By Con McHugh

On Thursday 17 October 2024 at St George’s in Worcester the Mass of Induction of Canon John Y Bathula as Parish Priest for the parishes of Our Lady Queen of Peace and St George was celebrated by Bishop David Evans. 

The church was full with parishioners from his current and previous parishes.

Following Mass the celebrations continued in the parish centre with food and drink provided by parishioners.

A word of welcome and gratitude from Very Reverend Canon John Y Batthula 

I would like to welcome and thank Bishop David Evans, for coming to induct me as Parish Priest of the Parishes of St George and Our Lady Queen of Peace, Worcester. 

I would also like to welcome and thank all priests, deacons and religious sisters who have come this evening from different parishes to join me in this celebration. 

I welcome all of you from the parish and all those who have come from other parishes where I have worked, especially those from the parishes of the Immaculate Conception, and Holy Trinity Hethe, Bicester, where I spent 11 very happy years as Parish Priest. Thank you for coming along to join me in these celebrations here and for your generosity. 

I am very grateful to our Choirs from our two Parishes for leading our singing. Special thanks to pupils from St George's, Our Lady Queen of Peace and Blessed Edward's Secondary Schools for their singing too. God bless you all. A very big thank you to our altar servers. 

I thank all those who have helped to set up the centre and prepared our buffet. A very big thank you to all who contributed to our delicious finger buffet supper. 

Finally, I would like to thank my family for their continued support and my heartfelt thanks to all my friends for all the support they continue to give me. 

May Mary, our blessed Mother guide and lead us to her Son, Jesus our Lord. 

God bless you all. 
Canon John Y Batthula 

A brief note: Very Reverend Canon John Y Batthula:

The Parish Priest Very Reverend Canon John Y Batthula is the 6th incumbent to hold the title Parish Priest since the Archdiocese of Birmingham has taken charge of St George's Catholic Parish from the Jesuits in 1990. 

Canon John took charge on 23rd August 2024 and became formally inducted as the parish priest of both of our parishes of St George's and Our Lady Queen of Peace, on 17th October 2024 by Bishop David Evans. 

Highly thought of, missed in his former parishes of Immaculate Conception, Bicester and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hethe, he was well supported by his former parishioners at the induction Mass. 

Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on 10th March 1992, Canon John had previously served at Our Lady of the Rosary and St Therese of Lisieux, Saltley in Birmingham, St Elizabeth's in Coventry and Our Lady and St Hubert's in Warley. 

One of his accomplishments has been the setting up of the Batthula Care Trust which seeks to help lepers, the poor and elderly through the provision of work, education, medical aid and accommodation for people in India who would otherwise be deprived of these necessities of life. 

He completed his Seminary formation in India and at the invitation of the Archbishop of Birmingham, came to the archdiocese at the beginning of February 1995. Along with his ecclesiastical studies, Philosophy and Theology, he read Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Politics; Master's degree in Education and Master's degree in Canon Law at Heythrope College, University of London. 

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