Fr Stephen

Farewell Message

extract from Newsletter August 2001
I would like to express my thanks for the many gifts, cards and expressions of prayer and goodwill that I have received over the past weeks. It has been a joy to be part of St Joseph's parish over the past two years. You have made me most welcome and I shall always be grateful for that. Please forgive me if I am not able to respond to cards etc individually. I hope to see you at the end of the year and, if you are in Rome, please do make contact. My address is Venerabile Collegio Inglese, Via Monserrato 45, 00186 Roma.

With all good wishes

Fr Stephen

An Introduction

by himself, extract from the Winning Post, December 1999

It seems rather strange writing an article to introduce myself after three months in the parish, but here goes.

I moved to Epsom from the parish of St Paul's in Haywards Heath, where I had been for two years, and where on 6 June this year I was ordained priest by Bishop Cormac. That was, as you can imagine, a wonderful day for me and for the parish. It was very much a parish celebration. The following day I celebrated my First Mass with the children and staff of St Joseph's School in Haywards Heath, together with the parish congregation. It was truly a joyful and lively affair.

I was based in Haywards Heath whilst studying at St John's Seminary at Wonersh, and served as a deacon for a year in the parish. It was a most informative and enlightening time. Living in a presbytery certainly has its moments!

I was born, and went to school, in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, and like most Yorkshire folk am very proud of my own county. Though someone did ask me recently why, if Yorkshire men and women are so proud of their home county, did so many of them live in the south?

After studying Economics and Politics at the University of Kent I became a police officer in the West Yorkshire Force. After six or seven years though, I realised that God was calling me to do something else. In part due to comments made by others I went forward to test my vocation, and that is that as they say.

I studied theology through Southampton University and later took a Masters degree in Liturgy at Heythrop College in London prior to ordination. I then discovered that Bishop Cormac had asked Fr Bill if he would have me as the assistant priest in Epsom. I was delighted, because I had previously lived close by, in Banstead, for a few years and knew the area a little.

Moving into any parish is a challenging time, but to move into a parish at such an exciting time with regards to the new church project is doubly so but I have encountered only the warmest of welcomes, from the school, the congregations and from within the parish as a whole.

I have no idea how long I shall be in Epsom, but with your help and prayers I hope that it will be a rewarding, and enriching time for myself and for all with whom and to whom I minister.

May God Bless you

Fr Stephen