Bishop Urwin at St. Vincent's

We have been blessed in recent days at St. Vincent's Cathedral with a visit by the Rt. Rev. Lindsay Urwin, bishop of Horsham, England. His see covers most of West Sussex, and he has episcope over more than 200 congregations. He also heads a school board with oversight over 160 parochial schools. Bishop Urwin is a professed brother of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd, a celibate dispersed religious order. He was made a founder member of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York’s College of Evangelists in 2000. His skill as an evangelist comes through practically every time he opens his mouth. Seldom have I met a clergyman who radiates love for Jesus Christ and His holy Church the way Bishop Urwin does.

Yesterday the bishop gave an inspiring talk at our diocesan conference on ministry to youth. He focused on the need to bring "the abiding Tradition" to teens within their contemporary context. Our goal ought to be to engender a sincere love for Holy Scripture and a genuine hunger for the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, he reminded us, for these are things that will last. His talk was filled with helpful insights and a great deal of humor.

This morning the bishop confirmed several members of our parish, then gave two first-rate (and quite different) homilies at the 9 AM and 11:15 AM Masses. I have been remarkably impressed. The clergy of our diocese are certainly going to benefit from their time in retreat with Bishop Urwin this week.

I am especially grateful to this exemplary man of God for his kindness to my mother. As you know, Mom will be undergoing a mastectomy on Tuesday. Despite his busy schedule Bishop Urwin took the time to sit and talk with her in our chapel today. Then he annointed her brow and her hands in the most tender and moving administration of the Annointing of the Sick I have ever witnessed. Mom truly felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit under his hands today, and now says she doesn't want to wash! May God bless the good bishop, and grant the Anglican Communion many more shepherds like him.