bishopjohn1 BISHOP JOHN VISITS WESTGATE

Message from Bishop John Hine to the parishioners of St Peter's, Westgate

❝be resigning from his post as Parish Administrator of St Peter’s at the beginning of September this year. I take this opportunity to thank him for his many years of very faithful ministry here in your midst. As you know his wife, Sheila’s health is not good and consequently there is inevitably a caring responsibility for him to carry.

However he does not want to be left without a ministry of any sort, and I am grateful to him that he is to undertake the role of Chaplain to our diocesan residential youth centre at Whitstable on a part-time basis. This is very important pastoral work involving support of all the young people who visit for courses.

He and Sheila will be living in their house at Westgate, but will not longer have any pastoral responsibility for this parish. As you are aware discussions have taken place in the Deanery over a considerable time now about the future of parishes in Thanet and are still on-going. You will be aware from these discussions, and from the announcement made at the time of Canon Clements resignation from the parish of Birchington, that the plan would be for Westgate and Birchington to come under the care of a single priest. Consequently this plan will be put into effect at the beginning of September and Fr Don Coleman will serve both parishes. He will continue to live at Birchington, and, in conversation with you and the Dean of Thanet and myself will look at the best way of proceeding for the greatest benefit of the long term future for both church communities. For the immediate future, Sunday Mass and some weekday Mass provision will continue here in this Church although inevitably there will need to be an adjustment of Sunday Mass times.

I understand that some rumours of larger changes have been circulating about the future of Westgate, and I want to assure you that nothing other than that which I have written above has been planned, or decided upon, and that you will be fully involved in any further considerations that may come up as the two communities foster their relationship under the one priest. I am confident that you will support your priest in your new situation, just as you have supported Fr John, who will be greatly ❞"

✠

Bishop John Hine
Fr

Father Don Coleman
This weekend, the Fifteenth Sunday
item1
SACRAMENTS RedButton11 RedButton9a CONTACTS & LINKS RedButton8a FOR YOUR PRAYERS RedButton7a HOW TO FIND US RedButton6a GALLERY RedButton5a HISTORY RedButton4a READINGS RedButton3a NOTICES RedButton2a MASS TIMES RedButton1a HOME