From the 1 September, the Archdiocese of Liverpool confirmed clergy moves around the archdiocese.

Isle of Man

Firstly, Canon Philip Gillespie, who has spent the last few years out in Rome as rector of the Beda College, has taken an appointment back in his home archdiocese. He has taken up the position of cathedral dean at the Co-cathedral of St Mary of the Isle in Douglas. He is parish priest of St Mary of the Isle and St Joseph, Douglas, and St Anthony of Padua in Onchan. Canon Philip is also the dean of the Isle of Man.

Canon Philip has replaced Monsignor John Devine, who has retired to Liverpool.

Elsewhere on the island, Fr. Dennis Ortese-Yiye CSSp, who was assistant to Mgr. Devine in his two parishes, has come to Liverpool, where he has become chaplain at Aintree Hospital.

Liverpool Central and Sefton Coast South

Fr Derek Lloyd has moved from the Metropolitan Cathedral to become parish priest of both St William of York, Thornton, and St Mary’s, Little Crosby. He takes over from Fr Gerard Callacher, who had taken on the responsibility of the parishes following the death of Fr Dunstan Harrington in late 2024.

Fr Derek’s position at the Metropolitan Cathedral has been filled by Fr Hugh Donleavy, who had been assistant priest in the parish of St William in Wigan since his ordination in late 2023. Fr Hugh will also assist in the chaplaincy of Broadgreen and Royal University Hospitals.

Wigan and Leigh and St Helens

Meanwhile, Fr John Causey, who had been parish priest of the parishes of both St Jude and St Aidan in Wigan, will now assist Fr Paul Grady at St William’s, Wigan, taking the place of Fr Hugh. The care of the parishes of St Jude and St Aidan will now fall to Fr Michael Harwood, who was previously parish priest of both St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury, and St Julie’s, St Helens.

A belated welcome to Fr Henry Nevin SDS, who has had a couple of temporary assignments in the archdiocese since the start of the year. He has now assumed pastoral responsibility for the parishes vacated by Fr Michael Harwood in St Helens: St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury, and St Julie’s.

Fr Carlo Mazzotta FDP is recently appointed as a hospital chaplain in Wigan.

Liverpool South

Fr Peter McGrail, previously professor at Liverpool Hope University, has been appointed as parish priest of both St John Vianney in Halewood and St Mary in Woolton, with Fr Peter Murphy, formerly assistant priest at St Gregory in Chorley and St Oswald in Coppull, appointed assistant priest.

Fr Matthew Nunes, who had been parish priest of St John Vianney, has now taken a non-parish role based in Coppull.

Fr Tim Buckley CSsR, has relinquished responsibility for St Mary’s, Woolton. He remains parish priest of Our Lady of the Annunciation(Bishop Eton).

Knowsley

Fr William Egedegbe MSP is now parish priest of the newly formed parish of Sacred Heart in Kirkby. This follows the merger of the parishes of St Mary Mother of God and Ss Peter and Paul.

Elsewhere

Finally, Fathers Andrew Robinson and James Preston have both left St Mary’s College, Oscott. Fr Andrew is now a chaplain at New Hall School, Chelmsford, and Fr James is the spiritual director at the English College, Valladolid.

We wish all of our priests well in their new appointments.