Hi I'm Francis Stewart, the Chaplaincy Co-ordinator at Our Lady's.

I will be the new Chaplaincy Co-ordinator from September as Ben O'Flynn has left to train to be a priest!

I am excited to start this job because I feel like I am joining a community where people look after each other through all the ups and downs of school life. I hope to give pupils and staff a sense that they are each a crucial part of Jesus Christ's mission of love so they can carry that out into the world in whatever they do. 

At the weekend, I'm involved in St Bernadette's music ministry, playing guitar. In my free time, I'm easy to please, a trip to the seaside will suffice. I'm a big cricket fan, though my career peaked aged 13 with a 6-wicket haul for Torrisholme CC.

This year we welcome Fr Stephen Bamber to our Chaplaincy team.  He is new to the priesthood and serves in the Cathedral Parish of St Peter and the Lancaster Martyrs.  We are delighted to have Fr. Stephen join the Our Lady's family. 

Fr Stephen Bamber was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lancaster on 27th June 2026.  Before entering formation, he worked in the drug and alcohol treatment sector in a variety of roles, including training and programme development, service management and frontline outreach.  He has a particular passion for working with those on the margins, and for reflecting on how Christ seeks out the lost, meets us in our brokenness, and calls us to new life.  He has recently been appointed Assistant Priest at the Cathedral Parish of St Peter and the Lancaster Martyrs, and Priest Chaplain to Our Lady’s Catholic College.

Fr. Stephen Bamber