Westminster: Fr O'Boy appointed director of new agency

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has appointed Fr Michael O'Boy to direct the Diocese of Westminster's new Agency for Evangelisation, established as part of process of pastoral renewal outlined in the Diocesan White Paper, Communion and Mission.

The Agency of Evangelisation will help to promote the key pastoral priorities of the formation of adults and young people in faith and in assisting and developing small communities, many of which came into existence during the 'At Your Word, Lord' programme.

Fr Michael, currently sub-administrator of Westminster Cathedral, will take up his duties in a full-time capacity after Easter.

He said: "I am deeply aware of the trust which the Cardinal has placed in me by asking me to undertake the leadership of the Agency for Evangelisation and responsibility for two of their priorities outlined in his recently published White Paper; the formation of Adults and Young People and the development and support of small faith communities.

"In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi Pope Paul VI reminded us that evangelising is 'the grace and vocation proper to the Church' (14) and that 'there is no true evangelisation if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed' (22). My hope for the new Agency for Evangelisation is that we will help equip our people with the vocabulary necessary for this task, and for the fruitful sharing of responsibility in their parishes.

"The Agency's initial concern in conjunction with the Diocesan Education Service, will be to complete an audit of all that is available in the diocese in terms of adult formation. I will also be concerned to understand what, in terms of any future formation, is considered necessary for preparing parishioners to take a more active role in the workings of our parishes.

"I shall miss the community at Westminster Cathedral but I am looking forward to the challenge of helping our people towards a Christian maturity. This will enable them to communicate the Faith to those they encounter and, together with each other and their parish priests, take an active and responsible part in the life of their parishes. With your prayers and God's grace I will endeavour to do my best."

Fr Michael was born in Camden in 1968. His family have been parishioners of St Mary's, East Finchley since 1975. Fr Michael attended St Aloysius, Somers Town and Our Lady of Lourdes, Finchley before going to Bishop Douglas Catholic High for his secondary education. Having obtained a degree in History and Politics at the University of York, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge where he completed a Ph.D on the 'Origins of Essex Recusancy'.

Fr Michael studied for the priesthood at Allen Hall, the Westminster diocesan seminary, and having served his deaconate at Enfield, was ordained priest in June 2000.

His first appointment was to Our Lady Help of Christians, Kentish Town. In 2002 he moved to Westminster Cathedral where he has served as Sub-Administrator since July 2003.

In addition to his work at Westminster Cathedral Fr Michael has been involved with the writing and editing of the material produced by At Your Word, Lord.