British Xaverians

It can be said that Lanarkshire and the West of Scotland has been fertile land for the Xaverians. St. Francis Xavier College, open from 1960 to 1985, has contributed many vocations to the Xaverians and helping create a network of friends and collaborators in our missionary endeavours. And The Conforti Centre continues to offer a visible presence in continuing our mission!

The first British Xaverian was John Cassidy, from Musselbrugh. In 1967, he tragically died in Brazil and is buried there. Another British Xaverian was had returned to the Father is Paul Magurn. He died at the age of 33, in London in 1989 while preparing to leave for Sierra Leone. Tome Welsh, whose vision for The Conforti Centre was instrumental in its becoming reality, died in St. Andrew’s Hospice in 2017. Both Tom and Paul are buried in Old Monkland Cemetery in Coatbridge.

There are two British Xaverians who are working in the wider Xaverian world:

Ian Bathgate, from Coatbridge, left for Mexico in 2024.

John Fagan, from Coatbridge, is in Bangladesh and has been present there for many years.

And there are seven British Xaverians working in the UK

Archie Casey, from Hamilton, is part of the Coatbridge community and was present in Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Jim Clarke, from Coatbridge, is part of the Coatbridge community and is Chaplain to HMP Shotts and was present in the Amazon Region of Brazil.

John Convery, from Coatbridge, is part of the Manchester community and was present in Cameroon.

Patrick Duffy, from Newmains, is part of the Manchester community and was present in the Philippines.

Willie Hattie, from Kirkintilloch, is part of the Coatbridge community and was present in Colombia.

Steve McKend, is part of the Coatbridge community, and was present in Colombia.

Kevin Ryan, from Newarthill, is part of the Coatbridge community and was present in Sierra Leone.