About Us

Parish Priests over the years

Fr David Cain

(Parish priest from 3rd February 2024 to the present day)

Father David has been appointed as parish priest to St Joseph's on 3rd February 2024 following his appointment to the churches of Sacred Heart, St Margaret Mary and Our Lady's, Rushey Mead in September 2022. Under his guidance these parishes formed the Holy Family cluster parishes in our area of Leicester. With the introduction of Fr David to our parish we at St Joseph's now complete the Holy Family cluster parishes.


Father David was born in Derby and has served as a Catholic Priest since 2003. His first posting was as assistant to Monsignor John Lally at Sacred Heart and St Margaret Mary Parish in Leicester, followed by moves to the Cathedral in Nottingham, working for the Catholic Diocese of Nottingham as Vocations Director before doing two years further study in Leuven in Belgium in Ethics and Moral Theology. Upon returning to England, he then served in Coalville (home of Palitoy Star Wars figures and Eagle Eye Action Man) followed by a move to the Briars Catholic Youth Retreat Centre in Crich, Derbyshire, before moving back to Derby. Fr David then came full circle in returning to Sacred Heart and St Margaret Mary and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Leicester in September 2022.


As well as being a Parish Priest, Fr David also ministers in education both with young people and adults and in his leisure time enjoys the cinema, running and supporting a small (and humble) local football team up the M1.

Fr John Daley IC

(Priest serving the Parish from February 2001 until 2nd February 2024)

Father John came to St Joseph's as our parish priest in February 2001. He is a member of the Institute of Charity, a Religious congregation founded by Antonio Rosmini in 1828. (The members are called "Rosminians" after their founder). Father John comes from Cardiff in Wales, is proud of his homeland, his Irish background, his British nationality and learning to become European when he studied in Rome.


He came home to Newport in Wales, too late to play rugby but refereed instead, and served in St. Mary's, St. Michael's and St. Patrick's for a number of happy years. Then on to Our Lady and St. Charles in Wisbech, East Anglia, for six more happy years before he came to Leicester to serve at St. Theresa's, Birstall, for ten years and now at St. Joseph's. He is grateful for the many happy memories he carries of Wales, Yorkshire, Canada, New Zealand, Rome . . . . . and he returns to Rome every year to guide pilgrims, sharing his love and knowledge of the city.


Through his homilies, retreats and 'Question of Faith' discussion groups Fr John has helped many on their journeys of faith and his book "Getting to Know the Bible"  (published by Redemptorist Publications) is used widely to guide further study.


Fr John looks after the spiritual direction of the Watermead Apostolate, begun in 1992, whilst in St Theresa's parish, Birstall, and over the years the apostolate has shared Fr John's ministry in arranging the pilgrimages he leads to Rome and other pilgrimage destinations in Italy, Malta and France. The apostolate has published several of Fr John's writings and articles through its 'Watermead Pathways' series and other publications and Fr John writes the background for the Sunday readings in their weekly free download  'Lord's Day' newsletter.


Below is a link to the last mass celebrated by Fr John at St Joseph's on 29th October. Unfortunately, the following Monday he had a serious reaction to a chemotherapy drug and was taken into hospital.

Monsignor Peter O'Dowd

(Parish Priest from 1976 to 2000)

Monsignor O'Dowd moved to the parish of St Joseph's in 1976 and remained as parish priest until his death on 24th November , 2000, whilst in St Joseph's church discussing the then refurbishment taking place.  He was responsible for securing funding for the new Blessed Sacrament Chapel (donated by Paul Cronin), the stained glass windows (the Murphy family) and, from various donators, the present magnificent organ that dominates the balcony at rear of the church.


Peter O'Dowd was born on 16th July, 1924 in Nottingham, the fifth child in a family of ten.  Two of his brothers became priests, Father William, who died in 1992 and Father Anthony.  Father Peter O'Dowd was ordained in Rome on 17th December, 1949, and returned to the Nottingham Diocese to begin his ministry as priest. His early appointments as curate were at St Mary's in Glossop, Holy Souls in Scunthorpe and St Joseph's in Derby. His first appointment as parish priest was to St Joseph's in Shirebrooke. In 1962 he was asked to take on the parish of Holy Trinity in Newark and in 1964 the new Bishop James McGuinness asked Father Peter to become one of this Vicars General and with this responsibility came the title of Monsignor. He would represent the bishop at various meetings and events and deputise for him at Confirmations.

Fr James Leahy

(Parish Priest from 1942 to 1976)

When Father James came to St Joseph's in 1942 it was to take on a new parish still celebrating mass in a hut, formerly an old stable (the present day Watermead Centre). From these humble beginnings he set about providing the community with a temporary church in 1952 (now the parish hall) and, seeing the needs of a scattered parish, a chapel of Ease on the Nether hall estate in 1958, which was dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.


In 34 years of service to the parish Father Leahy was responsible for initiating many additions to parish life including the founding of St Joseph's Primary School, and the bringing of the Sisters of St Joseph's of Peace to the parish to teach and help in the apostolic work of the area.  He also had the dream of building the present St Joseph's church which he saw become reality in 1975.  On its completion he was asked to move by Bishop James McGuinness and he left the diocese in 1976, following a service of thanksgiving for his ministry to St Joseph's parish on Monday 9th August, retiring to his home town in County Kerry, Ireland.


Father James was born in 1913 and ordained priest in 1937 at All Hallows College, Dublin, and before coming to St Joseph's served the Nottingham diocese as assistant priest at St Hugh's, Lincoln, from 1937 to 1942.


He died peacefully on 22nd August 1999 in his native Kerry and in the service sheet for his memorial service held at St Joseph's reads the following "His memory shall never perish while St Joseph's Church stands to proclaim the glory of God".

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