After getting a certain amount of paperwork done in the parish today, I took the underground from North Greenwich to Waterloo, the overground from Waterloo to Clapham Junction, and then the 337 bus to join Fr Martin Edwards, the parish priest of St Mary Magdalen's, and a number of other clergy and students for a Christmas Octave reception kindly hosted in the presbytery. Among the guests were Fr Stephen Langridge from Balham, Fr John O'Toole from the Christian Education Centre, Fr Michael Branch from Plumstead, Fr Peter Gee from Stockwell, and Deacon Fidelis Chukwu, one of my former students. 
Pictured above to the left are Frs Christopher Basden, parish priest of Clapham Park, and Fr Ignatius Harrison, Provost of the London Oratory.To the right is a picture of the two parish priests of Wandsworth, Fr Gerry Ewing from St Thomas a Becket parish in East Hill (Happy feast day for tomorrow!) together with Fr Edwards of West Hill. Fr Gerry Ewing is explaining to Fr Edwards that he is unable to stay for our carol in front of the crib. I promised that I would post a picture of the crib for him to see later, so here it is: and very fine too!
Among the students present was one fine young man from the NAC who had to grab Fr Edwards' skull cap to hide a sneeze just as the photo was taken so that, happily, his modesty as a seminarian, eschewing any unnecessary publicity on a blog such as this, was preserved:
The sanctuary of St Mary Magadalen's is decked out in all its splendour for the Christmas Octave. Fr Edwards explains to visitors that he is unfortunately not able to celebrate Mass versus populum because of the arrangement of the altar.
10 comments:
I must say that Father Edwards looks amazingly young for his age. But he does have big ears. I know that his Archbishop is worried about those ears. Perhaps that's why he wears a zuchetto. Also, it shows that, whatever anyone might say, he has a kind heart, if he allows his friends to sneeze into his zuchetto. Not many would. Is that a duck in the crib?
Fr Edwards' youthful demeanour is almost certainly due to his predilection for facing eastward during the celebration of Mass. As everyone knows, too much "facing the people" ages the average priest.
As to the ears, I understand the Archbishop's concern. However, I would suggest that they would be useful in stage 15 of the Towards a Vision Process or alternatively (and perhaps even better) for the next step in Listening 2004.
You are right that a duck is present in the crib. Fr Edwards would give me no other explanation than that it had been left unsold from the parish bazaar. Now as Fr Edwards is a shrewd man, I am convinced that he was ribbing me and that there is a deeper theological explanation.
"Among the students present was one fine young man from the NAC who had to grab Fr Edwards' skull cap to hide a sneeze just as the photo was taken so that, happily, his modesty as a seminarian, eschewing any unnecessary publicity on a blog such as this, was preserved"
I didn't know Mac had an American cousin!
Is the red jumper getting into the festive spirit?
I thought it looked more like a goose... soon to be served as Chistmas dinner.
Just been taking pictures of Our Lady in the dome..the only time the sun shines on her completely in the year..the Oratory is North facing..so why all the facing east fuss? oh it's alright i have a book i could read..
Thank you Father, for the photos from Fr. Edwards's house and church.
Now THAT is how a priest should dress, and THAT is how an altar should look !
Very inspiring.
(I hope and pray the young man in the photo, (understandably) hiding his identity, perserveres in his studies.)
The Church needs orthodox priests.
Incidentally, in the unlikely event I ever have the good fortune to offer my hospitality to Fr. Edwards, I should explain I only drink extra sec (or, at a pinch, demi sec.)
I don't know how flexible Father is in this matter.
...ears...
A conseuqence, of course, of those long hours in the confessional.
Merry Christmas, Fathers Tim and Martin!
Dr Wright,
Thank you much for the kind wishes. Persevering in seminary is not always an easy task, but with prayers it is truly amazing what mortal man may accomplish. Wandsworth is a sweet parish with great parishioners; I couldn't think of a better place to spend Christmas away from my family back in the States. Know well that your intentions will be mine at Mass and the Office this Christmas Season. God bless in this awesome Season and the new year to come.
Peace,
"Seminarian Pat"
Beautiful pictures, Father! Looks like a very nice get-together:0)
Happy and Blessed New Years from the U.S.
Tom
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