Father Andrew Shaw (Roman Catholic)
I was born in 1973 in Sydney Australia and came to the United Kingdom with my British parents when they return home to Newcastle. We settled in Northumberland close to where my Dad found work and I lived there for majority of my life (so far). In 1989 I left school, found employment and worked for the next 10 years in banking here on the Mainland and also Off Shore in the Channel Islands.
In 1999 I entered Seminary (Priests Training) at Ushaw College, Durham. In 2003 after graduating with a BA in Theology and Ministry I left Seminary taking time to discern what direction God was asking me to live my life. During this time, I found employment with Byker Bridge Housing Association. I worked and managed a number of schemes working with vulnerable adults from the age of 16. This varied from the re settlement of young offenders to supporting people with a variety of complex needs.
In 2006 I re-entered Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Since then I have worked in Durham, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Newcastle City Centre. I have also been a priest chaplain, Governor and Associate Governor to a number of primary and secondary schools. I was asked to move here to Newcastle in January 2016 to be Parish Priest of Saint Andrews, Worswick Street and Catholic Chaplain to the Freeman and RVI hospitals and also the Centre for Aging and Vitality along with ministering to Catholic patients who are receiving palliative care in the Marie Currie Hospice.
September 2018 a new chapter begins. I was asked by the Bishop of the Diocese to minister to the Catholic students who are arriving and living in and around the city of Newcastle. I am excited and looking forward to undertaking this new ministry, working alongside the wider chaplaincy team and meeting you regardless of whether you are a person of faith, just looking or of no faith. Take care and I hope to see you around on Campus. Do say hello if you recognise me from my photo.
Catholic Chaplaincy
14 Windsor Terrace
Jesmond
