About Us
Dom Augustine Measures OSB
I am 79. I was a boy at Ampleforth during WW2, and then was called up into the army just after the war ended, was demobilised Easter 1948, Became a novice at Ampleforth Sept 1948, went through Simple and Solemn Profession and 4 years studying Greek and Latin at Oxford, then 4 years of Theology, taught by Fr Basil Hume, ordained priest July 1958. In Aug 1959 I was sent to our foundation in St Louis Mo, where I worked for five years, returning in 1964 to teach Classics at Ampleforth. In December 1968 Abbot Basil sent me as assistant priest to Bamber Bridge, where I spent 8 years, then 6 years in Cardiff, then 14 years in Warrington, then 2 years in Brindle, then here as one of the first members of this monastery, which began on Our Lady’s birthday 1999, Sept 8th. Here I help out in various pastoral ways, in our four parishes round here, and have also supplied in about 12 other parishes in this part of Lancashire from time to time.
Sr. Janet Fearns FMDM
I am a Franciscan Missionary of the Divine Motherhood originally from Liverpool, and then Burscough, Lancashire, England. I entered the Congregation in 1973 and since then have spent my Religious life between England, Nigeria, Australia, Zambia and Rome. I now work with the English Programme of Vatican Radio, but I was also a midwife and a teacher.
Clifford Birchall
Clifford is married with two sons in their early 20s. An Anglican, Clifford is a Eucharistic Minister in his local Parish Church in Newburgh, Lancashire, England. He is the Assistant Editor of the weekly newspaper, the Ormskirk Advertiser, for which, whenever possible and for more than twenty-five years, he has written on topics of religious interest.
Fr. Francis Maple OFM.Cap
Fr. Francis is known throughout the north-west of England as ‘the Singing Friar’, since he has been taking to the streets with his guitar, raising money for the starving, for more than 30 years! He has made 40 CDs in the process. He has been giving retreats for more than 40 years. He is now basd at the friary in Pantasaph, North Wales, where he is the Guardian and the Director of the Capuchin Retreat Centre and National Shrine of Padre Pio for England and Wales.
Susan Recinella
Susan is a Clinical Psychologist for mentally ill adults, and is also a Catholic Lay Minister to Families of the Executed.
Dale S. Recinella
Dale is a Catholic Lay Chaplain to Florida’s Death Row & Solitary Confinement.