THE FACES OF SHERBORNE
In our monthly series of “The Faces of Sherborne” we introduce you to the people behind the faces. This month (December 2012 / January 2013)
Meet Monsignor Canon Robert Draper V.G. (aka Father Robert)
Parish Priest of the Church of the Sacred Heart & St.Aldhelm, Sherborne’s Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church in Sherborne sits neatly on Westbury, the road leading out towards Dorchester. It is a fairly modern-looking building which actually dates from 1894 and was founded by a group of nuns, the Religious of Christian Instruction, from Ghent. These nuns created a new parish and also set about establishing a new school which ultimately moved to Leweston, just outside Sherborne. The church gained a much-needed hall in 1998 and was refurbished in 2000. The parish priest is Father Robert who is also Vicar General for the Diocese of Plymouth which covers Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
Read the full interview with Father Robert below:
Q: How long have you been in your present post, Father Robert?
FR: I had been in Cornwall for about twenty years and I came up to Sherborne two years ago but I feel very much at home. I was born in Weymouth and my family is from South Dorset so to come to Sherborne was almost like coming home. I am attached to the Diocese of Plymouth which was created in 1851 and I also act as the Bishop’s assistant, covering three counties so there is actually quite a lot of travelling up and down involved.
Q: What were your priorities when you arrived?
FR: Naturally, I wanted to get to know the people and to find out what their concerns and issues were. Everything was very well organised and there was a good, established routine in place. I actually like to initiate new things rather than stopping existing routines and I feel it is important for people to be involved in and part of the process.
Q: What sort of congregation do you have and what are your hopes for them?
FR: We are lucky to have a good, stable congregation. As well as those from Sherborne, members of the congregation often have to travel from outlying villages so they have to make an effort to come. I would very much like to encourage people to become more involved in local projects and to play a part in the life of the community. I also aim to develop the liturgy and pastoral outreach as this spills over into so many other things.
Q: As in many churches, there is often an influx of worshippers at this time of year. How do you view this seasonal surge of interest?
FR: Well I think that when people come along for special occasions such as Christmas and Easter, it shows that there is a connection, a sense of belonging to the church. This pull provides many with a way of maintaining their identity through things that are important. It is as if they come home for Christmas.
Q: What is your message to the community at this time of year?
FR: I think it is a time to stop and reflect and think about what is really important in life. People are often so busy these days with no time to stop and think about what really matters or who is really important to them. As people get together at this time of year, there may be someone missing who is no longer with us or conversely there may be a new addition to the gathering. It is the perfect time to review things, to stop and chat and to take stock; to get in touch with people you haven’t seen whether by sending a card or making a phone call. Whatever else, God is there in some way.
Q: Things have been quite difficult for many people. How do you think they should approach the new year?
FR: Well it is very easy to become gloomy and despondent if you watch the news every night. I think that it is important not to allow yourself to be moulded by all the things you hear. It is important not to be passive; you should decide what is important for you and then try to concentrate on these things. Give time and attention to your special relationships and consider how you act towards others. When you brighten up someone’s life, you will be the one who benefits.
Q: Are you enjoying living in Sherborne?
FR: It is lovely to be part of a town that has a real identity. We have a beautiful abbey in the centre of everything, a real thing of beauty, functioning at the heart of the town. It is a lovely part of the world and Sherborne has a lot of vibrancy; there are many people who put a lot of effort into a huge range of things and it is this will and determination that makes the town thrive.