Contact Us

We are a small, dedicated team at the Diocesan Vocations Office, who work together to support discerners, help promote a culture of vocation across the Archdiocese of Birmingham and administer the Clergy Training Fund.

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For general enquiries, send an email to office@vocations.org.uk or you can contact a specific member of our team using the details below.

Our address:

Diocesan Vocations Office

St. Mary's College, Oscott

Chester Road

Sutton Coldfield

B73 5AA

Follow us on social media:

@AskInvitePray on Twitter

@BirminghamVocations on Facebook

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Meet Our Team

Fr. Craig Szmidt

Vocations Director
​0121 321 5142

07306 409264
​fr.craig@vocations.org.uk

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Fr. Craig joined the Vocations Office in July 2021, having previously been a parish priest in Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

Kathryn Bayliss

Assistant to the

Vocations Director

& Guild of St. Stephen Administrator
​0121 321 5144
kathryn@vocations.org.uk

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Kathryn has been at the Vocations office since 2016. Prior to that, she was a Senior Learning Mentor at one of our diocesan schools. She is married and has four children and one grandchild.

Deacon Owen Gresty

Vocation Promotion

Outreach Fieldworker
​0121 321 5135

07305 262364
deacon.owen@vocations.org.uk

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Deacon Owen is a permanent deacon of the archdiocese (ordained 2018) whose background is in teaching. He is married with two sons.

Kathie Sanghera

Clergy Training Fund Administrator
0121 321 5137
​ctf@vocations.org.uk

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Kathie worked for the NatWest Bank for 15 years. She left to care for her daughters, and after they reached school age, she joined the Diocesan Vocations Office, being involved in the CTF.

Tharushi Perera

Vocation Promotion

Outreach Fieldworker
​0121 321 5139

07305 273632
tharushi@vocations.org.uk

Tharushi is currently on maternity leave.

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Tharushi is married and has a background in engineering and supply chain management. She particularly enjoys her work in promoting vocations within the Church.

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Ann O'Rourke

Gift Aid Administrator
0121 321 5136
​giftaid@vocations.org.uk

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Ann is married with 7 children and 12 grandchildren and is a parishioner of St. Nicholas, Boldmere. She previously worked in the Civil Service and joined the Diocesan Vocations Office and Clergy Training Fund in 1980.