I thought I should take this opportunity to say hello and introduce myself. I am conscious of all the great work Fr. Towey has done here and I hope with the help of the Holy Spirit I can continue that in Faith, Hope and Love that we can share together.
As I know Fr. Towey told you I arrive here after nearly 12 years as parish priest in St Vincent’s East Kilbride with my 2 German shepherd dogs, Arnie who is 11 and Aslan who will be 2 next month (hopefully you will get to meet them, they are very friendly and like meeting people.)
I was born in Bellshill in 1966 (I am presently 55) and grew up in Bellshill and Motherwell.
After Our Lady’s High school I went to Strathclyde University to study Applied Chemistry before then starting at Chester’s College in Glasgow to study for the priesthood following a pilgrimage to Medjugorje for the 7th Anniversary of the apparitions in 1988.
I was ordained on the feast of the Birthday of John the Baptist the 24th of June 1994 in St Brendan’s, Motherwell. After a year in St Mary’s in Hamilton I then spent 5 years in Our Lady & St Anne’s Hamilton and a year in Sacred Heart, Bellshill.
In 2001 I went off to be a chaplain in the Royal Air Force spending time in Cyprus, Cosford (near Wolverhampton) and Kinloss (in Moray) interspersed with tours in Afghanistan and The Persian Gulf.
I returned to the diocese in 2007 and spent nearly 2 years as parish priest in St Thomas’ Wishaw and chaplain to Wishaw General Hospital, before a breakdown with PTSD meant I needed a year out for treatment before returning to active ministry as parish priest in St Vincent’s in 2010.
I generally spend any spare time walking the dogs, playing computer games and watching Motherwell FC (Yes – I am the one Motherwell supporting priest in Motherwell diocese – if nothing else I am sure it gets me time off purgatory).
I hope and pray with the help of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Lady and St John the Baptist together we can go ahead of the Lord and prepare the way for Him making known his love, mercy and salvation.
Please pray for me and our parish together.
God Bless
Fr Ivan
