Our Rector is leaving

Mgr Philip Whitmore, our beloved Rector for the last eight years, is leaving us.

The Solemnity of St Joseph was the occasion for a post-festal supper announcement. Mgr Whitmore stood up to thank the celebrant, singers, servers and readers for the beautiful liturgy that had taken place earlier, before declaring that after Easter the Rector would be … an Italian.

Gasps went up. Were we about to be reliving the late-eighteenth century all over again, when, for 25 years, the VEC was looked after by local blood?

Our astonishment was short-lived, however. It immediately became clear, that although indeed an Italian Rector would be with us from Easter, that was simply because the good Monsignor is about to “swear at some bureaucrats” before taking possession of an Italian passport.

Gasps turned to uproarious laughter and congratulation from the community.

But before we had a chance to sing Il Canto degli Italiani in his honour, the Rector announced that he had further news: he will be finishing his term of office at the end of this academic year.

Mgr Whitmore is to be replaced by Fr Stephen Wang, also of the Archdiocese of Westminster.

The Rector, true to his understated form, then proceeded to say grace before anyone had a chance to react.

But we gathered ourselves immediately afterwards: a warm applause went up, a spontaneous ad multos was sung and we made our way into the main corridor for coffee.

Mgr Whitmore, reflecting on the appointment, noted, “It has been a joy and a privilege to serve as Rector of the VEC these past eight years. I wish Father Stephen every blessing as he takes up his new appointment and I am confident that, under his leadership, the College will go from strength to strength”.

It has, meanwhile, also been a joy and a privilege for us to have Philip as our Rector, and we look forward to further celebrations in the next few weeks: celebrations that will be tinged with sadness, but with immense gratitude for a man who has done wonders for the VEC.

Meanwhile, we wish him the very best and offer heartfelt prayers for him and, of course, Fr Stephen, whom we look forward to seeing again.