Fr Peter Hollins, Parish Priest
In September 2010. Canon Gerard Hetherington retired from Petersfield Parish and his place was taken by Fr Peter Hollins, previously parish priest of Southsea. This profile appeared in the Winter 2010 edition of The Dome.
Born near Macclesfield, Fr Hollins grew up in Oldham, was educated at local schools and studied divinity at Ushaw College, Durham. He was ordained by Bishop Holland in 1976 to serve in the Diocese of Salford. After appointments in Salford City, Eccles and Rochdale, the great move south took place.
Bishop Emery of Portsmouth Diocese had expressed his concern
to Bishop Patrick Kelly in Salford that his loan of priests to serve the needs
of the wider Church had left him a little short of personnel. Bishop Kelly offered to see if there
were any priests in Salford Diocese who would be prepared to work in the South
for a few years. Fr Hollins took up the offer and remembers his initial welcome
by Fr Peter Doyle (known to some of us and now Bishop of Northampton Diocese)
and a fine lunch of white steamed fish. Bishop Emery invited him to his study
and asked “Do you know where Basingstoke is?”
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After serving at Holy Ghost, Basingstoke and St Joseph’s,
Havant, Fr Hollins asked to remain in the Diocese and was incardinated by our
present Bishop. This was followed by appointments to Woodley (near Reading),
Southsea and now Petersfield.
Fr Hollins wanted to learn
about our parish and to meet parishioners quickly. He invited as many as
possible to come to the presbytery, introduce themselves and speak about their
membership of the parish. His first impressions? “The notebook is now complete
and it’s time to reflect."
"One observation; a number of parishioners are very
generous of time and effort for the benefit of the whole. I am not sure how
aware one group is of the efforts of others. The community would be
strengthened by better communication; there is a powerful grapevine, but its
reach is limited!”
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Fr Hollins is Chaplain to the Diocesan Catholic Disability
Fellowship and is concerned that we address the particular needs of people. “We
don’t know what we don’t know” (shades of Donald Rumsfeld) “until those with
disability learn that they are well provided for and introduce themselves.”
After consultation, weekday Masses have moved to 11:30am to
allow more flexible use of his time. Fr Hollins feels it is particularly
important to carry the Christian message beyond the parish and PACT, and into
the local community. He shares many parishioners’ concerns to find ways of
providing support for young people during their formative years, particularly
in an area where there is no easy access to Catholic schools.
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