Fr Gerard Spelman, Chaplain of Trinity and All Saints Colleges, Horsforth, Leeds, is to succeed Mgr Michael Buckley as warden of Woodhall Pastoral and Ecumenical Centre, Yorkshire, Bishop Gordon Wheeler of Leeds announced this week.
The appointment is for a period of five years and Fr Spelman will take over from Mgr Buckley at a time convenient to both of them this summer:
Fr Spelman, who is a personal friend of Mgr Buckley's, became particularly involved in ecumenical work through his direction of a series of enquiry talks for non-Catholics. He has also played an active part in vocations work and has acted as a liaison between the Irish seminaries and the Leeds diocese for the last 10 years.
Cardinal Hume will join Bishop Wheeler, Mgr Buckley, Fr Spelman and others at Woodhall on Friday, April 29, for the centre's 10th anniversary celebrations.