A former director of Sotherby’s, who has run his own online art valuation company with investment secured on the Dragon’s Den television programme, was ordained at Westminster Cathedral last Saturday.
Fr Patrick van der Vorst, who was born in Belgium but has lived in London for 28 years, is also the founder and lead writer of the popular Christian Art website which offers free Gospel readings and art reflections, sent out daily to more than 40,000 subscribers.
Christian Art aims to help people grow closer to God through the pairing of art and the Christian faith. Fr Patrick said: “Working in the art-world has actually led me to the priesthood. For what does art do in its essence? Art has the power to transcend the barriers of time, language, and culture, speaking directly to the depths of our souls, and revealing glimpses of the divine.”
Fr Patrick was ordained by Cardinal Vincent Nichols alongside four others – John Casey, Francis Thomas, Juan Sola Garcia and Marco Lazzaron. Concelebrating were Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Bishop Lodewijk Aerts of Bruges, and priests from across the Diocese of Westminster.
At his first Mass last Sunday in Holy Apostles, Pimlico, he asked the packed church for prayers that all five will be “good priests” and for vocations. He said, “Don’t just pray for vocations; pray that your own families may be open to one.” Fr Patrick was wearing a chasuble presented by the parish community, who had it handmade in Rome. The chairs of the parish pastoral council and parish finance committee thanked him warmly for six years of service to the parish, particularly appreciating “your joyful disposition, your strong faith and your spirit of service.” Fr Patrick reflected that his seed of a vocation was nurtured at Holy Apostles. “All of you parishioners have been the rays of sunlight shining on that seed,” he said.
Fr Patrick will now serve at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George, Enfield.
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