John Craddock, Marist Fathers

John Craddock was born in NZ in 1944 of wonderful parents in the small West Coast mining town of Westport and enjoyed an advantaged childhood. John?s mother, now aged 92, came from the other side of the Alps which gave him an early taste of bi-culturalism. After primary schooling locally, he was sent across to Christchurch to board at St Bede?s College conducted by the Marist Fathers. After five years, he entered the Marist Seminary. In 1968, he was ordained in his parish Church.

For thirty years, John taught a variety of subjects in Marist Secondary Schools including ten significant years at St Joseph?s School, Tenaru, Solomon Islands, a school conducted by the Marist Family.

Returning to NZ, he was appointed as an assistant priest in a parish, revelling in its different pastoral opportunities. However, late in 1998, he was asked to be director of Marist Laity where he has remained for these last eleven years. He spent six months of 2008 in Europe on Sabbatical. He looks forward to this surprise appointment to L?Hermitage, France. John enjoys good health, swimming and walking to keep fit.