At a Capitular Mass at St John the Baptist Cathedral, the Bishop of East Anglia, Alan Hopes, installed Fr Pat Cleary as a Canon of the diocese.
Canon David Paul, Dean of St John’s Cathedral, said: “I would like to welcome Canon Pat Cleary into the Chapter of Canons. He brings with him wisdom and great experience of the Diocese. In addition, his tremendous work in encouraging vocations has been invaluable in the mission of the Church in East Anglia.
“He will, I know, give great service to the Chapter of Canons and the diocese as a whole.”
The ceremony took place on Wednesday 21st October and means that Fr Cleary is now part of the College of Consultors and the Chapter of Canons for the diocese. Canons fulfil the role of Consultors until they reach 75, at which point they are to tender their resignations as Consultors and become Canons Emeriti.
Fr Cleary celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination in 2018. He initially studied at Campion House, run by the Jesuits, then spent two years at the seminary at Osterley before attending All Hallows University in Dublin.
At the age of 40 he went to Santa Cruz in Bolivia for three years with the St James’ Missionary Society. He became the assistant director of the Society and spent five years in the USA in Boston, visiting Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, where the Society served.
He is currently parish priest of St Thomas of Canterbury in Wymondham.
Picture: Fr Pat Cleary vested in a Mozetta (short cape) with Bishop Alan Hopes.