(left to right: Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz, Dean of Studies at Allen Hall, Secretary of the Biblical Commission Professor Nuria Calduch-Benages, Fr Dr Adrian Graffy, Archbishop of Lima Carlos Castillo and Dr Sean Ryan, chair of the Catholic Biblical Association)
Fr Adrian Graffy, parish priest and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, celebrated fifty years since becoming a student of the Pontifical Biblical Institute – and his golden jubilee of priesthood – by inviting some friends for ‘A Fire in my Heart: a conversation with Biblical friends’. Present in-person at the event in the Catholic church at Gidea Park were Archbishop of Lima Carlos Castillo, Secretary of the Biblical Commission Professor Nuria Calduch-Benages, as well as Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz, Dean of Studies at Allen Hall, and Dr Sean Ryan, chair of the Catholic Biblical Association. Each member explained their passion for the Bible, how it was born, how it developed, and what were its significant moments.
When asked about what has given him most satisfaction over the 50 years, Fr Adrian said: “I could say that I feel a tremendous honour at being chosen as one of the 20 members of the Biblical Commission from around the world and working on different topics to try to offer things to the Church. Or maybe my 23 years of teaching at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh. Hopefully, I did some good to some people along the way.” Of his many books and ongoing work on Scripture translation and explanation, he added: “You offer something, but you do not know where it is going or how it may be completed. It is about trusting that when you sow the seed something will come of it. That it will make a difference.”
The recording of the conversation, which was both personal and scholarly, can be viewed on www.whatgoodnews.org