Former East End gangster to address Oldcastle mission

A former East End of London gangster and best-selling author will speak at the Oldcastle Parish Mission which takes place in St Brigid's Church, Oldcastle, from 16th to 20th November. The mission will run from Monday 16th November, with morning Masses at 9.30am from Monday to Thursday and the evening sessions will be at 8pm. Former gangster John Pridmore will start off the Monday night session with the simple message that God can, and does, change lives. Tuesday night's theme is 'God's Mercy' and many visiting priests will be available to hear confessions. Wednesday night will involve a healing service and the theme for Thursday night is 'God's Gift of Mary and the Love of Mary for us'. Mass of the Holy Spirit will take place on the Friday night. John Pridmore's status as an inspiring and powerful international speaker was underlined last year when he spoke to more than half a million people who gathered on pilgrimage in Sydney, Australia, for the World Youth Day. His appeal, especially to young people, is the honesty and openness with which he speaks about his past life. Standing more than six feet tall, with large shoulders and a shaven head, at first sight, he looks more gangster than missionary, but he has a message to share. That message is a simple one: that God can and does change lives. He tells of how, following his parents' divorce at 10, he started getting into trouble, ending up in a young offenders' prison. Having left home at 15, the only occupation he'd learnt by that time was stealing. By his 20s, he'd become a violent East End gangster well-acquainted with the English capital's criminal underworld. Carrying a machete and knuckledusters was part of his daily routine working security for the top clubs in the West End and his reputation for violence was known and respected. With the gangster lifestyle came all the money, power, women and sports cars, but he found it all strangely empty. After nearly beating a man to death outside a club, his life underwent a drastic change when he found God. Since leaving a life of crime behind, he has worked in The Bronx in New York, where he spent time with Mother Teresa, and was greatly influenced by her. Currently, he lives in Ireland with four others who work full-time to help bring hope and renewal to parishes and schools. Mr Pridmore's true-crime biography 'From Gangland To Promised Land' has become a bestseller, and his second book 'A Gangster's Guide To God' is a handbook to help those continuing in the spiritual life. He has made a number of appearances in Meath already.