Chief Operating Officer Expand Eric Kirwan is the Chief Operating Officer for the Archdiocese, with effect from Monday 8 March 2021. Currently the Chair of Directors at Holy Family Catholic Multi-Academy Company (MAC) in Warwickshire. Prior to taking up this role he was a successful Chief Executive Officer with experience in both the private and charity sectors. He is a parishioner and church warden at St Francis Catholic Church in Kenilworth and has been active in the parish community for many years. Eric joins the Archdiocese following David Brooks’ retirement from the post. David had held the role since 2018. Prior to his role at the Holy Family MAC, Eric was CEO at Modulex A/S in Denmark for several years. Eric also holds the role of Non Executive Director at Snap Vision, UK. A role held since 2012 at an award-winning visual search and AI company. [email protected]
What Should I Do if I think a Child or Adult in Vulnerable circumstances is at risk or being abused? Expand If a Child or Adult in vulnerable circumstances is in immediate danger you must contact the Police. If you have other concerns and there is no immediate danger, please contact the Safeguarding Team on 0121 230 6240.
Communication and Media Expand Caroline Bletso and Faye Fawcett are the Press and Media Relations Officers for the Archdiocese, managed by Gerry Dryden, director of HR and Communications. The team supports parishes and schools in all communication matters and responds to media enquiries. Caroline and Faye are also responsible for managing the Archdiocese website, social media accounts and producing an e-newsletter. The Sower, the diocesan magazine, is available here Between them Caroline and Faye have extensive experience of working in the communications sector. Contact the Communications Team: Caroline Bletso - 074 6467 4630 - [email protected] Faye Fawcett - 078 2378 9457 - [email protected] Gerry Dryden - 074 9643 9043 - [email protected] Also contactable via [email protected]
Archbishop Bernard About the Archbishop: Information and Engagements Expand Engagements About the Archbishop Archbishop Bernard Longley was born in Manchester on 5 April, 1955 and was ordained Bishop and appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, on 24th January 2003. Archbishop Longley was Head of the Diocesan Pastoral Board and had pastoral responsibilities for the Deaneries of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster. Archbishop Bernard Longley studied at Xaverian College and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and New College, Oxford. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton on 12th December 1981 at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and was Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s, Epsom, and Chaplain to Psychiatric Hospitals. From 1987 to 1996 he was on the staff at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, teaching dogmatic theology. In 1991, he was appointed Surrey Chairman of the Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Commission for Christian Unity and in 1996 became National Ecumenical Officer at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. In 1999 he was appointed Moderator of the Steering Committee of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and also Assistant General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference with responsibilities for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs. Archbishop Longley authored the Catholic Commentary on the Agreed Joint Statement by the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission – “Growing towards Unity and Mission” (2007). The Archbishop was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in October 2009 and was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham on Tuesday 8th December 2009. In 2010 Archbishop Longley was appointed by Pope Benedict as a member of the newly erected Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. In 2011 Pope Benedict appointed the Archbishop as the co-Chairman of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), with oversight of the third phase of Anglican-Catholic dialogue. Contact Email [email protected] Jennifer DaviesArchbishop's Secretariat Archbishop's House 8 Shadwell StreetBirmingham B4 6EY Email [email protected] Tel 0121 236 9090 Fax 0121 212 0171 Fr Dominic CosslettArchbishop's Secretariat Archbishop's House8 Shadwell StreetBirmingham B4 6EY Email [email protected] Tel 0121 236 9090 Fax 0121 212 0171
Archbishop Bernard - Homilies Expand 2022 Pastoral Letter - 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 26-27 February 2022 Ash Wednesday - 2 March Rite of Election - 6 March Mass of Thanksgiving for the Directors and Governors of our Catholic Schools - 5 April Palm Sunday - 10 April Chrism Mass - 13 April Easter Vigil - 16 April 2021 Christmas Second Sunday - 3 January Baptism of the Lord - 10 January Ash Wednesday - 17 February First Sunday of Lent - 21 February Feast of St Chad - 2 March Third Sunday of Lent - 7 March Fifth Sunday of Lent - 21 March Chrism Mass - 31 March Trinity Sunday - 30 May Permanent Diaconate Ordination - 4 July Permanent Diaconate Ordination - 4 September Guild of St Stephen Mass - 25 September Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish - 10 October Midnight Mass - 24 December 2020 Rite of Election - March 2020 St George's Day - Thursday 23 April Pastoral Letter - Fourth Sunday of Easter - 2 May 2020 Pentecost Sunday - Sunday 31 May 2020 Health Carers Mass - 18 June 2020 Episcopal Ordinations - 9 October 2020 Ordination of Permanent Deacons - Sunday 1 November 2020 Mass for the Faithful Departed Monday 2 November 2020 Chrism Mass - 21 November 2020 Civic Mass - 22 November 2020 Christmas Eve Mass, 10pm, St Chad's Cathedral 2019 Guild of St Stephen Mass - February 2019 Ash Wednesday - 6 March 2019 Pastoral Letter - 6/7 April 2019 Pastoral_letter_April_2019.mp3 Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file Chrism Mass - April 2019 Easter Vigil - April 2019 Easter Sunday - April 2019 Easter Monday Mass - April 2019 Diaconate Ordination at Oscott - June 2019 Civic Mass - November 2019 First Sunday of Advent - The God Who Speaks launch Christmas 2019 - Midnight Mass at St Chad's Cathedral Pastoral Letter - Feast of the Holy Family, 28-29 December 2019 2018 PALM SUNDAY 2018 CHRISM MASS 2018 GOOD FRIDAY 2018 EASTER VIGIL 2018 Pastoral Letter - Feast of Corpus Christi 2-3 June 2018 Wolverhampton SS Mary John 11th Sunday Per Annum. 16 June 2018 Ordination to the Priesthood Jason Mahoney and Robert Carey 7 July 2018 Stella Maris Mass 15 September Diocesan Celebration Day Homily 14 Oct 2018 Civic Mass 25 November 2018 Walsingham Festival Coventry - 8 December 2018 Christmas 2018 - Midnight Mass at St Chad's Cathedral Pastoral Letter - 29 and 30 December 2018 Trinity Sunday - Sunday 7 June 2020 Corpus Christi - Sunday 14 June 2020 Episcopal Ordinations +DE +SW 09 October 2020
Fundraising Expand We support parishes and diocesan projects to access funding through grants, trusts and other income generation. Jane Bamber is the Community Development and Fundraising Manager Kevin Baugh is the Funding Officer How can we help your parish? It is our role to support parishes across the whole of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. We are paid for through the Parish Levy, so come at no extra cost to you. We can support you in a number of ways including: Coming out to meet with you and discuss your ideas. Talking over the phone. Identifying funding opportunities for community projects, and other parish activities. Helping to develop funding plans and strategies. Helping you to develop capital projects in conjunction with specialist advice and support from our property team. Helping with funding applications. Speaking to funders on your behalf. Signposting you to expert advice and supporting with partnership working. Providing training at your parish. Supporting you with legacy stewardship. Supporting to develop regular giving campaigns; and community fundraising. Providing you with a range of resources to help you fundraise for your parish. Make grant applications to fund the VAT element of any works carried out on listed churches. Enquiries Contactless Giving Enquiries We have co-ordinated a pilot exercise for Contactless Giving throughout a number of parishes within the Diocese. It has now been decided to review the various learning points from this exercise before adding additional parishes to the scheme. Once we have a better understanding of the benefits (and challenges) which Contactless Giving has delivered, we will then put in place a plan for a much wider “roll-out” across the Archdiocese. In doing this we may look to co-ordinate the operation at Deanery rather than individual parish level, using just one business supplier for the equipment. If you have any contactless giving enquiries, feel free to send your details to [email protected] but please bear with us for the time being. As soon as we are in a position to take this forward, we will get in touch. Project & Grant funding Enquiries If your enquiry relates to building project or site development funding, please contact the Property Team: [email protected] For general fundraising enquiries, please contact Kevin Baugh- [email protected]
HR and Staffing Expand The HR department is led by Gerry Dryden, Human Resources & Communications Director: Email: [email protected]Tel.: 0121 230 6224
Bishop William Kenney Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Expand Engagements: Right Reverend William Kenney CP, Titular Bishop of Midica Bishop Kenney studied sociology and psychology at the universities of Växjö and Gothenburg and obtained a Fil kand (the same as a BA). He worked as a parish priest and academic sociologist within the Catholic Church in Sweden, before pursuing doctoral studies at the London School of Economics from 1977 to 1979. He then lectured in the Sociology of Religion and was Director of Studies at the Department of Religious Studies in the University of Gothenburg between 1979 and 1982 and from 1984 to 1987. He was a General Councillor of the Passionist Congregation, resident in Rome, from 1982 to 1984. Bishop Kenney was ordained bishop on 24 August 1987 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the diocese of Stockholm. One of his major concerns has been to build up the Caritas organisation of the diocese. Caritas is responsible for the pastoral-social work of the Church on both a national and international basis. In 1991 he was elected President of Caritas Europe for a four-year term. The major part of this work concerned the problems of refugees and immigrants within Europe and the building up of the Caritas organisations in the eastern part of our continent. He was re-elected for a further four-year term in 1995. He served for three terms on the Legal Affairs Commission of Caritas Internationalis that has its headquarters in the Vatican. In 1988 Bishop Kenney was awarded an honorary doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Gothenburg for his work in encouraging immigrant students to attend University. Besides his duties as Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, he lectures extensively, both in Sweden and abroad on social issues and on ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue. He is also internationally known as a retreat-leader, particularly for religious.He has taken part in three Episcopal synods: in 1991 on Europe; 1994 on Religious Life; in 1999 the Second European Synod. Through a Papal appointment in 2013, he is also co-chair of the international conversations between the Lutheran and Catholic Churches. He is a member to the International Department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales (CBCEW) and represents the Conference in COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community), and also has responsibility for the Conference’s work in Iraq, Sudan and South Sudan.Bishop Kenney was elected Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Birmingham by the Cathedral Chapter. His term of office ended on the installation of Archbishop Bernard Longley, in December 2009. He is a member of the Las Casas Advisory Board which promotes critical reflection on questions of human dignity in the light of Catholic social teaching and theology; a trustee of the Newman Trust, Oxford since 2012; a member of the diocesan Justice & Peace Commission and most recently, the Chair of the Pastoral Planning Group, which coordinates planning for the future of the Southern region of the diocese. Pastoral Areas (Southern Deaneries): Banbury, Coventry, Oxford (North & South), Rugby, Warwick. Key responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area -Represent the Archbishop locally -Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes -Carry out formal visitations to parishes -Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence: St Hugh’s House27 Hensington RoadWoodstockOxfordshireTel & Fax: 01993 812234Email: [email protected] PA to Bishop Kenney:Ms Lucia HattamTel: 01993 812234Email: [email protected]
Bishop Stephen Wright Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Expand The Reverend Canon Stephen James Lawrence Wright was born in Stafford, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. After obtaining a degree in law from the University of Leicester and the legal practice qualification, he completed his studies for preparation for the priesthood, first at Saint Mary’s College, Oscott, Birmingham, and then at the Venerable English College in Rome, where he was awarded a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. On 9 September 2000, he was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Birmingham. He subsequently held the following offices: parish vicar at Corpus Christi, Stechford, Birmingham (2000-2003); parish priest at Saint Joseph’s Banbury (2003-2007); parish priest at Saint Mary and Modwen, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (2007-2019); episcopal vicar for Religious (2012-2019). Bishop Stephen served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Birmingham from 2019 until his appointment in March 2020. Pastoral Areas (Northern Deaneries): Dudley, Lichfield, North Staffordshire, Stafford, Walsall, Wolverhampton. Key responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area-Represent the Archbishop locally-Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes-Carry out formal visitations to parishes-Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence The Presbytery Warren PlaceBrownhillsWest MidlandsWS8 6BY 01543 372759 [email protected]
Bishop David Evans Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham Expand The Reverend Canon David Ernest Charles Evans was born in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. He carried out his studies in preparation for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome and was awarded a licentiate in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. On 29 July 1978, he was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Birmingham. He subsequently held the following offices: parish vicar at Saint Mary’s, Walsall (1979-1981) and at Saint Aloysius, Oxford (1981-1983); formator and vice-rector at Saint Mary’s College, Oscott, Birmingham (1983-2001); parish priest at Saint Austin’s, Stafford (2001-2006); episcopal vicar for Coventry, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire (2006-2007); parish priest of Saint Theresa’s, Chalbury, Oxon (2007-2012). Since 2014 he has served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Rednal, and since 2019, Episcopal Vicar for Birmingham and Worcester. He is a member of the Birmingham Metropolitan Chapter, a Judge of the Birmingham Metropolitan Chapter, and a member of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Dialogue and Unity. He has served on the English Anglican- Roman Catholic Committee and the Bishops’ Conference Committee for Faith and Culture. Pastoral Areas: Birmingham and Worcestershire Key Responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area-Represent the Archbishop locally-Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes-Carry out formal visitations to parishes-Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence: Parish Presbytery Old Oscott RoadMaryvaleBirminghamB44 9SP 0121 243 1877 [email protected]
St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, Wolverhampton - Mathematics Teacher Expand Closing Date: March 20, 2018 Teacher of Mathematics Advert -St Edmunds Teacher of MathematicsJD Teacher of MathematicsTHE MATHEMATICS FACULTY DESCRIPTION 2018 (3 documents)
Legal Expand Clare O’Brien is the Diocesan Solicitor and helps parishes with legal queries, particularly about property or data protection issues. She also assists any parish which receives a legacy with the necessary legal formalities. Clare is the first port of call for any other legal queries from parishes. She provides legal support to the trustees and to the curial office and assists the Diocesan Education Service with any legal issues they have. Tel: 0121 230 6231 [email protected] Debbie Jones is the Data Compliance Manager. Tel: 0121 230 6271 [email protected]
Canon Paul Fitzpatrick Episcopal Vicar Expand Canon Paul Fitzpatrick Episcopal Vicar for the Pastoral Area of Coventry, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire Canon Paul Fitzpatrick is Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Henley on Thames. He is also the Dean of the South Oxfordshire Deanery. He is the Chair of the Care of the Clergy Committee. The Chair of the Council of Priests. The Administrator of the Johnson Association, which cares for the Sick and Retired Priests of the Archdiocese. He teaches NT John at St. Mary's College, Oscott, our Diocesan Seminary. Pastoral Areas (Southern Deaneries): Banbury, Coventry, Oxford (North & South), Rugby, Warwick. Key responsibilities: -Affirm & strengthen Catholic life in the Pastoral Area-Represent the Archbishop locally-Facilitate initiatives to strengthen and encourage the life of deaneries and parishes-Carry out formal visitations to parishes-Celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation Residence 31 Vicarage RoadHenley-on-ThamesOxfordshireRG9 1HT Tel: 01491 573258Email: [email protected]
Order Forms (Intranet) Expand 2017-GENERAL-ORDER-FORM.pdf 2017-GOLD-MEDAL-APPROVAL-AND-ORDER-FORM.pdf 2017-SILVER-MEDAL-APPROVAL-AND-ORDER-FORM.pdf 2017-SILVER-MEDAL-OF-MERIT-APPLICATION-AND-ORDER-FORM.pdf
What is the Safeguarding Trustee Sub-Committee? Expand Our work is overseen by a Safeguarding Trustee Sub-Committee which includes representatives from various organisations both Statutory and Voluntary, as well as those with roles in the Church. The Chair is Professor Deirdre Kelly. Members Professor Deirdre Kelly - Chair / Lead Safeguarding Trustee Elisabeth Fisher - Vice Chair Bishop Stephen Wright Canon Richard Walker - Vicar General Angela Randle - Parish Safeguarding Representative Sr Teresa Billington - Religious Graham Tilby – Birmingham Children’s Trust Janet Tibbits - Kenelm Youth Trust (KYT)
What training is available? Expand All Parish Safeguarding Representatives have initial training in their role. We also offer advice workshops/ training for groups and parishes if they are requested - if your parish or group would like training please let us know and we will try to meet your needs. In addition to this there is online training available, in the form of EduCare. If you have a role working with children, young people or adults who may be vulnerable, or if you are a parent who wants to understand on-line safety read the e-learning safeguarding brochure. This explains what training is available via e-learning and how to access any training that interests you. This e-learning package is part of the Church’s commitment to safeguarding, recognising we all have a role to play in creating a safe environment. Download now If you are interested please contact the Safeguarding Team on [email protected]
What is the Safer Recruitment process? Expand The Safeguarding Team are responsible for the safe recruitment of volunteers in the Archdiocese. This system is largely managed by Parish Safeguarding Representatives who will provide the necessary forms for those who take responsibility for or who have significant regular contact with children or vulnerable adults. The forms are available on the Diocesan Intranet Any enquiries about the recruitment process of the Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure system should be addressed to the office on 0121 230 6240.
What are the policies and procedures for safeguarding in the Archdiocese of Birmingham? Expand The Archdiocese of Birmingham follows the ‘one church’ approach to safeguarding as set out nationally. The CSSA procedures manual details the national procedures. The Safeguarding Team is responsible for the implementation and management of these Safeguarding policies and procedures throughout the Archdiocese. For queries in relation to this please contact the team directly on 0121 230 6240.
Marriage Tribunal Expand Birmingham Metropolitan Tribunal Judicial Vicar: The Reverend Joseph P McLoughlin BA STL JCL Assistant: Rev Fr George Grynowski, LLB, Dip LG Address Birmingham Metropolitan Tribunal Cathedral HouseSt Chad’s QueenswayBirminghamB4 6EX Contact Frances Paisley: [email protected] Mary Boylan: [email protected] Trish Kennedy: [email protected] Tina Ault: [email protected]
Planning Dept Expand Reverend Paul O’Connor, BA (Hons), BPL, MRTPIHead of Planning, Archdiocese of Birmingham 0121 230 627007944 803701 [email protected] As a qualified town planner, Deacon Paul can provide advice on how to progress planning matters and can assist parishes when there is proposed development near to them. Where parishes are considering repairs or alterations to listed churches they can gain support and resources from the Historic Churches Committee. Alternatively for repairs or alterations to non-listed churches advice is available from the Art and Architecture Committee. Deacon Paul can provide advice on approvals required and procedure to follow. Deacon Paul can provide advice on burial ground issues, including columbariums.
Bishop Philip Pargeter Retired Expand Philip Pargeter was born in Wolverhampton on 13 June 1933. He was educated at St Hilda’s Primary School, Northenden, Manchester and at St Bede’s College, Manchester. He studied for the priesthood at Grove Park (1951 to 1952) and at St Mary’s Seminary, Oscott (1952 to 1959). He was ordained priest on 21 February 1959. Bishop Pargeter served at Cotton College from 1959 to 1985 as a member of staff, Housemaster (1975 to 1984), Rector (1982 to 1985) and as parish priest for the local community (1984 to 1985). In June 1985 he was appointed Administrator of St Chad’s Cathedral. He was made a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in 1986. A keen ecumenist, Bishop Pargeter became Chairman of the Birmingham Council of Churches in 1988. In this capacity he has worked to forge stronger ecumenical links in the Birmingham area. He was ordained as titular Bishop of Valentiniana and auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham by Archbishop Couve de Murville 21 February 1990. On 31 July 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Pargeter’s resignation as Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham in accordance with canons 411 and 401§1.
Bishop David McGough Retired Expand David Christopher McGough was born on 20 November 1944 in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. He attended the Sacred Heart School, Tunstall; St Joseph’s Preparatory School, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, and Cotton College, North Staffordshire. He studied for the priesthood at St Mary’s College, Oscott - the Diocesan Seminary - from 1963. He also studied at the Venerable English College in Rome and obtained a degree in Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on 14 March 1970 by Bishop Joseph Cleary in his home Parish, the Sacred Heart, Tunstall. After a year teaching at the Diocesan Seminary he returned to Rome for Post Graduate Studies and gained a degree in Sacred Scripture in 1974. Bishop McGough spent 15 years teaching Scripture to students for the Catholic Priesthood at Oscott College from 1974 until 1989. In 1986 he was appointed as Parish Priest at Christ the King, Kingstanding, Birmingham. He has been Parish Priest at Our Lady and All Saints, Stourbridge, since 1990. His other responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Birmingham have been as Dean of the Dudley Deanery and Canon of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham. He was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Walsall, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Worcestershire in 2004. His hobbies are photography and heritage railways. He follows Stoke City Football Club from a distance. He was ordained Bishop by Archbishop Nichols in St Chad’s Cathedral on 8 December 2005. Residence: The Rocks106 Draycott RoadTeanStaffordshireTel & Fax: 01538 722433Email: [email protected]
Property Expand The main role of the property team is to provide advice and guidance for management of parish property. The property team also manages all property held centrally by the Archdiocese. The team can advise you on the upkeep, maintenance and development of parish properties, health and safety compliance to ensure the effective running of buildings for parishes and communities. The department supports with planning, inspections and surveys, lettings, maintenance and refurbishment. Where parishes are considering repairs or alterations to listed churches they can gain support and resources from the Historic Churches Committee. Alternatively for repairs or alterations to non-listed churches advice is available from the Art and Architecture Committee. Contacts Geoff Taylor Head of Property 0121 230 6282 For general advice and issues with the property team. Lewis Massey Property Administrator 0121 230 6221 For general enquiries. (For existing cases please contact the appropriate member of the property team directly) Heidi Davies Senior Surveyor 0121 230 6248 Joan Diamond Senior Surveyor 0121 230 6232 For lettings, sales and acquisitions, title issues, work related leases - rent reviews, renewals etc., boundary disputes, maintenance obligations, rating Council Tax. Tarnia McAlester Surveyor 07717 711 382 For maintenance plans, building maintenance, repairs, advice on Quinquennial Inspections and subsequent Project Management, Accessibility Audits, asbestos and legionella issues. Tom Stockwell Listed Building Support Officer 0121 230 6289 As Tarnia above, for listed churches and associated parish buildings.
Travellers Ministry Expand Barbara Labrosse has been appointed as Traveller Liaison Officer to work alongside Rev Fr Eamon Corduff Barbara can be contacted on:Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07741 900305 Spiritual Support for Travellers and Romanies Introduction