Father Paul Daly takes up new role at Salford Cathedral

Heywood priest Father Paul Daly has taken on a new role at Salford Cathedral after 16 years at Our Lady and St Joseph’s.

For the last five years Fr Daly has been Episcopal Vicar for Formation, heading up a department of the Diocese of Salford on behalf of the Bishop, dealing with all aspects of Adult Formation across the 90+ parishes of the Salford Diocese.

After leaving his Heywood role on Tuesday (26 January), Fr Daly will now be doing this role full-time based at the Diocesan Offices at Salford Cathedral.

Fr Daly came to Heywood on 30 June 2004, becoming parish priest of St Joseph’s, succeeding Father Duggan.

Following the death of Father Ryan in 2010, he also took on responsibility for the parish of Our Lady and St Paul.

Both combined in 2011 to become the parish of Our Lady and St. Joseph.

Fr Daly said: “In my time in Heywood, our secondary school became Greater Manchester's only joint Roman Catholic and Church of England High School and has grown in numbers and in its reputation.

“I have also been a governor of St. Joseph's and Our Lady and St. Paul's Primary Schools.

“I have been involved in the foundation and development of the Heywood Foodbank. I have also been involved in Churches Together in Heywood and in developing relations with other faiths, particularly with my Muslim colleagues and friends.”

Fr Daly grew up in Denton and, in 1983, following his A-Levels, began his studies for the priesthood in the Venerable English College in Rome. The English College was founded in 1362 for visiting pilgrims and, following the accession of Elizabeth I, became a seminary for the training of priests.

On July 22 1990, Fr Daly was ordained a priest at his home parish of St. Mary’s in Denton.

 

 

His first appointment was to St. Edmund’s in Little Hulton in Salford where he was also part of the chaplaincy team at St. Ann’s Hospice.

Four years later, Fr Daly was asked to join the Catholic Missionary Society, a team of priests who preached parish missions around England and Wales. One of its first members, in 1905, was Father Thomas Byles who later died aboard the Titanic and whose cause has been suggested for canonisation.

Over the next six years, Fr Daly preached parish missions in every diocese in England and Wales, bar one, and in the Diocese of Gibraltar.

Following a year of studies at Boston College in the United States, Fr Paul returned to the Diocese of Salford and to St. Augustine’s parish, Chorlton on Medlock, the parish in which his father had been baptised, as had his parents and great grandparents before him. He was asked to be the Director of Junior Clergy, a role which carried responsibility for the priests in their first five years, and to work in Adult Faith Formation.

He celebrated his Silver Jubilee of being ordained as a priest in July 2015.
 

Read more: Father Paul Daly's Silver JubileePublished: 13 July 2015

 

Read more: St Joseph’s Church packed to celebrate Father Paul Daly’s silver jubileePublished: 25 July 2015

 

 

Speaking on Monday (25 January), John Heyworth, who runs Blue Rose News, said: “As Father Paul Daly says goodbye today to St Joseph's, Beverley and I would like to wish him all the best in the next chapter of his ministry.

“His legacy in Heywood will live on. On a personal level, we were honoured to have him conduct our wedding in 2015. Paul, it's been an pleasure to have had you as our priest and, more importantly, that you remain a friend.”

Former councillor and mayor, Zulfiqar Ali added: “He has done an excellent job for the borough of Rochdale; his great contribution for the diversity and community cohesion, and bringing all the faith people together.

“Hope with great responsibilities, he will continue his great work.”