November 2011

New Curate for Tullylish

We welcome Fr. Stephen Crossan to our parish.

Fr. Stephen was born in Tullylish Parish on 3rd August 1978  and was baptised in Laurencetown by Canon John Treanor.  He attended St John’s Primary School, Gilford, and Lismore Comprehensive School, Craigavon before beginning his studies for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Fr. Stephen was ordained to the priesthood in Newry Cathedral on 31st  August 2008.

He was appointed to St. Peter’s  Parish, Lurgan after ordination, where he remained until his present appointment to Tullylish. As well as being appointed curate in Tullylish, Fr. Crossan will also act as chaplain to Craigavon Area Hospital

He has taken up residence in the Parochial House, Gilford where we hope he will be happy and content in  familiar surroundings. May the Lord grant him good health and deep peace.

Father Gerald Powell, born in 1948, comes from Newry where he received his early education in St. Joseph’s P.S., the Abbey P.S. and St. Colman’s College.

He studied for the Priesthood in the Irish College Rome and was ordained in Newry Cathedral on 9th April 1972.

Fr. Gerry’s first curacy was in Moyraverty (Craigavon) from 1972 to 1977 before being transferred to Lurgan where he remained for 12 years.
Warrenpoint then beckoned in 1989 and he was curate there for a further 9 years.

In 1998 he was inducted as Parish Priest of Drumgath and was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese in 1999. In September 2001, Fr. Gerry returned to St. Paul’s in Lurgan as parish priest and was then appointed Finance Administrator of the Diocese in 2003.

On 30th October 2006 he was inducted as Parish Priest of Tullylish.