Induction of Fr Tom Lynch

17th November 2018

Fr Tom Lynch, curate at OLI from 2013 – 2015, was inducted as parish priest of The English Martyr’s, Strood, by The Most Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark.

The Ceremony of Induction is an occasion when a new Parish Priest is formally presented to the parish in a liturgical context. The ceremony is so arranged to remind priest and people of their responsibility together before God to serve Christ in his Church, and by their holiness and the example of their lives, individually and as a local community, to promote the mission of their Lord.

During the Rite of Induction, Fr Tom, after The Dean had read the Letter of Appointment, and with his hand on the Book of Gospels, made his Profession of Faith.  This was followed by the signing of the letter of appointment by Fr Tom and the Archbishop, various declarations of commitment between Fr Tom and the parish community, and then he was presented (ceremonially) with the Keys of the Parish and his Document of Appointment.   Finally, he greeted representatives of ministers of other Christian Communities, and the Mayor of Medway and the local MP.

The Mass was followed by a fabulous reception in the hall where the local community had gone to town by preparing every conceivable item of food possible from a variety of cultures. 

It was wonderful that several parishioners were able to travel to Strood to support Fr Tom and congratulate him on behalf of all at OLI. 

Fr Tom, we congratulate you on your first appointment as a parish priest, and we hope and pray that your ministry in Strood will be filled with much joy and happiness. 

Andrew Richardson