A fresh chapter has started for Catholic worshippers in the villages of Bearsted and Harrietsham. The local community recently came together to welcome their new parish priest, Father Oliver Antão, during a formal induction ceremony.
Father Oliver has been appointed to lead both St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and the Church of the Good Shepherd. This transition follows the retirement of Father Geoffrey Pointer. For 14 years, Father Geoffrey was a mainstay of the local congregation before he decided to step down.
A warm welcome at St Peter’s
The induction Mass took place on a Monday evening at St Peter’s. It proved to be a significant event for the local area. The Bishop led the service, and the pews were filled with people from across the village and further afield.
Once the prayers concluded, the congregation moved to the parish hall for a reception. This gave locals a chance to chat with Father Oliver in a more relaxed setting. It served as a cheerful way to celebrate the start of his ministry in this part of Kent.
The journey from Blackfen to Maidstone
Father Oliver has not moved from too far away. His previous post was at Our Lady of the Rosary in Blackfen, which sits near Sidcup. Many people from his old parish actually made the journey to Bearsted to see him start his new role. They joined local residents in wishing him well for the future.
While the formal ceremony was held in December, his work actually began a few weeks earlier. He took up his duties on 30 November to coincide with the first Sunday of Advent. Father Oliver has already started making his mark on the church diary. He has introduced a 30-minute period of quiet Adoration before every weekend Mass. He has also updated some of the weekday service times to better suit the needs of the community.
Remembering Father Geoffrey’s 14 years
The change in leadership comes after Father Geoffrey Pointer’s decision to retire. He was a very familiar face in both villages and is often credited with bringing the parish into the digital age. When the pandemic hit, he set up a YouTube channel. This allowed people from all over the world to watch services from Bearsted from their own homes.
Before he left, Father Geoffrey sent a heartfelt message to his flock. He thanked them for their support, noting that he always met with “kindness, warmth, generosity and understanding” during his time there. Although he is no longer the parish priest, he has decided to stay local. He has moved to a house in nearby Loose, so he remains a neighbour to the community he served for over a decade.
Two churches with a unique past
The parish is slightly unusual because it looks after two very different buildings. St Peter’s in Bearsted serves as the main base. However, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Harrietsham has a fascinating history of its own.
The Harrietsham church was built in 1881. Originally, it was an Anglican mission church for the labourers who were building the railway line between Maidstone and Ashford. The Catholic Church eventually bought the building around 1970. Just seven years later, it joined up with the Bearsted parish to form the combined community that exists today.
Looking to the future
Father Oliver appears very excited about the years ahead. He wrote to his new congregation recently about the importance of “growing stronger together” as 2025 approaches. He is keen for people to get involved and share their talents to keep the parish lively and welcoming.
Daily life at the churches is continuing as usual. Father Oliver is now taking over the classes for young children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion. These programmes are a vital part of keeping the village church spirit alive for the next generation of worshippers.
