Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday 29 July 2014

A new Oratorian Novice


Yesterday evening a new Novice began his formal life as an Oratorian here at the Oxford Oratory.


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Br Adam and the Provost, Fr Daniel

Brother Adam Fairbairn, was clothed in the habit of Our Holy Father St Philip. He comes from near York and previously studied at the English College in Valladolid.

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 The community who were present in the Oratory House.
From left, Br Oliver, Fr Jerome, Fr Nicholas, Br Adam, Fr Daniel, Fr Richard, who is the parish priest at St Wilfrid's in York

Br Adam has just completed a month's postulancy here in Oxford. Before that he was working in York at St Wilfrid's as a pastoral assistant from last December. He will now return to York as the first novice of the community there, but he will be making regular visits to Oxford over the course of the next year.


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Br Adam Fairbairn

Please pray for Br Adam and the Oratorian community in York, and ask that God may bless both the house in Oxford and the house in York with many good vocations in the years to come.

Images and text adapted from Oxford Oratory website


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