WelCom May 2018:
Parting parish priest of Wellington’s St Mary of the Angels and chaplain to Marist St Pats Rugby Football Club, Fr Barry Scannell, was farewelled at MSP’s crowded Hataitai Clubrooms last month. Fr Barry Scannell has been appointed parish priest to The Catholic Parish of Napier – Te Pārihi Katorika ki Ahuriri. MSP’s Club President Mr Pat Martin gave the following address.
Fr Barry Scannell and rugby commentator-journalist Keith Quinn at a Marist St Pats Rugby function. Photo: Supplied
Fr Barry was an accomplished halfback for Marist St Pats, playing in the club’s junior grades in the late 70s and early 80s. His broad background of mixing with many different people has stood him in good stead in his role as the club chaplain. Barry is a demonstrative MSP supporter – quick with a quip and not slow to let fly with a comment about what’s happening on the field.
He has been on the club’s Board for five years and his role at MSP is part of a wider pastoral role in the Wellington Catholic community. Fr Barry has been a driving force behind the outstanding restoration of St Mary of the Angels Inner City Church. For that work he was recognised in this year’s New Years’ Honours list. When I asked him would he like to be known as ‘Father Sir Barry Scannell’ or ‘Sir Father Barry Scannell’, he said, ‘Barry is just fine’.
Fr Barry has always taken the Club Mass as a key event in the life of MSP – the only black mark in his record of service to the club being six days after his blessing of the Premier team at last year’s club Mass, they went out and lost a Jubilee Cup semi-final!
He has taken on an outstanding pastoral role – care of members, such as visiting stalwart supporter Leo Buchanan last year before Leo passed away. He has an extraordinary network of friends and contacts across Wellington and we’ve been very fortunate to have him as part of our club for the past decade.
Thanks to Fr Barry for all your work, your support and all the very best in your new parish priest appointment to the Catholic Parish of Napier.