Parish life must go on, even in an interregnum


Even in a vacancy, Christian nurture in our congregations continues and candidates for confirmation are prepared and presented for this sacrament. For this we are thankful for the voluntary work of locum clergy and retired priests with Permission to Officiate who step in to provide essential pastoral care during an interregnum.

The parish of Pas de Calais in France is an example of this. The former priest-in-charge left towards the end of 2011 to take up a new appointment in Zurich. In the meantime, the Revd John Porter, a retired priest who lives in the pastoral area of Pas de Calais, has been "keeping an eye" on things. It was a moment of particular joy in the congregation when, on a recent pastoral visit, Fr John presented to me a candidate for confirmation at a packed service held in Hesdin.  

In the photo above, the Revd John Porter is on the right. The local curé who also attended the service (a sign of the excellent ecumenical relations) is third from the right.  

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