Trustees and Patrons
Trustees of the Society
Mgr Kevin McGinnell
Chairman
Mgr Kevin McGinnell is a priest of the Northampton diocese, with responsibility for the Education Service and the Liturgy Commission. He is parish priest of Holy Ghost, Luton, and Chair of the ecumenical bodies for liturgy – Joint Liturgical Group (GB) and the international English Language Liturgical Consultation. He is secretary of the Bishops’ Conference Spirituality Committee and Chair of the National Board of Religious Inspectors and Advisers.
Julie-Ann Gylaitis
Trustee & Membership Secretary
Julie-Ann is a graduate of liturgical music and a parish musician at Our Lady of the Angels in Warwickshire. She manages all matters concerning membership subscriptions and mailing of journals, as well as website testing and support. Julie-Ann is a keen amateur photographer who loves to be out and about with her camera visiting new places.
Mo Griffiths
Trustee
Mo is a former Trustee, a member of the Society for many years, Diocesan Representative for Portsmouth and a proof reader for Music & Liturgy. She is active in her parish in Southsea as a reader and also trains younger members of the parish in this ministry, is a choir member and Safeguarding Representative. Now retired from full time employment, Mo enjoys volunteering in the local primary school, singing with an a cappella choir, playing badminton and travelling when she can.
Mary Ryan
Trustee
Mary is a former Trustee and first attended the SSG Summer School in 1989 as a beneficiary of the McElligott Fund. She has almost thirty years of experience as a cantor/liturgist in both parishes and schools in the diocese of Westminster, and has worked with the Catholic Children’s Society in preparing and leading their Good Shepherd Masses and Carol Services in the Cathedral. She is currently researching the history of the Society as it celebrates its 90th anniversary.
Alison Lamb
Trustee
Originally, from the Isle of Man, Alison studied at Liverpool Hope University and graduated with a BA, and later with an MA in Sacred Music. During this time, she became involved at the Metropolitan Cathedral as a server and has been so for 15 years. She then went on to become Sacristan, where she ran the department during the National Eucharistic Congress ‘Adoremus’ in 2018. She has been involved with SSG for about 10 years, with the first Summer school being 2010. Outside of the Church, Alison works full-time, is an avid reader, has an interest in steam trains and playing piano and organ.
Jo Shepherd
Trustee
Jo is a member of the Parish of the Sacred Heart, Newcastle upon Tyne where she has worked as a catechist and member of her Parish Liturgy Group for 35 years. Since first attending Summer School in 1989 she has valued the support which the Society has offered through face to face encounters and its journal. During her teaching career she was involved in chaplaincy work and was her school’s representative for the England and Wales Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Although now retired, she keeps in touch with education through part time work in teacher training and volunteering on a local writing project.
Patrons of the Society
- HE Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Principal Patron)
- HE Cardinal Arthur Roche
- The Most Rev Bernard Longley
- The Most Rev Malcolm McMahon, OP
- The Rt Rev Peter Brignall
- The Rt Rev Declan Lang
- The Rt Rev Joseph Toal
Being part of the SSG is being part of the Church’s legitimate interest, concern and development in the whole liturgical life of all of the Church, because the liturgy is at the very heart of our lives and not just an event on Sundays.
The more that good liturgy is celebrated, the holier the community is, the more evangelising the community, the more active the community is in its Christian witness day-to-day. The SSG seeks to promote good understanding of liturgy and valid and true liturgical development in our culture and country. That is to be encouraged and supported; I hope I may make some small contribution to that by my membership and patronage.