Father Stuart Parkes was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Motherwell in 2001 by Bishop Joseph Devine in his home parish of St Cadocs, Halfway.

 

His first appointment was as Assistant Priest of St. Joseph’s, Blantyre before moving to be Assistant Priest of St Columbkille's Rutherglen where he remained for 3 years.

 

In 2012 he was appointed Parish Priest of St Edward's, Airdrie where he remained until 2015, taking up the position as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride following the appointment of Bishop Nolan as Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway in 2015.

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Father Parkes ministry in the Diocese has also involved time as Chaplain to St John Ogilvie and Holy Cross High Schools in Hamilton. He also served as the Diocesan Youth Chaplain until 2015 and has served as the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies from 2003-2017.

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In 2017, Father Parkes was appointed by the Bishops Conference of Scotland as Vice-Rector of the Pontifical Scots College in Rome. 

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After serving his three year term in Rome, Father Parkes returned to Scotland and to parish life in 2020, taking up his appointment as Parish Priest of Sacred Heart & St Gerard's Bellshill on 29 September 2020.

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As well as his parish duties, Fr Parkes is also Vice-Dean of the Motherwell & Central Deanery, a member of the Council of Priests and serves on the Diocesan Fabric and Planning Comittee.