A few weeks ago Bishop Brian asked me to move from Oswestry. After a few days to consider his request I said yes and so in early September I will be taking up a new challenge in Birkenhead. I will be the new parish priest for three parishes; Our Lady’s, Cavendish Street, St. Paul’s and Holy Cross. Up to ten years ago there were five priests looking after these parishes and now I will be there on my own. Such is the shortage of available priests.
Birkenhead holds no great fears for me. I taught in the town for fourteen years and was an assistant priest in the town for two years. Our Lady’s is one of the oldest parishes in the diocese and the place for many large diocesan gatherings. Holy Cross is a parish without a church. The Bishop reluctantly closed down the church two years ago so the community now celebrates mass in the church of St. Paul’s on the Ford Estate. St. Paul’s is one of the most deprived of parishes in term of employment and prospects yet the Church flourishes there and is also the home of the Children’s Society. There are two primary schools, the option to be involved in St. Mary’s College, and hospital ministry at Arrowe Park Hospital. I think I will be kept busy.
Today’s Gospel is very relevant to this move! At ordination, the priest puts his hands into the hands of the Bishop and promises obedience. He can then be invited to go wherever the Bishop sees a need. It is promise not to be taken lightly and one that can mean the life of a wanderer; putting down roots in one parish only to be asked to move on to another community.
I have loved my time here at St. Oswald’s. You have taught me to calm down and enjoy the slow pace that comes from a largely rural parish. I have thrived on the challenges of the school and will take many happy memories of the school community. I have had the joy of Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals as well as celebrating the Seasons for the past three and a half years (This is the longest time I have ever spent in a parish.)
There are still six weeks before I depart so I hope to spend them packing, preparing for my new adventure and saying goodbye to the parish (and I hate goodbyes!)
I will be succeeded by Fr Marianus Kullu, a priest of the Diocese of Didrugarth, India, who has been working in the Holy Spirit parish in Marple. He is gentle man with great pastoral care.
In this difficult time for all concerned I invite you pray for the Bishop. He took this decision in light of his need to care for all the diocese. Pray also for Fr. Marianus and the community he is leaving behind in Marple. Pray also for me as I start sowing the seeds of faith in another parish. Pray for the folk in Birkenhead who will have to get used to my odds way. But most importantly pray for the parish of St. Oswald that it may be a community open to change and ready to welcome a new chapter in the life of the parish.
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