Announcement
New Vicar for St Mark's and St Mary's Island
We are pleased to announce the service for the Institution, Induction and Installation of the Rev Catharina Olsson Gisleskog as Vicar will take place on Tuesday 25th October at 7pm in church and online.
To watch, click below.
About Catharina
The Bishop of Rochester is pleased to announce that The Revd Catharina Olsson Gisleskog is to be appointed the next Vicar of the Benefice of St Mark's with St Mary's Island, Gillingham.
Catharina is currently the Assistant Minister at St Mary's in Hampton (London Diocese) where she completed her curacy. St Mary's is a vibrant parish which offers a variety of worship and is committed to engaging with the local community. This experience will certainly hold her in very good stead here. Prior to that Catharina served at All Saints Isleworth, also in London Diocese.
She is passionate about building healthy, prayerful churches where people can grow in faith and be a loving example to the community. She is very much looking forward to getting to know the church family and local residents and building on the excellent work already started which makes St Mark's with St Mary’s Island an integral part of the local community.
Catharina was born in Sweden and moved to England with her husband in 1993. She trained at St Mellitus College, and before ordination spent a number of years as a Conference Producer organising international professional events and workshops.
Away from her priestly ministry Catharina enjoys jogging, which keeps her fit for those opportunities to ski with family. She enjoys playing the piano and singing, and growing up in Sweden developed her love of language: she speaks Swedish, English, French and German.
Catharina is married to Per, who is a Pharmaceutical Scientist and they have three grown up children, Fridolf, Emma & Joel. They hope to move to the parish in September ready for her licensing in the autumn. We are awaiting a date for her licensing from the Bishop's Office and this will be shared with you as soon as it is known. In the meantime, please pray for Catharina, Per and their family as they prepare for their move and Catharina's new ministry amongst us.
Catharina Writes:
I am humbled and delighted to have been appointed the next Vicar of St Mark's with St Mary’s Island, Gillingham. I am so excited to getting to know you and Gillingham and to work together, and I am expectant to see what God will do and how He will refresh and grow us in this next season.
You are in my prayers and I’d be grateful for your prayers for us.
Blessings,
Rev'd Catharina Olsson Gisleskog
