Hi. I’m Reverend Deacon Michael McKearney – Rev for short. I’m so pleased and privileged to be working in chaplaincy here at St Edmund’s. I’ve spent the majority of my working life in Catholic Education in Warwickshire, Birmingham and Shropshire. It’s so good to be working and sharing faith with so many wonderful students and staff, and to be able to exercise the ministry of deacon in the place where I work.  I have been a permanent deacon for nine years and am attached to the local parish of Blessed Carlo Acutis, working with Fr Mark and Fr Alex. It’s really good to be able to work with many parishioners who are also part of our St Edmund’s family. We try to give as many opportunities as we can to help all develop their life of faith and relationship with God, so please pop into our beautiful school chapel when you’re free – to pray to enjoy the peace and quiet or for a chat about faith, life and especially football ☺

Hello everyone, my name is Fr Alex. I’m the newly appointed priest chaplain at St Edmunds beginning September 2023. I’m delighted to be with you! I am also the new assistant priest in the parish of Blessed Carlo Acutis which serves the churches of St Peter and St Paul in the city centre, St Michaels, Penn and St Bernadette’s, Wombourne.
On 29th July 2019 I was ordained as a deacon at Oscott College and 12th September 2020 I was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Bernard at St Chads Cathedral, Birmingham for our Archdiocese.
Before moving to Wolverhampton I was assistant priest at Sacred Heart and Holy Souls in Acocks Green, south Birmingham. Even after three years, I come to our school with a lot of experiences of priestly life and ministry in schools, hospitals and in formation of souls. When people ask me what football team I support, it will always be Burton Albion, as they are my local team where I grew up in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire. On a Saturday if I can I will try and go to a football match somewhere, and in evening I love to watch Match of the Day.
Outside of football one of my passions in life is to support all people and see them grow and become the people that God created them to be.
What is the role of a priest chaplain in school? It’s not just to offer the sacraments and pray the mass, which are important. But my role is to also accompany the life of the school, inside and outside of the classroom, to work alongside both students, teachers and support staff, to support the mission of Catholic education in our community.
May Saint Edmund and Blessed Carlo Acutis intercede for our school community and inspire us to grow in the love of God and neighbour.