St Helena : New Priest for St. Helena
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 08.01.2008 (Article Archived on 22.01.2008)
Monsignor Michael B McPartland has announced that a new Priest will come to St Helena.
Press Release
From Mgr Michael Bernard McPartland
SMA
Prefect Apostolic
It is hereby announced that, as from Tuesday, 1st January 2008, the Feast of Mary Mother of God, the Reverend Father Michael David Griffiths of the Catholic Diocese of Northampton, UK, is appointed Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart Parish, Upper Jamestown, St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.
At the same time, he will assume the duties of Official Delegate of the Prefect Apostolic, to the said Island of St Helena.
Father Griffiths will set sail on the RMS St Helena, from Portland, Dorset, and is due to arrive at Jamestown on or about Wednesday, 9th April 2008.
Father Griffiths said:
“It was with great joy that I have been appointed as Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart Church, Upper Jamestown and deputy to the Apostolic Prefect. It is hoped that I will arrive on the RMS St. Helena on the Portland sailing, arriving early April.
I have been a Priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton for almost 30 years and am at the moment parish Priest of Our Lady’s, Luton in Bedfordshire. It is a large parish with 1200 people every Sunday. Coming to St. Helena will for me, be a truly wonderful opportunity to serve the Christian community. I have used the internet to find out all the information that I can on the Island and every Friday look forward to reading your excellent Island newspaper.
A little of my history:-
I was born in 1948 in Swansea, South Wales. I went to school at Clevedon College and went from there to a catering college where I qualified as a chef, after working in several restaurants, I eventually had my own restaurant.
After being called to become a Priest by God, I studied for six years at St. Mary’s Seminary Oscott in Birmingham and ordained in the late seventies. Several parishes later, God has asked me to come to you and I truly am looking forward to being on St. Helena for many years to come. Please feel free at any time to pop in for a cup of tea or coffee to the house next to the Sacred Heart church, Upper Jamestown.
With every good wish for the New Year.”
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