Our priests have dedicated their lives to serve us. They have baptised and confirmed our children, celebrated our marriages, consoled us when we lost a loved one and guided us in times of need. Now it’s our turn to be there for them.
As our priests age, many face health challenges and the need for specialised care. The Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund is crucial in ensuring that our priests receive the medical care, housing, and support they deserve in their later years. The Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund provided care to 72 retired priests last year, at a cost of £976,000. Many of our priests are called to serve long after their retirement - celebrating Mass, serving as chaplains, counselling people in need and supporting parish life. Others simply become very old, too frail or incapacitated and need full time care.
The Diocese of Westminster depends greatly on the generosity of parishioners to contribute to support this vital cause each year. Please support our sick and retired priests with a gift today. Any gift, large or small will make a tangible difference to the lives of our retired priests. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Read about one of our retired priests:
Monsignor Jim Overton is 83 years old and retired in 2019.
'I was educated in an English boarding school. Because my family lived abroad, I had to stay in a holiday home in Frinton during the Christmas and Easter holidays. There I met some Catholic boys from Stonyhurst College. Brought up as an Anglican, I inevitably got into arguments with them! But they deeply impressed me: they were on fire for their Catholic faith. I asked to receive a year’s instruction in the Catholic faith and during this time the idea of becoming a priest grew in me. However, in those days, if you were a convert you had to wait at least three years before beginning studies for the priesthood.
'I trained as a chartered accountant in the City of London. Every day, I went to Mass. The thought of becoming a priest would not go away. I went up to Oxford University as a mature student. I was deeply influenced by the Catholic Chaplain, Fr Michael Hollings, a Westminster priest. I offered myself to Westminster diocese. Cardinal John Heenan accepted me for training and sent me to the English College, Rome. He ordained me to the priesthood in the Oxford Catholic University Chaplaincy on 6 May 1973.
'My first appointment was to St John Vianney, West Green. Then I was appointed Catholic chaplain to the London Hospital, Senior Chaplain at Newman House, Rector of Allen Hall, and finally parish priest of St Michael’s in Ashford, Middlesex for 17 years before retiring at the age of 78.
'As a priest, I love celebrating Mass because in the Eucharist the Lord enters into the very depth of a person to fill them with his own risen life. Baptism is a simple ceremony, but it is the wonderful beginning of a new Christian life. I stand in awe of those who make the life-long commitment to marry and raise a family. I find it very moving to witness the love that is being given and received in Catholic families. I live at St Anne’s, the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Stoke Newington. I am grateful that I am given opportunities to celebrate Mass, preach, hear confessions and meet parishioners. I am very blessed!
'Supporting the Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund is a lovely way to appreciate the gift and the ministry of priesthood. Thank you so much for supporting priests like me in our retirement: we are truly grateful!'
Thank you for your generosity and kindness to our sick and retired priests.