Divine Adoration, Friday after Epiphany
Sunday, January 12 marked the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and, as Abbot Michael explained as he began, “It is the official end of the Christmas season.” Some in the congregation may have been surprised, perhaps thinking it ended on St. Stephen’s Day, also known as Boxing Day, December 26, the day that Christmas carols suddenly disappear from the airwaves. For some of us, however, the season can linger on even beyond the Baptism of Jesus, with unexpected gifts still coming our way. Following the publication of the Artist of the Abbey profile of Oblate John Hoare Kerr in last week’s issue of The Current, two such unsolicited gifts arrived, both of which deserve mention.
As reported, John Kerr was blessed with three sons, all of whom were pictured in an archival photograph with their dad, wearing matching kilts sporting their clan tartan. The youngest, Alan, now living in Alabama, was sent an advance draft of the story for fact-checking. No corrections were necessary, but the thanks he expressed were a gift: “Our family is truly honored, and it means so much to us. My Dad was indeed a great man—not only a wonderful father to me but also a great friend. His talent as an artist was remarkable, and he had a successful career in many areas that brought him joy. He had a deep love for Portsmouth Abbey, and being an Oblate was very special to him; it brought him great peace in his later years. His strength came from his faith in Christ, and the comfort he found in the Church was a guiding light throughout his life.”