Father John Sherrington from Nottingham Diocese will be ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Westminster on Wednesday 14 September at Westminster Cathedral.
Fr Sherrington said: 'I feel an excitement about the opportunity and a fear of what is expected. I know that I will need to rely on God's grace more deeply than ever before and to cultivate my life of prayer. I will use my gifts to the full and to the best of my ability.'
Among his many duties, for the past two years Fr Sherrington has been parish priest at the Good Shepherd church in Nottingham. His last few weeks in Nottingham were busy ones: running the parish, as well as preparing for the move to London.
Fr Sherrington said: “I will miss Bishop Malcolm and the priests of Nottingham as well as my parish, and the people who have cared for me, loved me and supported me in my priestly ministry”. But he added: “I look forward to working with Archbishop Vincent, his auxiliaries, Bishops Alan and John, the priests and people in the Diocese of Westminster.'
As Bishop, Fr John Sherrington will be based at St Bonaventure's in Welwyn Garden City in order to be closer to the people and parishes of Hertfordshire as well as travelling into Westminster as necessary. He said he is looking forward to exploring the Hertfordshire countryside.
Nottingham diocese
Fr Sherrington, 53, was
ordained a priest for the Nottingham Diocese in 1987 and has been parish priest
for the Good Shepherd Parish in Nottingham for the past two years. In addition
to various diocesan curial responsibilities, Fr Sherrington has also assisted
the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales on ethical issues and was a part
of the working party for the Bishops’ Conference document ‘Cherishing Life’
(2005).
After a degree in
Mathematics from Cambridge University and two years working for Arthur Andersen
Management Consultants London, Fr Sherrington was accepted by Bishop McGuinness
for the Nottingham Diocese and joined seminary at All Hallows in Dublin. He later
gained an STL in Moral Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome and
lectured in moral theology at All Hallows in Dublin and then at St John’s
Seminary in Wonersh, Guildford.
The Most Reverend Vincent
Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, said: “I am very grateful to the Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for appointing Fr John Sherrington as Auxiliary
Bishop to this Diocese of Westminster. Bishop-elect Sherrington is a priest of
wide experience, fine abilities and a generous, graceful nature. I welcome him
most warmly as will every member of this Diocese. He will also be a
much-valued member of the Bishops' Conference. I thank the Diocese of
Nottingham and I am sure that its people and priests will continue to support
him with their prayers.”
Biography of Fr John Sherrington
Born 1958 Leicester,
within the Diocese of Nottingham
Brother Michael married to
Sarah
Parents Frank and
Catherine both deceased
Third-level education
St Thomas More Catholic
Primary School Leicester
Wyggeston Boys’ Grammar
School Leicester
1997-1980: BA University
of Cambridge (Mathematics) Queens’ College
1980: Pilgrimage to
Lourdes with ACROSS and the Jumbulance which I see as very important in my
journey to priesthood as well as subsequent pilgrimages to Lourdes
1980-1982: Worked for
Arthur Andersen Management Consultants London
1982: Accepted by Bishop
McGuinness for Nottingham Diocese, although I had worked in London I felt
called back to my home diocese to serve
1982-1987: Seminary
formation at All Hallows College Dublin
13 June 1987: Ordained
Priest for the Diocese of Nottingham
1987-1988: Assistant
Priest, Diocese of Nottingham, Ratcliffe on Trent near Nottingham, first
introduction to mental health care in large hospital and also Youth offender
Institute
1988-1990: STL Gregorian
University, Moral Theology
1990-1998: Lecturer in
Moral Theology, Formation Work All Hallows College, Dublin
This also provided the
opportunity for summer pastoral work in Los Angeles (three times) and twice
summer teaching at a Vincentian Seminary in Quezon City Philippines
1998-2004: Lecturer in
Moral Theology, St. John's Seminary, Wonersh, Guildford UK and for some
time Director of Studies
2005: Member of the
Bishops' Conference Working Party writing Cherishing Life
2004-2009: Parish Priest,
Our Lady of Lourdes, Derby
Also part of the
chaplaincy team for the Mental Health Trust and Acute Trust
Member of the Bishop's
Council and Episcopal Vicar for Derbyshire
Chair of the Diocesan
Board of Commissions
Chair of the Marriage and
Family Life Commission of the Diocese
Member of the British
Catholic-Methodist Committee
2004: Appointed to the
British Order of Malta Bioethics Committee
Member of the Bishops'
Conference Healthcare Reference Group
2009: Parish Priest,
Good Shepherd Parish, Nottingham
Since
2004, member of various hospital ethics committees, Boards of School Governors,
and the University of Derby Research Ethics Committee
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