The Xaverians’ presence in Preston has built an impressive remit of work and influence in the region and was initiated by Umberto.

The reasoning behind Preston was as follows: Scotland is covered by Glasgow and Coatbridge and the south of England by London. The location of Preston allows access to the North of England and the Midlands.

Willie Hattie joined Umberto and they began to work in Caring Church Weeks and in schools. John Zampese then replaced Umberto and Sebastian Tedesco arrived and moved into the area of Justice and Peace. The house became a resource for retreats and recollections. Archie Casey, Tom Welsh and Jim Clarke reinforced the connections with justice and peace and the local schools as well as expanding into divergent areas.

The community has hosted the international pre-novitiate community in 1999, served as a formation community and challenged the region in new ways of living an open house style of mission. This has brought and formed a strong lay attachment to the community. It has been an area where Preston has and is leading the region. The lay volunteers have helped form an open and creative way of living the Gospel message in our world.

It seems, so far, that all the Xaverians in Britain are a collection of houses; however, much more than that they are the people who occupy and have passed through the doors. Coatbridge may no longer have the College, now the Conforti Institute, but still has contacts with those many students who have fond memories. This can be seen in those who attend  reunions,  help in our fund-raising events and participate in the monthly family mass. It seems that the vocations were not only to missionary life but life in general.