New priest ordained for Liverpool

Rev Liam Collister

St Matthew's church, Clubmoor, Liverpool had a full congregation as Archbishop Patrick Kelly ordained Rev Liam Collister to the Priesthood on Sunday 8 July 2012.

Liam has lived in the parish of All Saints, Anfield for most of his life, but worshipped at Saint Matthew's for 13 years. After attending All Saints Infant and Junior schools he went to De La Salle Liverpool (Croxteth) to study for GCSE's and then attended Saint Francis Xavier's Sixth Form, Woolton to study for A levels.

At the age of 16, he started working for European Wellcare as a part time cleaner in
Greenheys Lodge Residential Home in Toxteth, and after finishing school became a care assistant at the Prince Alfred Care Home in Wavertree for a year, before transferring back to Greenheys Lodge, as a care assistant. He was a member of staff within Greenheys Lodge Residential Care Home for over ten years, and spent nearly 13 years with the European Wellcare company.

Before formal studies for the Priesthood Liam went to the Royal English College of Saint Alban in Valladolid, Spain, in 2005 to begin the propaedeutic year. After this year, he moved to Saint Cuthbert's Seminary, Ushaw College, Durham and spent five years studying there gaining both a BA and my PGCert in Theology and Ministry from Durham University. After ordination to the Diaconate on 11 June 2011, he moved from Saint Cuthbert's Seminary to Saint Mary's Seminary, Oscott College, Birmingham, for his Diaconate year in formation.

Liam said: "I have always felt that I have been called to be a priest, and I remember watching a priest in All Saints' church when I was a young lad while he was saying Mass and thinking to myself 'That's what I want to do when I am older'. Of course, my journey in life has brought me down many varied paths, but they have led me to this final end, and all of which have shaped me into the person that I am today.

"I am looking forward to helping people, and walking with them on their journey in faith. During my long placement in Saint Margaret Mary's parish, Huyton, I looked forward to my weekly sick and housebound calls, visiting people and being with them and sometimes bringing them the Blessed Sacrament. These were blessed times for me, to be with people in their need and walk with them in their journey towards knowing and loving God better. I hope that I will continue to be able to help people in the future, by my ministry; and work towards bringing people closer to God, to know and love him more in their lives."