But now we have a community of young, French-speaking, traditional priests stepping into the care of parishes with dwindling, aging congregations and buildings left too long without maintenance. A tall order for anyone to tackle, which REGINA’s Michael Durnan well knows as a parishioner at St Walburge’s. Recently Michael sat down with Canon Gwenael Cristofoli to discuss his plans.
REGINA: You arrived at St. Walburge’s Shrine Church in Preston, England, a year ago. Where have you worked before?
CANON CRISTOFOLI: My former Apostolates were both in France. From 2004 to 2008 I was appointed to Port Marly. I was an assistant priest, student in the University of Paris, and chaplain of a school and a college. From 2008 to 2016, I was appointed to Rennes, Brittany. My ministry was the equivalent of a parish priest and I was also the chaplain to a school. In addition, I had the joy during these years to be a spiritual director at the seminary of the Institute in Gricigliano, Tuscany.
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