Rev Father John Rafferty 
Father John Rafferty was appointed to St Vincent's in 2005 after having spent four years as parish priest at St Patrick's, Telford and prior to that as Spiritual Director at the Venerable English College in Rome. He originally comes from Northwich in Cheshire and was ordained in 1969. Since then he has served at parishes in Birkenhead, Knutsford, Bebington, Ellesmere Port, Stockport and Hazel Grove.
In addition to being Parish Priest he is also Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy and a member of the Bishop's College of Consultors.
Rev Father
Jonathan Mitchell
A country lad at heart, born and raised on the Cheshire-Shropshire border, on a country estate called Combermere (half way between Nantwich and Whitchurch). Educated at Audlem, Nantwich, and South Cheshire College in Crewe. Fr Jonathan trained and worked as a Hotel Manager in small luxury country house hotels.
Having experienced a call to priesthood, Fr Jonathan was received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church at Midnight Mass Christmas Eve, 1991 in Hereford. After being accepted for training by Bishop Gray, he started training for the priesthood at St Mary’s Seminary, Oscott, Birmingham, in September 1993. Finishing his seminary training, as a deacon he read a degree in Psychology at Cambridge studying with the Natural Science, Social and Political Science faculties, and the Institute of Criminology. He also played Rugby for his college in his free time – rekindling a love for the game that still holds!
Fr Jonathan was ordained Priest 21st December 2001 at Our Lady and the Apostles, Shaw Heath, Stockport. From 2002 – 2005 he served as assistant priest at St Peter’s, Hazel Grove, and also from 2003-2005 at St Vincent de Paul’s, Bramhall.
His interests include: Rugby – watching Sale Sharks RUFC, reading, cooking, cinema and the Arts.
Rev Father Tony Grace MSC
Born and brought up at Wallasey on the Wirral, Fr Tony was educated at St Anselm's CBS, Birkenhead. He studied for a BA (Hons) in European and Social Studies from the University of East Anglia before finding his vocation in the missionary life and devotion to the Sacred Heart.
Fr Tony was trained for the priesthood by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Dublin, where he studied at Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology and All Hallows College. He was ordained at St Albert’s, Stockbridge Village, Liverpool on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul on 30th June 1990 by Bishop Kevin O’Connor.
Following his ordination Fr Tony volunteered to go to Venezuela in South America. He
worked in Caracas and Maracaibo in the barrios (shanty towns) working with Guajira
Indians and immigrant Columbians for nine years. During that time he took care of four
parishes, schools and hospitals helping to build new churches and schools and
fostering vocations to the priesthood. Fr Tony returned to this country and worked for
two years back at St Albert’s. He is now working in the Shrewsbury Diocese and was
appointed as assistant priest at St Vincent’s in 2002.
His interests include: swimming, golf, football, reading, spanish and music
(Note: MSC is not a science degree. It stands for Missionarrii Sacratissimi Cordis Jesu
- Missio
naries of the Most sacred Heart of Jesus).
Rev Deacon John Penny
Deacon John was born and bred in Coventry. He was Educated at Cardinal Wiseman Boys Comprehensive School and trained as a Graphic Designer at the Lanchester Polytechnic. He was married at Corpus Christi Church in Coventry to Debbie in 1975. He has three children and continues to earn his living as a graphic designer. John and his family moved to Altrincham in 1984 and in 1998 he offered himself for training for the Permanent Diaconate and was ordained deacon by Bishop Brian in July 2001 at St Vincent’s.
His interests include: walking, horse riding, painting, reading science fiction and DIY.
|
