Upon consultation and discernment, Bishop David has implemented the following amalgamations and changes to pastoral areas:
The two former Northampton pastoral areas of Northampton South and West and Northampton North and East are to be amalgamated. Canon Brendan Killeen, has been asked to take responsibilities as Dean of the enlarged Northampton Pastoral Area. He has generously accepted the invitation and the enhanced Pastoral Area began on Friday, 16 July, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The parishes of Wellingborough and Rushden will return to the North Northants Pastoral Area.
The Bishop has also made some changes to the Pastoral Area constituencies in Bedfordshire. This means that the Central Bedfordshire Pastoral Area will disappear from 1 September 2021: Dunstable will join the Luton Pastoral Area and the other parishes; St Peters, Biggleswade, Sacred Heart, Flitwick, Sacred Heart, Leighton Buzzard and St Francis of Assisi, Shefford will all join the current Bedford Pastoral Area.
With these changes Bishop David acknowledged the years of service and commitment and express my personal thanks to Fr Andrew Behrens and Canon Bennie Noonan as Deans in their respective Pastoral Areas.