do and when I would do it. There was not even a parish diary.

After 50 highly enjoyable but supremely chaotic weeks at St. Joseph’s, I was appointed parish priest at St. Mary’s, Grimsby. I had nine days to say goodbye, pack up my meagre belongings, and find the way to Grimsby, a town I had never visited.

After I had been there a few months I discovered references to ‘St. Mary’s on the Sea’, so I started to use that name. The vicar general told me off for making an unauthorized change of name, and I duly reported the fact to the parishioners. The following weekend various elderly parishioners came up to me with their marriage certificates to prove that ‘St. Mary’s on the Sea’ was the correct official designation. On my arrival in the parish, the newsletter (prepared by my predecessor) stated that the proposed parish hall was ready to be built, and work would begin within a few weeks. I investigated, and discovered that as yet no builders had been invited to submit tenders and no tenders, therefore, had been received. I looked in vain for relevant paperwork, and discovered that there was no planning permission, no permission from the diocese, little money in the bank, and no loan had been arranged. Planning consent proved impossible to obtain, so the parish hall never did get built.

While at St. Mary’s Bishop McGuinness asked me also to start to work for the diocesan tribunal. In 1996 he asked me to get together a group of priests to look into preparing a policy for sabbaticals; this soon evolved into the ongoing formation service.

In 1998 while I was on a post-Christmas week’s holiday Bishop McGuinness moved me to Narborough. In ‘Yes Minister’, Jim Hacker comments on the dangers of being away from your place of work: “One day you’re out of the office; the next day you’re out of office”.

The demands of the diocesan tribunal and the ongoing formation service suggested that I needed more legal training, and when Heythrop College (now sadly closed) offered a postgraduate degree in canon law, I applied to take part. At about the same time, I was offered the chance to start teaching philosophy part time at St. Mary’s College, Oscott.

In 2011, at a meeting of the Council of Priests, Bishop Malcolm McMahon informed the Council that I had been made a Monsignor, and took great delight in informing everyone that that did not allow me to wear purple socks. A friend of mine (we had trained together to become marriage counsellors and later tutors) who had previously sent me a pair of purple socks now sent me some red socks on the basis that these had not been forbidden.

The following year, Bishop Malcolm appointed me Chancellor of the diocese, and I began further canon law studies at KUL in Belgium. This combined some good (even some excellent) teaching with the most chaotic administration I have ever encountered. A regular occurrence, particularly in the first two years, was for a lecturer to tell us that he wanted only one or two sheets of A4 for the written assessment for his or her course, and then the faculty secretary to inform us that it had to be a minimum of 25 pages.

In June 2013 I visited Father John Feeley, who was parish priest of Lutterworth, on the occasion of his 95th birthday. He told me he was not feeling well, and asked if I could celebrate the Saturday evening Mass for him. I had a foreboding that this was serious, and after a couple of weeks of hospital treatment and some weeks of attempted convalescence Father Feeley died on 28th August. He had been parish priest of Lutterworth for about 37 years. Bishop McMahon asked me to take over the parish while remaining in Narborough, and I have attempted to act as parish priest of the two parishes since.

Where next? I will be 75 shortly and have already submitted my resignation from being parish priest. We will see.

Father Frank Carvill 1972 – 22 July – 2022

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton, English College, Valladolid

Ordained: 22 July 1972, St Anne’s, Buxton

Assistant Priest: Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough 1972-1975

St Paul’s, Lenton, Nottingham 1975-1978 St Joseph’s, Ollerton 1978-1979 Holy Rosary, Burton-upon-Trent 1979-1982

Ss Peter and Paul, Lincoln 1982-1986 Parish Priest: St Mary’s, Marple Bridge 19861990

Sacred Heart, Loughborough 1990-1998

St Joseph’s, Shirebrook 1998-2008 Holy Cross, Hucknall 2008-2017 Retired 2017

By himself

“You did not choose me, I chose you.” (Jn 15: 16)

When I was asked ten years ago to write an article about my forty years in the priesthood, I wondered whether I’d still be around to write something about my fifty years. Well, here I am, Deo gratias!

Having retired as a Parish Priest in 2017, I have spent much of my time reflecting upon my life over so many years. One area which is of great significance is the amount of change which we have all experienced during these last fifty years, some good, some not so good but our faith dictates that the Lord still steers the barque of St. Peter. I can, however, say without doubt that my ministry in the Priesthood has given me much joy, something of which I am forever grateful.

In every parish in which I have served over so many years, there has always been such a wealth of loyal, faithful and willing parishioners, many of whom have taught me so much, and I am still learning. One of my early lessons was that every parish needs to feel that it is a loving family, something which has proved difficult over the last couple of years because of so many restrictions placed upon us in this present Covid climate. One can only hope and pray that parish life will soon, D.V., revive and flourish. Jesus assures us, “Know that I am with you always.”

Since retiring I have been blest by receiving many invitations to supply in various parishes throughout our Diocese. This has been a happy and fulfilling experience.

I take this opportunity to remember brother priests who are no longer with us but who helped me in so many ways over the years. I am grateful to my family for their love and support and to many of my fellow priests for their friendship and help. To so very many parishioners to whom I was fortunate to minister, a great number of whom still keep in regular contact, I am truly grateful. A special word of thanks must go to Miriam who, after thirty years of teaching music, has been with me for thirty-six years as my housekeeper, secretary and parish Director of Music.

Laus Deo Semper!

Canon Philip Ziomek 1979 – 16 June – 2019

Seminary: English College, Valladolid; All Hallows, Dublin

Ordained: 16 June 1979, St Mary’s, Derby

Assistant Priest: Corpus Christi, Clifton 1979-1981

Good Shepherd, Woodthorpe 1981-1986 St Mary’s, Grimsby 1986-1990 Parish Priest: St Mary’s, South Wigston 19901999 St Philip Neri, Mansfield and St Teresa of the

Child Jesus, Market Warsop 1999-2011

St Joseph the Worker, Sutton-in-Ashfield 2003-2011 Good Shepherd, Woodthorpe 2011 – present

Dean, Nottingham East Deanery 2012 Appointed Canon of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter March 2013

Father Michael Mason 1980 – 28 June – 2020

Seminary: St Mary’s College, Oscott Ordained: 28 June 1980, St Peter’s, Hinckley

Assistant Priest: St Barnabas Cathedral 1980-1982 St Pius X, Grimsby 1982-1985

Christ the King, Alfreton 1985-1990 Parish Priest: St Mary’s, Marple Bridge 19901996 Assistant Priest: St Joseph’s, Matlock 19961997 Leave of absence 1997-2002

Holy Trinity, Newark 2002, resident in the parish – 2013 Retired 2014

Deacon Peter Skoyles 1981 – 11 December – 2021

Diaconate Ordination: 11 December 1981

Early days of the Diaconate in the Diocese of Nottingham

Greetings to you all from sunny Cornwall! I have just celebrated my Ruby Anniversary of Ordination as a Permanent Deacon, the first in Nottingham Diocese! And I think, only about 15 in the whole UK!

I became head of Whitwick Holy Cross School in January 1975. I was the youngest head in Leicestershire at the time! About 1978 I heard vague information about a new thing coming in called the Diaconate. Canon Arthur Bird, the parish priest, even though around 80 years of age was most supportive and arranged for me to see the Director of Vocations at Derby who said he would pass it on to Bishop James McGuinness. The Bishop called me to an interview and arranged for my two years’ training at Mount St Bernard Abbey, just a couple of miles from home; additionally he asked me to keep all this strictly secret and not to reveal it to anyone. All my Tutors at the Abbey were marvellous and I really enjoyed a modified curriculum that their own novices received. However, it was 90% theoretical.

Then in 1981 after receiving Minor Orders at the Cathedral plans were made for Diaconal Ordination on December 11th at Holy Cross Whitwick. The night before there was a severe blizzard and many of those who were planning to come, including some deacons from the south of England couldn’t make it.

Things were so different regarding the Diaconate over 35 years ago. Not only the lay people but also many of the clergy also, just did not have any conception of who or what a permanent deacon was. For example, EG. after assisting the Bishop at the Easter Triduum at the Cathedral one of the adult servers asked me in the sacristy afterwards was I a Catholic? My own parish priest couldn’t bring himself to allow me to act as deacon at Mass with him! When I asked him what I could help him with, I was sent with sick communion to one of the most conservative parishioners who turned me away from the door. On the other hand a lot of parishioners and especially many of the clergy of the Nottingham Diocese, went out of their way to welcome me. I didn’t preach at all in my parish but my first sermon was in the presence of Bishop James at the Deanery Station Mass, which as it was my first, was a disaster!! The Methodists on the local Methodist Circuit asked me to preach on a regular basis for them and I still remember their great support and kindness!

Pope (Saint) John Paul II was due to visit England that June and I was told by the diocese that I would be assisting as deacon at his Mass at Coventry the coming Pentecost Sunday! It didn’t have much impact on me as at the rehearsal I was told that I would only be a cross bearer in the procession. On the day itself when the Pope arrived we were briefed by his secretary and I was told: “you will be deacon to His Holiness!” I think that was probably one of the high points in my life, a bit like Saul on the road to Damascus!

I took early retirement from Holy Cross and moved to Cornwall (where we have family) where I was warmly welcomed by The Carmelite Sisters at Sclerder Abbey, near Looe. Over the years I became more and more involved and active with the community and the parish. I will be 80 in August this year but I expect I will still continue to be actively Supporting my really great parish priest and the new French Order ,Chemin Neuf, who have inherited Sclerder. I would say that my vocation as deacon has developed step by step over the years and finally reached its zenith when, in 2016, my family and I celebrated the International Jubilee of Deacons with the Holy Father in Rome with several thousand other deacons from around the world, and I had the opportunity to address them for a few minutes. My message was that the constant anxiety of deacons to define their vocation was in fact a blessing not an obstacle! It is who we are rather than what we do! Of course one of the defining differences of the permanent diaconate is, in many cases, the sacrament of marriage! The deacon and the diaconate, owes much to the gift of family, and the much needed support of their wives. Perhaps this is one more defining factor of the vocation of deacon.

It is never easy to be the first in any field but when I look around and see the permanent deacons expanding in numbers in our own country and around the world, I feel that all has been worth the difficulties because the rewards, especially the spiritual ones, have been so much greater. Wouldn’t it be great to be around for another forty years to see all the big changes coming, not just for the diaconate, but for the whole Church?

Canon George Woodall Seminary: Beda College, Rome

Ordained: 12 June 1982, Holy Spirit, West Bridgford Further studies in Rome 1982-1984

Assistant Priest: St Peter’s, Leicester 19841987

Appointed to the Staff at the Beda College 1987-1993 Parish Priest: Our Lady and St Patrick’s, The Meadows 1993-2002 Corpus Christi, Clifton 2002-2003

Honorary Canon of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter April 2003

Appointed to the Staff at the Beda College, Rome 2003-2005 Lecturer in Rome 2005-2021 Promotor of Justice 2011

Parish Priest: Sacred Heart, Skegness and

Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Spilsby 2021 – present

Father John McCay 1982 – 19 June – 2022

Seminary: St Hugh’s College, Tollerton; All Hallows, Dublin

Ordained: 19 June 1982, London Colney

Assistant Priest: St Barnabas Cathedral 1982-1987 St Peter’s, Leicester 1987-1991

Parish Priest: St John the Evangelist, Stapleford 1991-1999

St Mary’s, South Wigston 1999-2005

St John Bosco, Eyres Monsell 2003-2005 St Paul’s, Lenton & St Mary’s, Hyson Green 2005-2010

Catholic Chaplain HMP Nottingham Resident at St Barnabas Cathedral 2010-2011

Catholic Chaplain, Nottingham Trent University 2011-2021 Assistant Priest: Holy Spirit, West Bridgford and Our Lady of Grace, Cotgrave 2011-present

Catholic Chaplain HMP Lowdham Grange 2014

By himself

On June 19th 2022 I will have been Ordained for 40 years. It doesn’t seem possible as it only seems like yesterday when I was Ordained by Bishop McGuinness at Our Lady of Walsingham’s Church in London Colney where my family lived at the time. It was during the 1982 World Cup and shortly after the visit of Pope John Paul to Britain.

You may ask why was I ordained for the Nottingham Diocese if we lived in the Westminster Diocese? Well, it was because from the age of 11 – 14 my family lived in St. Thomas More’s Parish in Leicester where I was an Altar Server. I felt inspired at the time by Fr. John Shaw the Parish Priest. I saw the kind of priest that Fr. John was and I thought that I wouldn’t mind doing what he does, and the seeds of the priesthood were sown in my life. I also went to St. Hugh’s College at Tollerton in Nottingham.

To cut a long story short I was sent by Bishop McGuinness to All Hallows College in Dublin. I spent 6 very happy years there and at the end of it all I was Ordained for the Diocese of Nottingham.

Over the last 40 years I’ve served in 6 parishes. I started off at the Cathedral and then went to St. Peter’s Leicester, St. John the Evangelist, Stapleford, St. Mary’s, South Wigston, St. Paul’s, Lenton and up to the present at Holy Spirit, West Bridgford.. God has been very good to me as it meant that I was always within striking distance of my beloved Leicester City and the King Power Stadium!

When I think over the years and what it has meant to be a priest, one word springs to mind. It’s the word, “Privilege” It has been a privilege to be involved in the lives of so many people and to have been invited into so many families during happy times and also sad times. These occasions have been connected to Sacramental Celebrations, times of bereavement and just the general being together and living together as part of a parish community.

I have enjoyed walking with and giving pastoral support to many people in the parishes where I’ve served. I’ve also been involved in many Chaplaincies, so being a Chaplain has also been a big part of my life. I’ve been a Chaplain in Schools, Hospitals and Nottingham Trent University and now in a very big way, Prisons

During my time at St. Mary’s South Wigston I became acquainted with Prison Ministry at Glen Parva, Young Offenders Institute. It’s now over 20 years since I started this prison ministry working as part of a Multi Faith Team. I now go into HMP Nottingham, Lowdham Grange, Foston Hall and Sudbury. When I started I came across a book written by Mgr. Richard Atherton called ‘Summons to Serve’. In it he described how he thought of himself as a Prison Chaplain as a Knight in Shining Armour taking Christ into a place full of criminals where Christ needed to be taken. He said that he got the shock of his life when he went into the prison because he found that Christ was already there!!. I can identify with that. Maybe it’s because Jesus tells us in Matthew’s Gospel that “I was in prison and you came to see me”. At times it is a most uplifting spiritual experience. Being part of a Chaplaincy team in these prisons has taught me that there is a need to work together with men and women of all Faiths. We’re there

for all of the community , prisoners and staff, so working together is essential. Prison definitely can be tough at times but very rewarding. It is a place where Christ can be experienced in the men and women there. I have learnt that there are a lot of good people in prison who have made a wrong choice in their lives. I have been impressed by the humility of prisoners, many of whom have got nothing. I often wonder if I had been in their shoes and the sad and tragic backgrounds of some of them, would I have their strength of Faith. Would I be where I am today? One thing that has developed in prisons over my time in the prison ministry has been the desire of the Prison Service to have links with local communities. In practice this has meant the involvement of people in the parishes in the vicinity of the prisons on days when Mass is taking place and in the Faith sharing sessions. We have also had help from the local SVP Conferences and parishes. It’s good for prisoners to know that there are people around who do care and want to help them and that they’re not locked up and forgotten about.

I’ve also learnt over these 40 years that I need the support of other priests. As priests we all do. This support came through personal friendships but also through my being part of the Nottingham Priest’s together support Network in its early days and now the Jesus Caritas Fraternity in the Diocese. For me the best source of support is the Sunday Lunch meet up with other priests in the area. This started in Leicester many years ago and also takes place now in the Nottingham area.

I also gradually became aware that I needed the friendship and the support of friends who aren’t priests. I have been blessed with their support and friendship in the parishes and Chaplaincies where I’ve served.

All of the above has been some of my experience of what it means to be a priest over 40 years. Every priest could say the same but in different ways based on the varying pastoral experience of us all.

I came across a quote by Pope Francis by way of reminding us all to pray for priests. He said;

“ Priests are like Airplanes: one falls and it’s all over the news but no one remembers those who are still flying!”

Let’s remember the priests who are still flying in our prayers and a prayer too for those who have come down.

Father Philip Holland 1995 – 6 June – 2020

Seminary: St John’s College, Wonersh

Ordained: 6 June 1995, Canonry of Our Lady of England O.Praem, Storrington, West Sussex

Assistant Priest: St Philip Neri, Mansfield 2000-2002 Priest-in-Charge: St Joseph’s, New Ollerton 2002-2008 Incardinated into the Diocese of Nottingham 2004 Parish Priest: St Joseph’s, New Ollerton and

St Patrick’s, Forest Town 2008-2010 St Paul’s, Lenton and St Mary’s, Hyson Green 2010-2012 Retired March 2012

SILVER JUBILEES

Canon Christopher O’Connor 1995 – 30 July – 2020

Seminary: English College, Valladolid

Ordained: 30 July 1995, St Thomas More, Knighton Further Studies and Staff, Valladolid 19951997 Assistant Priest: Holy Spirit, West Bridgford 1997-1999 St Joseph’s, Leicester 1999-2001

Parish Priest: St Thomas of Canterbury, Gainsborough 2001-2010 St Norbert’s, Crowle 2003-2010 St Mary and St Augustine, Stamford 20102015 St Mary’s, Grantham 2015-2020 Appointed Canon of St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter March 2018 Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough and St Mary’s, Husband’s Bosworth 2020 – present

Vice Dean, Leicester Deanery 2021

Canon Paul Chipchase 1997 – 5 July – 2022 Seminary: Beda College, Rome Ordained: 5 July 1997, Immaculate Conception, Gamesley Assistant Priest: St Joseph’s, Leicester 20071999

Holy Spirit, West Bridgford 1999-2000 Priest-in-Charge: Holy Spirit, West Bridgford 2000-2001

Parish Priest: Our Lady of Lincoln 2001-2009 Our Lady of Lourdes, Mickleover 2009-2015 Dean, Derby Deanery 2011 Parochial Administrator: Ss Peter and Paul, Swadlincote and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Stapenhill with St Joseph, Winshill 2015 Parish Priest: St Philip Neri, Mansfield 20152017 Holy Cross, Hucknall 2017-2019 Episcopal Vicar for Finance and Administration 2017-present Sacred Heart, Loughborough 2019-present Appointed Canon to St Barnabas Cathedral Chapter 2020

By himself

Being, as I am, a ‘late vocation’ I find myself approaching my silver jubilee of ordination as a priest just a year ahead of another of life’s milestones; my seventieth birthday. This means that, as I look back over my life in the Church, I am covering a broad span of time and an unprecedented period of change for the Church and the world. The most important event to have taken place in the Church in my lifetime was the Second Vatican Council which concluded just as I entered my teens. I can well remember the sense of excitement and opportunity that was abroad then. One might have said, with Wordsworth, “Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive. But to be young was very heaven!”

In the aftermath of Vatican Two, churches were full, new churches and schools were being built, vocations were strong and the Catholic Church was fully engaged in support to the poor and the marginalised through Cafod and other aid agencies. Vatican Two had given the Church an agenda for change and some parts of that agenda, most notably the reform of the liturgy, were implemented quickly. Other aspects, principally concerning the relationship between the Church and the world proved more problematic. In a nutshell, I believe that social attitudes, influenced by secularism, consumerism and moral relativism were changing faster than the Church could respond to without changing the unchangeable central core of the Faith. In the decades that followed, much of the impetus of the Council seemed to have been lost. Mass attendances plummeted. As far as society was concerned, the Catholic Church seemed increasingly to be an irrelevance. It seemed that I and many of my generation of Catholics were heading for a disillusioned old age in which to ponder lost opportunities.

And then came Pope Francis!

When I first read his encyclical “Evangelii Gaudium,” which I take to be Pope Francis’ personal manifesto, I felt a stirring of that feeling of excitement and challenge that I had first felt after Vatican Two. He seemed to be saying all the things I had felt about what was needed in the Church, but in a way that I couldn’t have

expressed. The first thing that caught my eye was Pope Francis urging us to become “a Church that goes forth!” I believe he has correctly identified the core issue that, faced by a rapid and hostile change in popular values and opinions, the Church has tended to retreat into herself, to take solace in the minutiae of her own internal arrangements rather than fully embracing Jesus’ challenge to evangelise. Related to this, I consider that one of the most significant elements in “Evangelii Gaudium” is the insistence on the primacy of “deeds over words.” It’s clear that Pope Paul Chipchase Francis believed that the Church was in danger of becoming a debating society for intellectuals rather than a community of those who understood the things which the Father had hidden from the learned and the clever and revealed to mere children.

Finally, as a survivor of Catholic education in the ‘fifties and ‘sixties in which the prevailing themes in awakening our sense of God were guilt and eternal punishment, I was more encouraged than words can express when I read, “The Eucharist ... is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

Pope Francis has re-ignited my sense of purpose as a Catholic and as a priest.

Last October, I met up with a group of friends on the fiftieth anniversary of our starting at university. Only one had not retired, though he is planning to do so this year. At one time, I might have had feelings of envy that I was still working hard in ministry whilst my peers were enjoying a leisured retirement but instead, I feel invigorated by the quiet revolution which Pope Francis, fully supported by our bishop, Patrick, is inspiring us to carry into action. Rather than pipe and slippers, I’m looking forward with barely concealed excitement, to playing a part, however small, in the rebuilding of the Church. This is perhaps best expressed by another poet, the American, Robert Frost, “For I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.”

Father Patrick Bassey (Ogoja Diocese) 1997 – 12 July – 2022

Seminary: Pope John Paul II Junior

Seminary, Okpoma, Diocese of Ogoja Ordained: 12 July 1997 Assistant Priest: St Hugh’s, Lincoln and Our

Lady of Lincoln, Lincoln 2019 – present Father Mark Brentnall 1997 – 15 July – 2022

Seminary: English College, Rome

Ordained: 15 July 1997, St Barnabas Cathedral

Assistant Priest: St Alban’s, Chaddesden 1997 St Barnabas Cathedral 1997-2001

Nottingham Trent University Chaplain 2000-2001 Further Studies, Rome 2001 Parish Priest: English Martyr, Alvaston 2006 – present

Catholic Chaplain, East Midlands Airport 2010-2015 Dean, Derby Deanery 2017

Father Joel Nwalozie (Owerri Diocese) 1997 – 19 July – 2022 Ordained: 19 July 1997

Assistant Priest: Blessed Sacrament, Leicester 2007-2019 Parochial Administrator: Our Lady of Mercy and St Philip Neri, Melbourne and Church of the Risen Lord, Castle Donington 2019 – present

Reflecting on the priesthood by himself

Tempus fugit (time flies). It is unbelievable that I am now 25 years a Catholic priest. To God be the glory. On 19 July 1997, twelve of us, a.k.a. “the 12 Apostles,” were ordained to the Catholic priesthood by Archbishop Anthony JV Obinna at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, Nigeria. It remains memorable, a day of great rejoicing and total self-giving to Christ, the eternal priest, and his Church.

The priesthood is a call to serve God and his people; it is also a way of life and a daily journey with and unto God. That is why the favourite hymn: “Alone with none but thee my God, I journey on my way...” is spiritually inspirational. As the Vatican II Fathers exhort, “The priests of the New Testament are, it is true, by their vocation to ordination, set apart in some way in the midst of the People of God, but this is not in order that they should be separated from that people or from any man, but that they should be completely consecrated to the task for which God chooses them” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, no. 3). Besides, the life of a priest necessarily needs the support of others, especially brother priests, as we call it. Yet, it is essential to realise that a priest makes his ministry whatever he wants it to become.

During my ten years of training to become a priest, my everyday prayer was to answer God’s call and be ordained a priest. Since after ordination, my ‘personal’ vocation prayer has changed. I have incessantly asked God for the necessary graces to persevere as a priest. Without prayer (personal and liturgical), the priest becomes empty and unable to offer anything. A prayerless priest can degenerate into sadness, despair, and regret answering the holy call of God. In the last 25 years, celebrating and receiving the sacraments have never been monotonous or boring. The sacraments have always been the primary source of my spiritual renewal and strength, and so, may it continue with the help of God.

Twenty-five years on, I am immensely grateful to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for his abundant graces and blessings. In accord with the psalmist, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness” (Ps. 115: 1). Despite my unworthiness, God uses me to touch many lives positively. A priest meets and encounters different kinds of people, some may like you, but some may feel upset or offended by you. I am sorry whenever the latter is my fault; and mindful that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Cor 4:7). On this anniversary, I remember my family members, other relatives, and friends who helped and supported me to become a priest. May God continue to enrich with his blessings in abundance to the living. To the dead, may eternal rest be their reward.

If ever there is any achievement in the last quarter of a century, I owe it to being a priest. The priesthood is a priceless gift and the best treasure in life. It is a rare privilege not even given to angels - that a man of flesh and blood can celebrate the Holy Mass in Persona Christi Capitis (in the Person of Christ the Head), forgive sins in the name of Christ and his Church. In preaching the Word of God, “often very difficult in present day conditions, but if it is to become more effective in moving the minds of his hearers, [the priest] must expound the Word of God not merely in a general and abstract way, but by an application of the eternal truth of the Gospel to the concrete circumstances of life” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, no. 4).

What follows now is a borrowed idea about the priesthood - A unique fraternity:

“There happens to be in this world of strange social conventions one friendship that transcends all conventions and knows no rules. It is the brotherhood of Catholic priests.

There is not under the stars an intimacy more reckless or more profound than the bond between one Catholic levite and another. It needs no coaxing, no prelude, no formality. We meet and possess one another instantly. There is not the shadow of a barrier between us, neither age, nor antecedents, nor nationality, nor climate, nor colour of skin.

Ours is a blunt, rough-hewn affection. It almost forgets to be polite. I can sit at his table without invitation: sit in his study and read his books before I have ever met him; borrow his money or his clothes with no security.

His home is my home: his fireside, my fireside; his altar, my altar. I can give him my confidence promptly and without reserve. I can neither edify nor scandalise him. We can quarrel without offence, praise each other without flattery, or sit silently and say nothing and be mutually circumvented. How and why this can happen is our precious secret. It is the secret of men who climb a lonely drawbridge, mount a narrow stair, and sleep in a lofty citadel that floats a white flag.

Singly we go, independent and unpossessed, establishing no generation, each a conclusion of his race and name; yet always companioning one another with a strange sympathy, too tender to be called friendship, too sturdy to be called love, but which God will find a name for when He searches our hearts in eternity” (culled from The Critic, Aug-Sept 1968, Chicago USA, but arranged by Fr Innocent C. Onywuenyi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka).

May the Blessed Virgin Mary and Blessed Cyprian Tansi continue to intercede for us, Amen.

Deacon Paul Boshell 1997 – 29 November – 2022

Ordination to the Diaconate: 29 November 1997, St Barnabas Cathedral

Deacon for the parish of Our Lady of Mercy and St Philip Neri Melbourne and Church of the Risen Lord, Castle Donington 1997 – 2021 Retired 2021 Deacon Raymond Keogh 1997 – 29 November – 2022 Ordination to the Diaconate 29 November 1997, St Barnabas Cathedral Deacon for the parish of St Joseph, Oakham 1997 – present

Vocations Team Leader, Permanent Diaconate

Deacon Kevin O’Connor 1997 – 29 November – 2022

Ordination to the Diaconate 29 November 1997, St Barnabas Cathedral

Deacon for the parish of St Mary’s, South Wigston 1997 - present

Deacon John Wilford

Ordination to the Diaconate 29 November 1997, St Barnabas Cathedral Deacon for the parish of Our Lady of Lincoln, Lincoln 1997 - present