A new chapter in the life of the Catholic community of Corby has begun, as parishioners gathered to celebrate the creation of the Parish of the Good Shepherd.
On Thursday 1 October, Mass was celebrated at both St Brendan’s Church in the morning and Our Lady of Walsingham Church in the evening, bringing together parishioners from across Corby to mark the formal coming together of the new parish community.
The Parish of the Good Shepherd brings together the former parish communities of Our Lady of Walsingham, St Brendan’s, St Patrick’s and St John Ogilvie’s. The new parish will continue to celebrate Mass and serve the Catholic community from the churches of Our Lady of Walsingham and St Brendan’s, with Canon Mark Floody as Parish Priest.
The new parish was formally established by decree of Archbishop Richard Moth, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Northampton, with the decree taking effect on 30 July 2026.
For Canon Mark, the creation of the new parish represents both a continuation of the story of Catholic faith in Corby and an opportunity to respond to the changing needs of the Church and its people.
In his homily at the celebrations, he reflected on the generations of Catholics whose faith helped establish the communities and churches that exist today.
“The strength of Corby community is that we have always come together to face challenges we face. Our parents built the parish churches we worship in.”
He acknowledged that the mission of the Church is not static, but develops as circumstances and communities change.
“Over the years mission and the ways we live it and respond to it changes.”
The creation of the new parish follows 18 months of discernment about how the Catholic community in Corby can respond to the challenges facing the Church today.
Throughout that period, Canon Mark said, the parish communities had continued to support one another.
“We have been discerning for the last 18 months how we can respond to these challenges of today. The community affirmed and supported each other.”
The new parish takes its name from one of the most familiar and deeply loved images of Christ in the Gospel: the Good Shepherd.
For Canon Mark, this image speaks directly to the heart of the Church’s mission.
“The image of the Good Shepherd reminds us that Jesus is always in search of the lost sheep. Through this image, the Lord reveals that each of us is precious to Him.”
It is an image of a Church that seeks, welcomes and accompanies people, particularly those who may feel lost or distant, and one that recognises the dignity and preciousness of every person.
The two Masses on 1 October were therefore not simply a marking of an organisational change. They were an opportunity to give thanks for the faith of generations who have gone before, while entrusting the future to God.
“As we move forward together,” Canon Mark said, “we celebrate and give thanks for the past whilst embracing that which is to come.”
He described the image of the Good Shepherd as a particular source of hope and unity for the new parish:
“We find an inspiration of unity in the image of the Good Shepherd. It is the perfect image as we embark on this new chapter in Corby.”
A new parish rooted in faith
The establishment of the Parish of the Good Shepherd was made by formal decree in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. Canon 515 §1 describes a parish as a stable community of Christ’s faithful within a particular Church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a parish priest under the authority of the diocesan bishop. Canon 515 §2 provides for the diocesan bishop to erect, suppress or alter parishes.
The decree signed by Archbishop Richard Moth also provides for the proper preservation and safeguarding of the parish and sacramental records of the former parishes in accordance with the law.
The creation of the new parish does not erase the history of the four communities that have come together. Instead, their faith, witness, traditions and memories become part of the story of the Parish of the Good Shepherd.
The Diocese of Northampton gives thanks for all those who have helped build and sustain Catholic life in Corby over many generations, and for the generosity and cooperation shown during the journey towards the new parish.
As the Parish of the Good Shepherd begins this new chapter, the Diocese asks Catholics across Northamptonshire to pray for Canon Mark Floody and the parishioners of Corby, that the Lord may guide them, strengthen their unity and help them to proclaim the Gospel with renewed hope.
