Over the weekend of 12th & 13th August Fr Nicholas celebrated his final Sunday masses with us as our Parish Priest before he took up his new position in Otley. Whilst we as a Parish are very sad to loose Fr Nicholas as our Parish Priest after many years of faithful service in both Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton, we welcome our new Parish Priest, although he prefers the term Pastor, Fr Simon Lodge.
Fr Simon is from the local area, having been raised in Batley and attended St John Fisher Catholic High School. Fr Simon spent some of his formative years in his journey to Priesthood at our neighboring Parish of St Joseph’s, Batley Carr, where he celebrated his First Mass after his ordination at Leeds Cathedral back in 2000.
Fr Simon has held other positions within the deanery and further afield, having recently spent time in Sacramento, California.
I am sure we will make Fr Simon feel welcome in the Parish, and keep both him, and Fr Nicholas in our Prayers as they settle into their new ministries.
Nicola (webadmin)