Parish Priest: Fr. Nicholas Kern
2006-   Ordained 1978
I grew up in the Cathedral parish in Shrewsbury. I trained for the priesthood at the Venerable English College in Rome and was ordained at the cathedral on the 21st July 1990. My first curacy was at Sacred Heart, Moreton (1991-1995) and then at St Vincent's, Altrincham (1996-2000). I became parish priest at St Clare's, Chester (2000-2005) before coming to St Joseph's on 1st Sept 2005. I also work for the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and the Diocesan Education Service.
 
 
 Priest in Residence:
Fr. Martin Onuoha
Parish Sister:
Sr. Catherine Bibby FCJ
I am a sister of the Society of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. I spent many happy years teaching in Leeds, Brussels, Middlesbrough and Jersey, Channel Islands before coming to the Wirral in 1981 to teach at Upton, where I taught Maths and R.E. and later became School Chaplain. After retiring from school in 2008 I joined the team here at St. Josephs, as well as being on the Chaplaincy team at St. John's Hospice and feels privileged to be in both these ministries. 		Deacon:
Rev. Gerard Boyle
2002
Hello, I'm Gerard Boyle and I am married to Margaret. We have three teenage sons, Andrew, Peter and Jonathan I was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate by Bishop Brian Noble on 2nd July 2002 in Shrewsbury Cathedral. Prior to my ordination I worked as a Sales Manager for a multi-national company in Bromborough. In September 2003, I became full-time Chaplain at the Catholic High School in Chester. My role as Chaplain and working here in the parish is very rewarding and I hope it enables me to fulfill the commitment I made at ordination. "Receive the book of the Gospels of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.''
 
 
Deacon:
Rev. Leslie Arch
2007
My name is Les Arch and I was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate by Bishop Brian Noble on 7th July 2007 in Shrewsbury Cathedral. I am married to Mary and we have three grown up children, David, Philip and Helen. I have been involved in St. Joseph's parish life for some twenty years, and it was Fr. Terry Boylan who suggested to me that I might consider becoming a deacon. The training involved studying the Catholic Certificate for Religious Studies ( CCRS) whilst training for the diaconate for three years. I hope to serve the people of the parish for many years to come.
 
 
 Deacon:
Rev. Paul Walker
2009
Paul Walker, ordained on Saturday 20th June 2009 at Shrewbury Cathedral. (More to follow soon)
 
Seminarian:
Dickie Wilde
2009
I come to St. Joseph’s from my hometown of Bilston, just outside Wolverhampton. Before I applied for priesthood in the diocese of Shrewsbury, I worked as a Counsellor to adolescents. I was sent to the English College in Valladolid (Spain) for one year to prepare for seminary. After I completed that year, I was sent to St. Cuthbert’s Seminary (Ushaw College) in Durham. Throughout my training, I have worked in a variety of pastoral situations. In my first year, I worked with Stroke victims of all ages in Gateshead. In my second year, I worked closely with a local Primary School in Durham. This year I have worked in a Sixth Form College in Washington, (Newcastle – not America!). I also spend a summer working in a parish. Previous placements in the past four years have included Wythenshawe (Sacred Heart and St. Peter’s), Hazel Grove (St. Peter’s) and Kenya (Nairobi and Lwanda, Mill Hill Fathers “Missionary Exposure Programme” for Diocesan Seminarians). I wrote my dissertation on the Child Protection and the Rights of Priests in Canon Law. I delighted to be able to spend time in St. Joseph’s parish and working with the people of this interesting City. This is the first time I have been “in the west” of the Diocese, and I have no doubt that it will be a formative placement.