The Servite Prior Provincial of the Province of the Isles, Father Patrick, OSM presided over the opening of the Catholic Chaplaincy Centre at which the Chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council, Cllr Loraine Morgan- Brinkworth, was Guest of Honour. The Centre is a new and exciting initiative in Bath. The refurbishment of rooms in the basement of St. John's Presbytery in the centre of Bath has led to the creation of a modern Catholic Chaplaincy Centre, easily accessible to Bath's Catholic Youth and friends. The Centre is designed to cater for the needs of the young Catholics and friends in the Bath area. Students at the two universities and other colleges together with youth in the wider community are invited to use the Centre as a base to organise and run activities in town, and are already making use of the facilities with film nights, lecture and meetings.

The new complex is made up of a large meeting room, entrance hall and toilet, together with a fully equipped kitchen, and video entry phone. There is also a music system and a small collection of religious books and tapes. A data projector for presentations can be hired.

The Centre will be open for drop-in sessions at announced times throughout the academic year (please see www.bath-catholics.org.uk for further details). In addition, it will play host to a variety of activities for Bath Catholic Youth and already is a meeting place for Cathsocs of both universities in the City.

Father Bill OSM, who has been the Catholic Chaplain to the Universities in Bath for the past eight years, expressed his happiness at this development and thanked the Prior Provincial of his own religious Order of friars for honouring the work being done in Bath with his presence on this occasion. He also thanked the Chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council for her very kind words and support for the work of CCC. Fr.Bill is very keen for young people to take the initiative and organise appropriate events at the Catholic Chaplaincy Centre. If students and young people would like to organise something then please contact the Chaplain.

The Catholic Chaplaincy Centre is located at St John’s Catholic Church, South Parade, Bath, BA2 4AF - a short walk from Bath city centre and the city’s bus and train stations.

If you wish to find out more about the Centre, and discover the latest on what is going on, please visit the Bath Catholic Chaplaincy website www.bath-catholics.org.uk

If you wish to use the Centre for activities, then please contact the Catholic Chaplain to the Universities in Bath (tel: 01225 832096, email: catholicchaplain@bath.ac.uk or catholicchaplain@bathspa.ac.uk or chaplain@bath-catholics.org.uk.