Priests:
Father Gregory Tobin
Parish Priest
I was born in Derby City Hospital in September 1958, and Baptised the
following month at St Albans Church, Chaddesden. Having been given the name
of Michael Walshe after my birth father from Claremorris, Co. Mayo, I was
then adopted by Mathew (Roscrea Tipperary) and Doreen (Leeds) Tobin (Nee
O’Neill) through the Catholic Children Society and renamed Gregory Michael
Tobin.
The family home was in Arnold, Nottingham. Together with my sister Deb and
brother Mark we attended The Good Shepherd School under the watchful eye of
Sister Patricia (Sister of St. Joseph of Peace) then onto Christ the King
Comprehensive during the time of Mr. John Bateson.
The Church provided a focus for the family. There was music, altar serving,
uniformed groups, youth clubs and discussion groups which included various
trips to The Briars Residential Centre where Fr Michael Bell was in charge.
Fr Owen O’Neill was the Assistant Priest during my formative years and he
encouraged me to consider a vocation to the Priesthood, having spoken of the
fulfilling and happy years he had experienced as a Priest. This got me
thinking and in 1977, when I made my formal application to Bishop
McGuinness, he sent me to the English College, Valladolid, Spain for 6 years
of study and preparation for the Priestly Ministry. This came as a bit of a
surprise as languages were not my strong point and the classes were all in
Spanish after the first year of introductions to it all.
Nevertheless, I always enjoy a challenge and set about learning Castellano
and getting to know the people in the parish of San Isidro with the PP Don
Jose. We seminarians helped out with the music and Catechesis for
Confirmation.Fr Peter Dooling, a Nottingham Diocesan Priest, was on the
staff of the college, and proved to be a great support to me. Sadly, he died
in 2011 whilst Parish Priest of Skegness.
During my time in Valladolid my father sadly died in April 1979. My mother
then relocated from Arnold to the parish of St. Joseph’s, Leicester, to be
closer to her own mother and sisters.
In 1983 I was ordained to the Ministerial Priesthood by Bishop McGuiness at
St Joseph’s, Derby. I have since ministered at the Sacred Heart, Carlton
(1983), St Joseph’s, Derby (1983-1989), SS Peter and Paul, Lincoln (1989)
The Briars Residential Youth Centre (1990-2001), the Holy Spirit, West
Bridgford (2001-2011), together with Our Lady of Grace, Cotgrave
(2003-2011), and St Margaret Clitheroe, Keyworth (2003-2006), All Saints,
Old Glossop and St Mary Crowned, Glossop (2011-2019), and here I am back in
Derby, in St Mary’s parish.
My role in the Diocese also involves organising the Diocesan Pilgrimage to
Lourdes every July.I enjoy playing golf, watching sport, playing music, and
going back to Spain whenever I can!
Canon Tim O'Sullivan
Assistant Priest
Fr Tim was born in 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. before moving at the age of 2 months to County Kerry, Eire. He is the eldest of six children. He studied for the priesthood at Kilkenny College and was ordained on 4 June 1961 for the Diocese of Nottingham.
His first appointment was as Assistant Priest at St Mary’s, Derby under the tutelage of the then Parish Priest, Monsignor Humphrey Wilson. Since then Fr Tim has been Assistant Priest at Holy Souls, Scunthorpe, and at St Mary’s, Worksop. In 1972 he was appointed Parish Priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Mickleover, Derby, and then in 1976 moved to Holy Trinity Parish, Newark.
He returned to St Mary’s, Derby in 1993 and can often be seen riding his bike around the parish when visiting his parishioners. In 2000 he was made Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. His main interests outside of the parish are golf, the Kerry football team and his extended family – not necessarily in that order.
