In 2021 Dermot Preston, Peter Randall and Gero McLoughlin moved into St Dominic’s Priory in Newcastle upon Tyne. Responding to a request from the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, the Jesuit Provincial in Great Britain agreed a five-year mission to support the city-centre ministry in Newcastle, and to offer spirituality assistance to the clergy and more widely in the North-East.

That mission has now been completed, and over the weekend of 8 and 9 August we have said our farewells to the various communities of the city centre.

Dermot is now enroute to Manchester to work in the University chaplaincy, Gero is moving to the Boscombe Jesuit Community, while Peter is joining the London Jesuit Community, living in Clapham.

The Diocese has now appointed Fr Luke Wilkinson to live at St Dominic's, taking-up ministry in the university chaplaincies, and joining Fr William Nicol and Canon Simon Lerche with responsibilities across the central Newcastle churches.

On behalf of all of us who served here these past five years, a very sincere thank you to everyone who welcomed us so warmly. Please keep us in your prayers, as you are in ours.

Fr Dermot Preston SJ
Fr Peter Randall SJ
Fr Gero McLoughlin SJ