De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Devastated to have just heard that Fr John Redford, beloved priest of Maryvale died this morning at 5am. Fr. John was an incredible friend, pastor, and the best teacher I have ever had. Please say a quick prayer for this truly extraordinary man who dedicated his life to the service of others. May flights of angels sing him to his rest. I studied theology at Maryvale for five years, graduating in 2011. When I arrived, there were more than 30 other people starting on the course of various shapes and sizes. Some had rather strong personalities, some were very timid. I felt very out of my comfort zone.  The actual building is very old, having come to the Church in 1702 at the bequest of Father Andrew Bromwich who had inherited this property from his family. From 1794 to 1838 it was the home of Oscott College, the first Seminary to open in England after the reformation. During this time the historic Chapel of the Sacred Heart was inaugurated. In 1846 after the removal of the co...

On Sunday, I got up early and gathered the family. We jumped in the car and drove up the M1 to Birmingham to Maryvale for a special day celebrating the life of Canon John Redford. He has developed Pancreatic cancer and is increasingly unwell. It was wonderful to have a day like this, perhaps before he withdraws completely from public life. Maryvale is an International Catholic Distance-Learning College for Catechesis, Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education. It has been erected by the Holy See as an Ecclesiastical institute so that it can also offer degrees of the Holy See, at undergraduate and postgraduate level. I studied theology at Maryvale for five years, graduating in 2011 with a level 2:1 BA (Hons) in Divinity (73%). I had lots of questions about my faith and found a lot of the more controversial aspects challenging and difficult to accept. I think like many people, I had slipped into a position where, never having heard the reasons for the Church's teaching on...