Fr Ian Vane's Silver Jubilee

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I have known Fr Ian Vane since before we both went off to the seminary, he to Valladolid and me to Wonersh and then later Rome. We benefited from the kindness and wisdom of Fr Edward Holloway and have been involved with the Faith Movement since it was founded. It was a delight to join Father at his parish of the English Martyrs in Horley this evening for the celebration of his silver jubilee of ordination.

A good number of priests joined the celebration, mainly from the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton although some of us Southwark interlopers were also on the sanctuary. Fr Roger Nesbitt preached with great sincerity and warmth on the priesthood, especially emphasising the priest as the disciple of Christ and one who loves Christ and desires to draw others to Him. You had to be there really: it was so obvious that he meant it.

The parishioners of Horley put on a lovely spread for all the visitors, who included people from Father's previous appointments. It was good to see Bishop Kieran Conry there: Bishops do not always have time to attend all the priestly jubilee celebrations and it was kind of him to take the time to be there. In fact the anniversary of his own priestly ordination falls on the same day. Here is Fr Vane pictured with Bishop Conry, cutting one of the several cakes made by the parishioners.

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