Fr Gerard Skinner, the well-known Newman scholar, is to take over from Fr Slawomir Witon as Sub-Administrator at Westminster Cathedral

The St Paul's Bookshop blog announced yesterday that Fr Slawomir Witon, Sub-Administrator of Westminster Cathedral, has been appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George's, Enfield. The man nominated to replace Fr Witon is Fr Gerard Skinner, who is currently the parish priest of St Gabriel's, South Harrow and St Bernard's, Northolt.

Those of you who worship at or visit the Cathedral will know that Slawomir (Slawek) Witon has been a very popular Sub-Administrator, and is a very capable and approachable priest. It is good then that he will now have his own parish, and that the people of Enfield will have such an enthusiastic and compassionate pastor. Along with many others, I offer him my congratulations on his new appointment and my prayers for his ministry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George's.

Fr Skinner is also a very talented priest, who will undoubtedly bring many gifts to the Mother Church of England and Wales. He is currently Chaplain to the Westminster branch of the Catholic Women's League and is also a respected historian and expert on Bl John Henry Newman. He recently published a book entitled The Pallium: A Brief Guide to Its History and Significancem whilst last year saw the publication of his excellent study on Newman, called Newman the Priest: A Father of Souls. I reviewed this book around the time of the Papal visit, and concluded that: "Newman the Priest is a refreshing portrait. Gerard Skinner has managed to produce a book that explores the most important aspect of Newman’s life, namely his priesthood. It is a shame that, for far too long, many commentators have focused too much on other aspects of the great man’s life, such as his academic pursuits. For those who wish to know the real Newman, then, and to encounter him largely in his own words, Newman the Priest is a welcome study!"

I pray that God will bless both these men as they embark on their new ministries, and may Our Lady continue to support them by her motherly prayers.