Our Priests (Hardcover)

Students from selected schools within the Archdiocese of Westminster were asked to write, paint or draw something about their experiences and thoughts of priests. This produced a large selection of material of the highest standards, some humorous, some serious, but all containing the individual's obvious deep respect and admiration for their priests. Contained in this book is a selection of this material, resulting in a fitting tribute and positive affirmation of priests from young people which is at times humourous, moving, imaginative and profound, but, above all, heartfelt. In his Foreword, the award winning writer Frank Cottrell Boyce writes: "It is really uplifting - especially considering the way things are just now - to find a ...feeling of trust and affection in the bouquet of funny, wise and insightful things that the children of Westminster have written for this book." " It is wonderful therefore to see the sense of affection and gratitude that our priests have inspired in these children. We need to cherish our priests if we are going to inspire any of our children to follow in their footsteps." In his endorsement of the book, Bishop George Stack (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Chairman of the Diocesan Education Commission) quotes Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales": "There was a good man of religion, too, A country parson, poor, I warrant you; But rich he was in holy thought and work, He was a learned man also, a clerk; Who Christ's own gospel truly sought to preach, Devoutly his parishioners would he teach." and goes on to say: "These pages may not achieve the longevity of Chaucer's great work, but in their own language, the writers express the same respect and affection for the priest, his work and his person as Chaucer did in his own time". Commenting on the book, Sr Wendy Beckett wrote: "A lovely book, burning with visual interest. I think Fra Angelico would smile kindly on the wonderful cover." Royalties from the sale of this book will go to St Joseph's Africa Aid, a charity whose work is to fund schools in parts of Africa.