Fr Roger Raven

The Birmingham Oratory was the setting on Saturday 22nd September for the ordination to the priesthood of Roger Raven.

Fr Roger, formerly an Anglican clergyman, was received into the Catholic Church a couple of years ago. Since that time St Pauls has employed him to work in our shop in Birmingham, thereby giving him the financial means to support his family during his training.

At the start of the Mass, Archbishop Bernard Longley, who ordained Fr Roger, very graciously acknowledged the role St Pauls has played in Fr Roger’s path to priesthood; as Fr Roger himself did in the order of service book, where he wrote:
"I... wish to express my gratitude to the Society of St Paul for providing me with the means to put bread on the table for my family, and also for generously accommodating my somewhat eclectic timetable as I have shuttled between the bookshop and Oscott."

Taking an active role in the Ordination Mass, as one of the Altar Servers, was Peter Raven, Roger’s youngest son. Peter is the boy to whom Pushkin relates his life story in the book Pushkin the Pontifical Puss, published last year by St Pauls Publishing.

All at St Pauls wish to assure Fr Roger and his family of our prayers as he continues to minister to the people of God.