I was a nurse in various roles for 30 years, prior to being Ordained in 2013 and served as a Parish priest for 6 years in Durham Diocese. In 2019 I returned to the NHS as a Hospital Chaplain in the Newcastle Foundation Trust.I stepped down from full-time work last year and whilst enjoying an extended visit to Italy in the spring, we visited St Leonard's at a time Revd Peter Casparian was serving as Chaplain. Through the ongoing friendship and encouragement of Peter and Marguerite, we consider that we have already established a number of valuable connections with some if not all of you and look forward to being able to deepen and widen those relationships during my forthcoming Chaplaincy.Neil and I are very grateful for this opportunity to walk alongside you in this Holy season. We look forward to meeting you all, sharing our stories and simply enjoying all that Assisi has to offer.
My name is Fr Michael Bailey. I am currently on Sabbatical from my role as a Vicar of St Stephen’s Lewisham, Southeast London. I have been ordained over thirteen years and have studied and served in a variety of places in England. I was a Nurse before this and worked in Cancer Care for ten years.I have chosen St Francis as the focus of my Sabbatical because I am impressed by his care of the sick and seeking out those in our society that are on the ‘edges.’ During my time here I am very happy to meet you and have conversations. I am Irish by background and that means I am very chatty.{END}
