News & Resources

Great Britain
Tongues of Fire - Spring 2026 - Newsletter of the British Province
Bearing Quiet but Meaningful Fruit.Running for a Good CauseProvincial’s DeskNews, Reports and Events
May 28, 2026
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United Kingdom
The parish of the Sacred Heart, St Aubin, on the island of Jersey, is confided to the Spiritans. Fr James Carling is the first parish priest.
October 6, 1995
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United Kingdom
The parish of St Matthew on the island of Jersey is confided to the Spiritans so as to form a community base for work with the Portuguese community. The Portuguese…
May 9, 1989
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United Kingdom
The junior seminary at Castle-head closes. During its 70 years of existence, it produced 150 future missionaries.
July 31, 1976
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United Kingdom
The only Spiritan house in Scotland is transferred from Uddingston to Carfin; it will continue with vocations work and youth apostolate. The first superior is Scottish Spiritan, Fr. Frank O'Donnell.
October 26, 1973
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United Kingdom
The first Spiritan house in Scotland is opened at Uddingston in Glasgow. It thus becomes the most northerly house in the whole of the Congregation.
June 17, 1956
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England
The Vice-Province of England becomes a Province with the Provincial House at Bickley, Kent. This house also becomes a centre for late vocations and over the years produces 33 Spiritans.
February 19, 1946
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United Kingdom
Fr Harry Parkinson is the first English Spiritan to leave for West Africa. In the next 20 years, he will be followed to Sierra Leone by 20 more confreres from…
November 5, 1925
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United Kingdom
Mgr. Le Roy and the General Council decide to create the Vice-Province of England as from 1 January 1920. Mgr. Le Roy writes to the Irish Provincial, "As for the…
December 27, 1919
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United Kingdom
Hugh McGarry becomes the first former student of Castlehead junior seminary to be ordained priest (in Fribourg).
December 21, 1918
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United Kingdom
St Joseph's Parish, Peasley Cross, St Helens, is taken on by the Irish Province; because of its proximity to the port of Liverpool, it will also serve as a base…
October 3, 1912
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United Kingdom
On 24 December, Castlehead in Grange-over-Sands becomes the first Spiritan property owned by the Congregation in Britain. On 27 December, the community at Prior Park arrives to take up residence…
December 27, 1907
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United Kingdom
On this day, as a result of the anti-clerical legislation of the French Government, it is decided to set up a noviciate in England for the Irish candidates who had…
September 21, 1904
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United Kingdom
Mgr Le Roy, Superior General, and Fr Larry Healy, Provincial of Ireland, agree to rent a property at Prior Park, near Bath. The noviciate for future Irish clerics and brothers…
June 1, 1904
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United Kingdom
The Spiritans are invited by the Archbishop of Birmingham to accept a parish in his diocese. The offer is declined, as well as another request to take on the parish…
January 30, 1863
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United Kingdom
Père Jacques Laval arrives in England on his way to Mauritius. After a short stay waiting for a ship in the East End of London, he finally sets sail on…
May 13, 1841
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United Kingdom
Père Jacques Bertout becomes the first known Spiritan to work in mainland Britain. He flees to England at the French Revolution and works somewhere in Yorkshire for the next 10…
September 10, 1792
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