Post date: May 26, 2017 1:38:03 PM
Thank-you to everyone who has made me feel welcome so far in your beautiful city, which I am just beginning to discover. I am very pleased to be here. I found out just after Easter that I would be moving, although the Bishop didn’t tell me where at that stage. When I found out where I was coming I was pleasantly surprised.
Let me give you a little bit of my personal history. I was born in Warsop near to Mansfield in 1971. After I left university I trained and worked as a solicitor, but felt called to the priesthood. At the age of 26 I went to study at Oscott College for the priesthood. After ordination I served at the following parishes, West Bridgeford (2 years), St Philip’s Mansfield (3 years), Burton-on-Trent (7 years), and finally before here Our Lady & St Edward’s Nottingham (3 years).
Please pray for me as I begin to serve you as your new parish priest. I know that you will be missing Fr John as he is such a good priest. We were ordained together at St Philip Neri Mansfield 14 years ago, so I have known him a long time, and we are good friends. I cannot exactly replace him, but I look forward to serving as your parish priest for many years to come.