Farewell Fr Jim, God is ready to welcome you to his banquet...

Many listeners of Vatican Radio's English Programme will remember Fr. Jim Brand. He graced our programmes with his wonderful reflections when he was Spiritual Director at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome before becoming Parish Priest at St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire in the autumn of 2008.

Father Jim died peacefully in his sleep during Holy Week on Wednesday, 27 March 2013. His funeral will take place on Thursday 11 April.

As is described in the brief biography provided by his parish "He was the most articulate and eloquent speaker, with a charming turn of phrase, so that his homilies were captivating and inspiring. He loved classical music, especially Beethoven, Mozart and Handel. He was himself a most accomplished pianist and had played as an accompanist at the Wigmore Hall. It is said that he could have pursued a career as a concert pianist. Instead he followed his vocation to the priesthood, one that would last almost 49 years. At Mass he would often accompany hymns on the piano and gave lively recitals at parish social events, mixing classical pieces with popular music for singing along".

He was also a passionate gardener and his green fingers tranformed both the grounds of the Beda College, and then the garden at Chorleywood into a blaze of colourful flowers and fresh vegetables.

I, Linda Bordoni, was the person who was privileged to meet him and to record the hundreds of reflections he did for the Radio over some three years. And there are so many lovely, humourous, deep and spiritual ones, I really didn't know which to choose from my rich archive, to play as a last tribute to a special friend.

After much dithering, and re-listening to many wonderful reflections on love, on creation, on creativity, on the Scriptures... (you name it!), I have chosen a reflection he did for the Feast of the Holy Souls in which he says the dead are nearer God now, than they ever could have been...

listen to Father Jim's reflection...

Father Jim, we will miss you!