New Principal Catholic Chaplain for Navy

Monsignor Paul Donovan becomes the Royal Navy's new Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain yoday. Based in Portsmouth, Mgr Donovan, 50, is taking over from Mgr Richard Madders who held the post for five years. A Londoner, Mgr Donovan trained for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained in 1981. In 1985 he joined the Navy Chaplaincy and has served in frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers around the world. He saw operations in the Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war and in the policing of the no-fly zones; in the Falklands and West Indies Guardships; in drug and arms interdictions in the Adriatic and Caribbean; and in NATO groups in the Atlantic, Arctic Circle and Mediterranean and until recently he was Chaplain of the aircraft carrier and Fleet Flagship, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. Mgr Donovan takes over from Monsignor Richard Madders , who is returning to his Diocese of Arundel and Brighton to work as a parish priest. Mgr Madders said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my years in the Navy and would recommend it as wonderful way of serving as a priest. There are currently several vacancies in the Royal Navy's Catholic Chaplaincy Branch", he said. "The posts offer training and a Navy salary. It need not be a life long commitment, I would recommend any priest to consider a six year stint in the Navy, and then a return to parish ministry - and all the better for the experience". Any priest who would like to know more about chaplaincy in the Royal Navy can call Mgr Paul Donovan on 02392 62 5193.