Birmingham: former Anglican father and son ordained

Two former Anglican priests, father and son, are serving the Catholic Church as priests in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, following the ordination of Dominic Cosslett, by Archbishop Vincent Nichols, writes Peter Jennings.

Father Dominic, aged 36, formerly an Anglican priest, was ordained at the Church of Christ the King and Our Lady of Lourdes, Coventry, on Saturday 20 December.

Fr Ron Cosslett, aged 70, also a former Anglican priest, was ordained by the Archbishop of Birmingham on 3 July 2005. He is now Priest-in-Charge at St Joseph's, Darlaston in the West Midlands.

Archbishop Nichols, in his words of welcome, at the start of Fr Dominic's ordination ceremony, said: "This is a unique occasion and a great day in the life of the diocese. Both a father and his son, after his ordination, will be serving as Catholic priests."

More than 60 priests including Fr Dominic's father, Fr Ron Cosslett; Mgr Mark Crisp, Rector, St Mary's College, Oscott; Fr John Pardo, Vice-Rector, the Royal English College of St Alban, Valladolid, in Spain; and Canon Tom Farrell, Parish Priest, Christ the King, Coventry concelebrated the Mass with the Archbishop.

Fr Dominic, who is not married, was warmly embraced by his father, Fr Ron Cosslett during the Kiss of Peace.

In his Ordination Mass booklet Fr Dominic wrote: "I especially want to thank my parents and family for the support and unwavering love they have shown me over the years. They have been a constant example to me by their faith. I also wish to thank my friends who have always supported me in the decisions I have made by their warm and gentle encouragement."

After the ceremony Fr Dominic's older sister Vanessa Jones, who works as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Southampton General Hospital, said: "I feel honoured and privileged to have a father and brother within the Catholic priesthood and thankful to God for their calling which has influenced my family in becoming Catholic."

Mgr Mark Crisp, Rector of St Mary's College Oscott, the diocesan seminary, said: "Dominic has only been with us for 18 months. We shall miss him but wish him every blessing in the future." Mgr Crisp added: "This is the tenth ordination to the priesthood for Oscott during 2008. It's been a great year for us."

Fr Dominic has been appointed Assistant Priest at St George's Worcester - where Sir Edward Elgar played the organ. He starts his ministry on Monday 12 January.