A SPECIAL Licensing Service was held at Christ Church Friezland to welcome Reverend Jackie Calow to the Saddleworth Team.
Team members and congregations from local churches gathered with the Archdeacon of Rochdale Cherry Vann and Bishop of Middleton Mark Davies for the service.
In her new role, Rev Calow, who has just moved from Middleton into the vicarage at Dobcross, will be focussing on working with those aged 60 and over across Saddleworth.
She said: “I’m so honoured to be standing at this ‘cusp’ moment of ministry in the Saddleworth Team.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the welcome received at the licensing service from team members and the congregations of all six parishes in the team.
“As I stand at the beginning of this new journey and role, I am ever mindful of the rich tapestry of experience, wisdom, successes, failures, tribulations and joys which mark the journey of life.
“I believe the so-called ‘silver generation’ are a real treasure within our communities and our Church that I’m delighted to be a part of.
“I’m also privileged and humbled to be able to journey alongside those living with serious illnesses at Dr Kershaw’s hospice as honorary chaplain.
“Hospices are so often places where life-stories are held and treasured by those who are listeners and companions – it in such listening and companioning that we too are changed and shaped for the better.”
Father Christopher Halliday, Saddleworth Team Rector, explained that Rev Calow’s role has been introduced to help Saddleworth’s two full time priests who work across six parishes.
He said: “We rely on support from retired clergy and others who also have full time jobs.
“We asked the Diocese for a House for Duty priest – who, in return for living in one of the vicarages, offers a number of hours a week to ministry – who would coordinate the work with older people across the Saddleworth Team.
“We do not expect Jackie to do all this work herself but to encourage and support a team of lay and ordained people in this.
“We are hoping to appoint another House for Duty priest later in the year to promote prayer and spirituality across the Team. This will strengthen our Team considerably and help us minister more effectively across Saddleworth.”
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