NEWS 111216 Walsingham - NEW SHRINE PRIEST ANNOUNCED
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The Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Media Information
For Immediate Use
Sunday, 11 December 2016
NEW SHRINE PRIEST ANNOUNCED
Father Andreas Wenzel, currently Assistant Curate at S. Peter’s, Horbury with S. John Horbury Bridge, has been appointed as the new Shrine Priest of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Father Andreas, who is married to Zoe, trained for the priesthood at St Stephen’s House, Oxford before being ordained in 2014 into the Diocese of Leeds.
The couple have two young children, Miriam and Robert.
The Shrine Priest works with the Priest Administrator by providing priestly support and spiritual nourishment to pilgrims, tourists and visitors.
The Priest Administrator, Fr Kevin Smith, said ”I am very pleased indeed that Father Andreas has agreed to come and join us at Walsingham and I know he will bring very special gifts which will be warmly received by those to whom he will minister.”
He added: “I am particularly delighted that the new Shrine Priest will work alongside and develop further our ministry to children, schools and young people.”
Fr Andreas added: “Coming here with a young family it will be a great privilege to live next door to the Holy House in such close proximity to the Holy Family of Nazareth. I am delighted that the next phase of my priestly ministry is in this inspiring setting equipping me in different ways for the mission in God’s church.”
Fr Andreas likes cooking and spending time with the family on holidays in his native Germany.
The new Shrine Priest will be licensed by the Bishop of Norwich in his chapel on Saturday 4th March and welcomed later that day at Mass in the Shrine at 12 noon.
Ends
Notes to editors:
The College of Guardians was formed in 1931. It comprises twenty priests and laity (including the Priest Administrator) who are the legal trustees of the Shrine. The Guardians elect one of their number (who must be a priest) to serve as Master. The Guardians meet twice a year in Chapter (chaired by the Master) to oversee the affairs of the Shrine. Each Guardian is assigned a stall and an altar in the Shrine Church. When attending the Shrine Church or the National Pilgrimage each Guardian wears the insignia of a star suspended from black and white ribbon and a blue velvet mantle.
Further information:
For further information please contact
Father Andreas on 01924 283373
or 07587 192095
Issued by:
Revd Dr Rob Marshall on 07766 952113
