Who Is The New Pastor at First Church of Christ Congregational?

Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers feature. 

This week we're looking into who the new pastor is at Bedford's First Church of Christ Congregational. 

After a 12 month search process that saw a seven-member search committee review more than 100 applications, Bedford's finally has a new pastor. 

Rev. John Castricum will officially begin his tenure as the church's new pastor on Monday, April 22.

Castricum comes to First Church of Christ in Bedford having spent time as an associate pastor at Old South Union Church in Weymouth as well as at South Congregational Church in Centerville. 

Most recently, Castricum has served as pastor of Houghs Neck Congregational Church in Quincy, a position he is vacating in order to come to First Church of Christ in Bedford. 

In 1996, Castricum is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School.

The search committee for First Church of Christ in Bedford came to a unanimous decision in support of selecting Castricum as the church's next pastor, according to search committee member Peter Gerrish.

“We had many qualified applicants with interesting and diverse backgrounds,” Gerrish said. “We wanted a pastor whose ministry comes from both the head and the heart, and we could not be more pleased with Pastor John’s warmth, integrity, scholarship and ministry skills."

Castricum said he is excited to begin his work as pastor of First Church in Bedford, where his focus will be injecting "positive spirit" into the church's community, as well as the Bedford community as a whole. 

"“A large part of my ministry is to be an enthusiastic presence that spreads a positive spirit to all parts of the church," Castricum said. "Sharing my faith, day-by-day, to all people I meet, in all situations, is at the core of my ministry."

While providing a stable, faith-filled presence is not always the easiest calling, it's one that Castricum is dedicated to and looks forward to pursuing in Bedford, according to the pastor.

"Being a faithful and faith-filled presence to people is a challenging call," Castricum said. "It takes a lot of work and prayer, but it is the most worthwhile and joyful call I can possibly imagine.”

First Church of Christ will also welcome Castricum's wife and daughter, Sarah and Emily, who moved to Bedford along with Castricum this month.