The Board of Trustees has appointed Father Chris Gillespie to the position of Board Chaplain, effective July 1, 2022.  Father Chris replaces Deacon Jerry Lozon, who has announced his retirement after having served as Chaplain for 10 years.

“I am pleased to announce that Father Chris, with the support of Bishop Fabbro, has accepted the invitation to serve as our next Board Chaplain,” says John Van Heck, Chair of the Board.  “He is no stranger to St. Clair Catholic.  As our neighbour and friend, he has frequently celebrated Mass for Board staff, both at Our Lady Help of Christians Church and here at the Catholic Education Centre and we are delighted that he will be joining the Board in this new role.”

Father Chris is currently the Pastor of the Kent Lambton Roman Catholic Family of Parishes, which includes St. Michael, Dresden; Sacred Heart Port Lambton; and Holy Family and Our Lady Help of Christians, Wallaceburg.

Father Chris was born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of one-and-a-half years.  He grew up in Sarnia and attended St. Patrick’s Catholic High School.  He studied for the priesthood at St. Peter’s Seminary in London and was ordained in 1997 at St. Peter’s Cathedral.

Following ordination, Father Chris served as Associate Pastor at the former St. Pius X, now Holy Family parish in London, Mary Immaculate in London and St. Peter’s Cathedral.  For 11 years, Father Chris served as a Reserve Army Chaplain and did a tour of duty in Bosnia.

On his return to Canada, he served as Pastor of Immaculate Conception in Stratford, St. Joseph in Clinton, St. James in Seaforth and St. Patrick’s in Dublin.  In addition to his current role as Pastor for the Kent Lambton Roman Catholic Family of Parishes, he is also Episcopal Vicar for the Kent Deanery.

“I also want to pay tribute to Deacon Jerry and express our great appreciation for his long service to this Board, as a teacher, principal and finally Board Chaplain,” says Scott Johnson, Director of Education. 

Previous to his appointment as Chaplain, Deacon Jerry Lozon was a former teacher and principal with St. Clair Catholic, having retired in 2005.

“With experience, wisdom and deep faith, he has served four Directors of Education and three Boards of Trustees in the role of Board Chaplain.  On behalf of the entire Board, I say a heartfelt ‘thank you.’”

In the photo are (L-R) Scott Johnson, Director of Education; Father Chris Gillespie, newly appointed Board Chaplain; and John Van Heck, Chair of the Board.