| A fair sized congregation
gathered on the evening of Friday 21st October to see Fr. Tim Swinglehurst
being installed as Parish Priest of St. Austin's. The crowd included
parishioners of St. Austin's but also parishioners from his former parishes
of Hemsworth, Kinsley and Ackworth.
Celebrants included St. Austin's curates
Fr. Michael McLaughlin and Fr. Duane Reilly, together with Mgr. Steel and
Paul Varey who succeeds Fr. Tim in Hemsworth. Officiating was Mgr
Kieran Heskin who spoke of the "illustrious parish" to which Fr. Tim had
been assigned, and the many notable parish priests who had preceeded him
including Mgr. Thompson.
He warned parishioners to allow Fr.
Tim time to adapt to his new role and to cope with the "mourning period"
which every priest undergoes when leaving a parish into which they have
settled; and having to leave many good friends behind. He also warned
parishioners of St. Austin's not too get too upset about minor issues such
as any changes that Fr. Tim might make, noting that every Parish Priest
likes to make his stamp on a parish.
The ceremony was followed by a reception
in the parish hall. The ladies of the parish, ably led by Pam Battye,
had provided a delicious buffet spread, and wine flowed so freely from
the bottles provided on each table that trips to the bar were few and far
between.
D. Gilroy |
