Father Christopher Miller

Ordination

Christopher was ordained Priest at Saint Wulstans on June 29th 2008. Scenes from the event are shown below.

Below is a retrospective look at events that took place during his path to priesthood, working backwards through time.

Deacon

After several years, Christopher returned to the Birmingham Diocese from the Venerable English College in Rome. He completed a degrees in philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was ordained deacon on 15th July 2007 in the church of Our Lady of the Snows, Palazzola. This is at the summer villa owned by the Venerable English College (www.palazolla.it)

Christopher's ordination

Four candidates for the priesthood were ordained as deacons on 15th July. From left to right:

Christopher Miller - Archdiocese of Birmingham
Aaron Spinelli - Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
James Neal - Archdiocese of Westminster
David Charters - Diocese of Shrewsbury

The picture below shows Christopher taking part in his first mass as a Deacon

Several clergy from England attended Christopher's ordination as deacon.

Cleargy attending the ordination of Deacon Christopher Miller

From left to right the photograph shows:

Rev. Anthony Wilcox (Henley-on-Thames)
Rev. Paul Chavasse (Provost, Birmingham Oratory)
Christopher Miller
Kieran Conry (Bishop of Arundel and Brighton)
Rev. Edward Clare (Vocations Director)
Rev. Anthony Dykes (Wolstanton)

Father Dykes fitting Christopher's vestments during the ordination.

Christopher is now taking a break from his studies and serving as a Deacon in the parish of St Peter Apostle, Leamington Spa. (www.stpeterapostle.org) We look forward to his ordination as a priest next year.

Candidacy

Below are several earlier pieces of news sent to use by Christopher during the course of his studies at Rome.

Christopher Miller Receives Candidacy

On 21st December 2005 Christopher received Candidacy for the Priesthood from Bishop Conry of Arundel and Brighton. Many parishioners will remember the Bishop from his visits to Wolstanton while Canon Corrigan was Parish Priest. Having received the ministries of Lector and Acolyte and exercised them for a suitable period of time, before continuing to ordination one must apply to be a Candidate. The Candidate presents his Bishop with a hand written and signed declaration that he asks, of his own free will, to be accepted as a Candidate for Ordination, and promises to devote himself perpetually to this ministry. The Bishop then collects various documents and testimonials about the Candidate, including one from the Rector of the seminary to confirm that Candidates have:

“integral faith, are moved by the right intention, have the requisite knowledge, possess a good reputation, and are endowed with integral morals and proven virtues and the other physical and psychic qualities in keeping with the order to be received.” (Can. 1029)

Congratulations to Christopher Miller!

As a parish, we congratulate Christopher on being accepted and renew our own commitment to support him, mindful of the words of His Holiness Pope John Paul II:

“inasmuch as it is the most immediate local expression of the mystery of the Church, the parish offers an original and especially valuable contribution to the formation of a future priest. The parish community should continue to feel that the young man on his way to the priesthood is a living part of itself; it should accompany him with its prayer, give him a cordial welcome during the holiday periods, respect and encourage him to form himself in his identity as a priest, and offer him suitable opportunities and strong encouragement to try out his vocation for the priestly mission.”

Christopher & Archbishop John Foley

Christopher with Archbishop John Foley, head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications

Spotted on TV, Wednesday 6th April 2005.

During the run up to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, BBC Two's Newsnight included some shots of the Venerable English College in Rome, and happened to catch Chris, amongst others at the window.

Christopher's thoughts and feelings about the the death and funeral of the Holy Father and the election of Pope Benedict XVI are described below.

Christopher reports on the days following the Death of His Holiness John Paul II

I was home in England when our beloved Holy Father, John Paul II died. He died after First Vespers of the Feast of Divine Mercy, a Feast he had given to the Church. It is still hard to believe he has gone.

There has been so much to think and pray about in the last two weeks. The very first thing we did upon our return to Rome, after the Easter Gita, was to celebrate Holy Mass as usual at 06:45 in the morning for the Solemnity of the Annunciation. To come back to Rome without the Pope and straight way to turn our minds to the Blessed Mother of God was very moving. That afternoon the Holy Father's Body was transferred to the Basilica of Saint Peter. So first thing the next morning, 06:30 I set of to see the Body and to pray. I was one of the lucky ones as by 09:00 I was there at the Confessio - the main Altar of the Basilica over the tomb of Saint Peter. I was very moving and sad to see him, a man who even in such pain and suffering had eyes that were so full of life - but now they were closed. as I waited and moved slowly up the nave of the basilica waiting to get to the front we all had to pass the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and that was the most special experience - to walk past the Risen Lord Jesus, during the celebration of Easter, to pay ones respect and to see for one last time His good and faithful servant.

May he rest in peace.

Later in the day and for the rest of the week the wait was well over 14 hours. Rome was full of pilgrims, much more than the entire population of the city. But in typical Italian way it all seemed to work out somehow!

The next few days were strange, a mixture of normal life in Rome and the incredible sight of so many people. And many memories of 26 years kept coming back. So much has been going on here in the College and in the City. The Cardinal has been with us so there were press everywhere. And as you have seen none of us were safe. Our Archbishop was with us for the funeral. It is indeed a special and privileged time to be in Rome. He was a wonderful gift of God to His Church and for many years and even decades we will come to realize that more.

Sunday evening of 17 April, and there is perpetual Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament going on all night (downstairs in the College Church - that too is very special to be in the same building at all times as the Blessed Sacrament), to pray for the Cardinals. Now we wait to see who will now be Peter. Tomorrow morning we all go once again to the Basilica for the Solemn Mass of the Holy Spirit and the start of the Conclave.

Student's of the Venerable English College

All students of the VEC, L-R Rev. Dr Andrew Pinsent (Arundel & Brighton), Christopher Miller (Birmingham), Rev. Stephen Maughan (Middlesborough), Rev. Marcus Holden (Southwark).

The three students with Christopher (second from the left) were ordained as priests in the summer of 2006.

There are lots more pictures on www.catholicchurch.org.uk which is the Bishops Conference of England and Wales site.

Rome: Habemus Papam!

Christopher Miller's Report on the election of Pope Benedict XVI

The Mass for the start of the Conclave was wonderful. I was very close to the Main Altar and as we sat and waited, from 08:30, for Mass to start at 10:00 we could see all the Cardinals go past in preparation for the Mass. The Deacon who sang the Gospel was my good friend Stephen. Afterwards Stephen and I went out with friends for lunch - a typical Roman thing to do!

Then the waiting began - how long and who?

It's White - quick!

So we ran to the Square along with thousands of others - We have a Pope. The excitement was amazing. A journey that usually takes 20 minutes is done in 10. Saint Peter's Square is packed and there is a wonderful feeling of joy. Then we hear: Habemus Papam Iosephum Ratzinger qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictum XVI. And we are all overjoyed, so many had been hoping it would be him. On the occasions I have met him he has seemed a gentle, kind and holy man. We remain in the square well after he has gone back inside just to enjoy the atmosphere - joy, prayer and excitement.

Then, again in true Italian style, dinner to continue the celebrations. Out in the City the people of Rome are very happy that Cardinal Ratzinger is the new Holy Father and their new Bishop. I have been surprised that the locals have not wanted an Italian.

The next day we have our evening Community Mass and for the first time we pray for Benedict our Pope and Bishop. The joy of having a new Pope is a great blessing, he the symbol of unity.

“May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.”

The new Holy Fathers Blessing.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.
The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.
Let us move forward in the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help.
The Lord will help us and Mary, his Most Holy Mother, will be on our side.
Thank you.

Updated 28/01/2009
Saint Wulstan