St Gabriel Catholic Community, Liverpool, U.K.

Originally from Manchester I have been settled with my wife Lorna, in Liverpool since 1987. We have a son and a daughter who are themselves leading interesting and diverse lives. During this time I have been fortunate to teach in a variety of Special Schools throughout Merseyside. I currently teach students with disabilities and a visual impairment.

Rev Maria Renate, is guardian of the "Faithful Companions of St Francis" (FCSF) a community of people striving to follow in the footsteps of St Francis.

Based in the Merseyside area, a religious sister, in perpetual vows, she was

ordained to Priesthood by Bishop Terry on Pentecost Sunday 2009 and works closely with Nick within the St Gabriel Community.

The work of the faithful companions includes the "Bethlehem Community" The Bethlehem Community has inclusion and outreach to those hurt, and even attacked or persecuted, by other churches as its main objective and has found in the ECC-UK a harbour and home where that principal of openness and inclusivity is not lost, watered down or even opposed by man-made rules.

She has establish the "Rainbow Lives" project that aims to tackle issues relating to the care of elderly people within the LGBT community, especially aimed at tackling discrimination within hospital, care home or other residential settings.

Find out more about Rainbow Lives, click the link

I am excited by the emerging church movement, contemplative spirituality, the music & liturgy of the church and exploring ways of being an inclusive church. Within the ECC-UK can be found an expression of the Catholic faith that I believe lies hidden within the ‘Roman’ expression of that faith, in the same way as the statue lies hidden within a slab of marble.

I was ordained ordained a Priest with the ECC-UK in October 2010 the emerging catholic community in Liverpool under the patronage of St Gabriel has begun to flourish. More information can be found on our National website here or visit my blog Contemplative Catholic by clicking the logo below.