New Rector appointed for St John's Seminary - Wonersh

Mgr Gerald Ewing

Source: Diocese of Arundel & Brighton

Mgr Gerald Ewing has been appointed the new Rector of St John's Seminary, Wonersh with immediate effect. Mgr Ewing has served as Vice-Rector since 2017 and has been Acting-Rector since Easter this year. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark, ordained in 1981, and has extensive pastoral experience.

In a statement, The Most Reverend John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark - Chair of Trustees and The Right Reverend Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel & Brighton - Vice Chair of Trustees say: "The Bishops and Trustees of St John's Seminary are "extremely grateful to Mgr Ewing for accepting this new and important responsibility.

"We assure him and the staff at St John's of our full support moving forward. We also wish to affirm the seminarians in their continuing formation for priestly ministry. Given the present size of the community at St John's, a new Vice-Rector will not be appointed.

We offer our sincere congratulations to Mgr Ewing and we look forward to working with him in service of the Church across our Dioceses.

Mgr Ewing said: "It is a great honour to be appointed as Rector of St John's Seminary, Wonersh - which has been forming priests for service in the Church since 1889 - originally at Henfield, Sussex - and at Wonersh itself since 1891.

Much has changed over almost 130 years at Wonersh - and strangely much remains the same. Of course, similar comparisons can be made with so many great institutions.

Wonersh has a special place in my heart - having been formed here myself for the priesthood some 40 years ago, and for the past three years having served as Vice-Rector to former-Rector Canon Brian Coyle - who thankfully is just at the end of the phone!

I had two Rectors in my time at Wonersh - Mgr Jim McConnon and Mgr Chris Budd. Both were very different, but both were very dedicated to the task of helping men discern whether God is calling them to the priesthood or not and helping them to open themselves up to the formation offered, in order to become good, holy and effective pastors for service in the Church.

I was struck that both my Rectors were very conscious that this was not their task alone - and that they were supported by their fellow formators, along with the extensive formative community of visiting and support staff. I too am very conscious of the great support I will receive from so many gifted and committed people in my new role as the 20th Rector of Wonersh. I am also conscious of the great community support offered by the seminarians themselves, and of the many blessings that they bring to the House. All this makes the role less daunting.

Wonersh has been supported by the prayers of so many people over so many years - and it is against this backdrop that I ask your prayers for the community here, and for me. These have been difficult days for so many, as the Coronavirus pandemic has changed our world, and turned so many lives upside down. For the first time in our history, our seminarians have, since mid-March, been continuing their formation beyond Wonersh, using ingenious ways to stay in touch with each other, and continuing to do their best to address the human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral aspects of their formation. I am full of admiration for them, and full of gratitude to those parishes and priests who have hosted them, as well as to the seminary staff who have been supporting them.

We frequently remind our seminarians that as priests, they will receive so much more from the People of God than they give, and equally, I am encouraged that as I take on this new and unexpected challenge, in which I will try to do my very best, I too will receive so much more than I give. This is very reassuring!"