A Day in the Life ...
............................ of an Industry based Chaplain


Canon Joseph Carter

Canon Joseph Carter
is parish priest of St Antony's, Trafford Park [email]
and former Rural Dean of St Catherine of Sienna's Deanery.

Sunday Mass at 10.30am. Daily Mass at 9:15am or, if a requiem Mass, later that day.
Offering the Mass is my most important work as a priest.

Our "parishioners" are the 50,000 people who work in Trafford Park - the biggest commercial and Industrial Estate in Greater Manchester. It is a great privilege to work alongside so many women and men of different Faiths or none. For many people, including some who may never go to a Church, Mosque, Synagogue or Temple, I can be their contact with the Lord. I thank God for the privilege in doing this work. Prayer is an essential bedrock of hope, strength and joy. It is the love of Our Lord - who lived, died and rose again for each person in the world. We are commissioned to share this love with others.

My dad was a barber in Ancoats, Manchester, a loving husband and father and, like my mam, a person of great faith and trust. My two sisters, my brother, and myself, were brought up in a loving Catholic home. My mam, daily Mass; my dad, 6.30am Mass at St. Michael's Ancoats, before going on his bike to shave the elderly men at Broughton House. My mam was in the Womens Confraternity; my dad president of the S.V.P. Society at St. Ann's Ancoats; my sisters in the Children of Mary and Legion of Mary.

I have been a priest for 49 years. Educated at St Gregory's, and St. Bede's College Manchester. A year as a student at the English College, Lisbon. A year off through ill health and then 5 years at Ushaw College, Durham. Thank you to all the people who have walked with me and given me such a great example.

The work of an Industrial Chaplain is visiting people at their work place in companies in Trafford Park and, as Chaplain to Greater Manchester Police, at their Headquarters in Manchester. Working with school leavers - entering into working life, and with the Young Christian Workers. Visiting those in poor health or with personal or family difficulties. Day Retreats and Conferences. Sharing in the lives of people where they are at. This is an important part of my life as a priest. I thank God for it and constantly ask that I am aware of the Lord walking with me every day.

I well remember when a former Bishop of Salford, Thomas Holland, who was a great supporter of the work I do as an Industrial Chaplain asking me if I wear my Roman collar when I visit people at work. I replied that if I did not, people would conclude later that I was deceiving them. When I first visit people in their workplace they are shocked to see a priest there. It is the people's ground ... I am a visitor, although usually a very welcome visitor.

Thank you to every person who has walked beside me in my life.

Being a priest is a great gift from God. Thank you Lord.

Article date: May 2008 ..