Priest says farewell after four decades
PARISH Priest Canon John Gaine has retired from St Teresa’s Catholic Church in Birkdale, – after an amazing four decades of service.
After 38 years’ service to the parish and community he celebrated his last Sunday Mass as Parish Priest with a packed congregation of his parishioners and friends.
The service was followed by the presentation of many gifts and a parish celebration lunch in St Teresa’s Infant School.
Before coming to St Teresa’s Birkdale, Father John, as he is affectionately known, had a distinguished academic career in education, priest training and as an advisor to the Bishop’s Conference both here and in the Vatican.
Over the years he has been a governor in Our Lady of Lourdes School, Christ the King and St Teresa’s Infants.
He was a founder member of Queenscourt Hospice and a visitor to many patients in Southport Hospital.
He has friendly contacts in many of the local churches and is known in the area for his kindness and genuine understanding of people.
Southport MP John Pugh, who last week announced that he was standing down as an MP, was among those at the service.
Dr Pugh said: “The big retirement last week was not the stepping down of a ‘here today/gone tomorrow’ politician such as myself, but the retirement of my friend and priest, Fr John Gaine, who has graced St Teresa’s parish since 1979. That’s what I call putting in a stint!
“Those who attended his retirement mass last Sunday cannot but have been enormously impressed by the roll call of his achievements in the academic, church and pastoral field.
“Nobody there though, or elsewhere in Southport, needed to be convinced that we were celebrating the achievements of a very special person.
“His input into the life of the community will be missed but the impact he has made over time will never be forgotten.”