Pastoral & Administrative Personnel
At Our Lady's all kinds of people are involved in the parish community in all kinds of ways. The name the Christian community has for the various forms of helping one another is ministry.
Ministry isn't just doing a job or filling a gap, but something much deeper. It's a way of building up the local community which, we believe, is a part of the Body of Christ, the Church, and serving God's Kingdom.
There are many different people in ministry at Our Lady's. Below we list just some of the key people you're likely to meet in a more public capacity.
Ministry isn't just doing a job or filling a gap, but something much deeper. It's a way of building up the local community which, we believe, is a part of the Body of Christ, the Church, and serving God's Kingdom.
There are many different people in ministry at Our Lady's. Below we list just some of the key people you're likely to meet in a more public capacity.
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Father Antony (Tony) Lester
Parish Priest Tony hails from Lancashire (but considers himself a Yorkshireman by adoption!) His professional background is in Community and Youth Work, having worked with young offenders in inner-city Manchester. Tony was ordained priest in Manchester in 1989, bringing his experience to Youth and Retreat Ministries. Tony was a Carmelite friar between 1974 and 2019 (when he transferred from the Order to the Diocese of Middlesbrough). As a friar, Tony served three terms in the role of Provincial (Community Leader) for the Carmelite Order in Britain. Tony has lived in York since 1995, when he was appointed Catholic Chaplain to the University of York. He has also worked in Prison Chaplaincy, and is Catholic Chaplain at HMP Askham Grange which is situated within our parish. Tony has a particular love of working among sick and disabled people. He has served as chaplain to groups of the charities HCPT and Faith & Light. He is one of the one-call Catholic Chaplains at York Hospital, and is the Catholic Chaplain at Foss Park Hospital which provides inpatient mental health services for the North Yorkshire area. Tony is a regular volunteer in Lourdes, where he was made a Chaplain of Honour by the Bishop of Tarbes & Lourdes in recognition of his service to pilgrims. Tony has an ongoing pastoral contact with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) community, coordinating the Diocese of Middlesbrough's LGBT+ Outreach Ministry. Tony came to Our Lady's as parish priest in September 2017. |
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Reverend Peter Warren
Parish Deacon Peter was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Middlesbrough in 2010 and has been in ministry in York since then, first at St. George's Church and now at Our Lady's. Peter is married with two grown-up children. Peter's full-time job is Chief Operating Officer for the Diocese of Middlesbrough, and with a background in law he is also the diocese's In-house Solicitor. In our parish Peter has a particular role in proclaiming God's Word in the Gospel and preaching, where his experience as a married man is very valuable. He is also involved in baptisms, weddings, and funerals as time allows. |
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Dr. Johan (Jo) Bergström-Allen
Lay Pastoral Minister Johan came to York as a student in 1997 and decided to stay. He started worshipping at Our Lady's when its care was entrusted to the Carmelite Order in 2015; at that time he was Communications Manager for the Carmelites. He is a Lay Carmelite (professed non-ordained member of the Order). Johan has a number of ministries at Our Lady's including: Adult Formation (RCIA); Children's Liturgy; Cantoring and Liturgy planning; Live-streaming; and Communications. In May 2024 he was appointed Lay Pastoral Minister to help our clergy in the pastoral care of the parish. Johan has a doctorate in medieval English literature, is a qualified university teacher, has a Diploma in Pastoral Ministry and Christian Leadership, and is commissioned by our bishop as a Lay Funeral Minister. Jo serves on the Diocese's Communications Team, is a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, and the Pastoral Council of the Diocese's LGBT+ Ministry. Johan is part of the team of lay chaplains who visit the sick at York Hospital. He is training to be a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor. Johan serves as a trustee-director of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN). |
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council advises the parish priest on the development of the parish.
The Parish Pastoral Council advises the parish priest on the development of the parish.
Parish Administrator
Mrs. Suzanne (Sue) Parkes is our Parish Administrator, based in the Parish Office in the Parish House.
Mrs. Suzanne (Sue) Parkes is our Parish Administrator, based in the Parish Office in the Parish House.
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Ben Dog
Ben is a much-loved honorary member of the pastoral team at Our Lady's. He lives at Our Lady's Parish House with Father Tony, and enjoys taking part in any activities which might involve biscuits. |
