By Andy Drozdziak
Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah has paid tribute to the ‘amazing’ accomplishment of a Westminster sport-loving priest who shared his passion for sport and faith in a new year’s episode of Songs of Praise.
Evergreen Universe columnist Professor Monsignor Vladimir Felzmann shared his mission to raise funds for a church organ in an episode of the popular faith-based BBC programme entitled Faith and Fitness.
The feature included 83-year-old ‘Fr. Vlad’ walking 52 laps around the Sir Mo Farah Athletics Track at St Mary’s University 83 times to raise funds for a new organ in the university chapel. The numbers chosen were significant: Fr. Vlad is 83 years old and has been a priest for 52 years.
During the programme, Sir Mo paid tribute to Fr. Vlad’s achievements. “Amazing work. Incredible,” he told the priest. “You set yourself a big challenge. So many laps around my track and for a good cause. Look after yourself.”
Fr. Vlad explained that he had raised about £60,000 of the £300,000 required to buy the organ. He said the walks were an ‘enriching’ experience.
“When you spend four hours walking on your own, it’s a wonderful time to think,” he said. “The physical helps the spiritual. The physicality helps me think differently, feel differently and come closer to God. And sport does that, in my experience.”
During the programme, Andrea Bocelli performed a special rendition of Amazing Grace. Other hymns included Morning Has Broken, Praise to the Holiest in the Height, Lord of the Dance and Go Tell It on the Mountain.
Reflecting on his experience, Fr. Vlad told the Universe that the Songs of Praise team were ‘professional, courteous and respectful.’ However, he expressed regret that his comments on the purpose of how a new organ could be used to benefit the community were cut.
“The bits that were transmitted were fine,” he said. “However, (the section where I spoke about) a new organ enriching not just the Chapel liturgies, but (also) enabling SMU to host organ recitals for the local community, as well as (creating) a choir for underprivileged local, children did not appear,” he said. “I suspect the programme will not have triggered a wave of new funding for the new organ. We shall see.”