St John’s, Easingwold
Fr James Callaghan has been appointed as parish priest of St John’s, Easingwold. Born and educated in Leeds, Fr James joined the Ampleforth Community in 1984, where he has since served the College as a teacher, Housemaster and more recently as a Chaplain. Following his retirement from work in the College he is looking forward to a new, parish ministry. Fr James will serve the Parish full time but will live at the Abbey for the most part, residing at St John’s occasionally, as needed, for his pastoral duties. We wish Fr James well in his work in Easingwold and for more information on the parish, please click here.
Fr James replaces Fr Leo Chamberlain who retired in September, shortly after celebrating his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood. Despite the increasing impact of osteoarthritis, Fr Leo would dearly have liked to remain at St John’s for much longer as Parish Priest, but due to increasing health problems this has not been possible for him. All in the Ampleforth community and in the Easingwold parish wish to thank him for all the work he, with the Parish Forum, has put into pastoral care and the buildings at St John’s, which will serve the next generation of parishioners in Easingwold.
Our Lady and St Gerard’s, Lostock Hall
Fr Xavier has faithfully served St Gerard’s for 15 years and, following some discussions in recent days, it has been decided that the time has come for him to return to the monastic community at Ampleforth. Shortly after his return he will have a period of sabbatical which will help him in his future ministry. We wish to thank Fr Xavier very much for the time that he has served the parish.
In 2011 that Ampleforth announced that when the time came for Fr Xavier to leave the parish, then the parish would no longer be able to be served by the Benedictine Community of Ampleforth. So it will become a parish of the Diocese of Salford, with effect from 1 January 2019. The parish will be served by Fr Mark Harold, who will be the Parish Priest of both St Mary’s, Bamber Bridge and St Gerard’s, Lostock Hall. Fr Mark will be assisted at St Gerard’s by Fr Joseph Gee who will be the Priest Administrator who will be resident at St Gerard’s.
We are immensely grateful to all who have supported the Benedictine Mission in this parish over many years. We give thanks for the ministry of priests and people who have served the parish and we look forward to continuing the journey of faith in Lostock Hall under the patronage of St Gerard.
To mark the changes at St Gerard’s there will be a Mass of thanksgiving and handover on Sunday 9 December at 10am to which all are invited. The change of Parish Priest will take place on that day. We look forward to seeing you then to mark this very special occasion at St Gerard’s. For more information on the parish, please click here.
