Clergy changes in Southampton
The month of June is usually one when clergy are invited for mysterious meetings at Bishop’s House and once comfortably ensconced in a chair are invited by the Bishop to move to another congenial (or uncongenial) parish. You will be sorry/glad/indifferent [delete as appropriate] to hear that Fr. David is not part of that process this year.
The only change in our Pastoral Area is that Fr. Louis McDermott OMI is leaving Millbrook/Lordswood and returning to his Order, to their Inchicore parish in Dublin. He leaves us in early September taking, alas, his own inimitable style with him. His successor will be Fr. Des Connolly who is one of the Montfort Fathers based at Ashurst, though he himself has latterly been Parish Priest of Ringwood/Fordingbridge. He is the inspiration behind the ‘Poitiers Project’ which we support with food donations, etc., and will be known to many as not so long ago he was Chaplain at St. George’s College.
On the East side of the city, Fr. Bill Wilson is moving from Woolston/Netley to Westbourne (Bournemouth) and Fr. Claro Conde is coming instead from Sandown/Shanklin/Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Fr. Anthony Gatt of Portswood will be their new Coordinating Pastor.
And that’s it. You’ll just have to petition the Bishop again next year …