New book on Paul Stenhouse, Kensington launch, author, Wanda Skowronska

On February 27, 2021, MSC Superior, Fr Steve Dives welcomed around 70 friends to the launch of a biography entitled Paul Stenhouse MSC : A Life of Rare Wisdom, Compassion and Inspiration (2021) by Wanda Skowronska. MSC Provincial Fr Chris McPhee  read a message for the occasion from a former student of Father Stenhouse, Julian Leow, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur who said that Fr Stenhouse had inspired him to become a priest.

Professor James Franklin launched the book saying Fr Stenhouse had a unique style of being a conservative Cultural Warrior. He added that the book expressed many sides of an "intellectual who delighted in conversation on almost anything", adding, "I remember in one conversation we moved from the alphabeticity of Ugaritic to the survival of the Lollards." 

Wanda, centre, with Paul's cousin Tricia Kavanagh

The author remarked in her speech that the scholarly nature of Fr Stenhouse co-existed with compassion for others, a little recognised poetic nature, and a gift for unmasking the illusions of the age.  She recounted stories of his journeys to China, the Ukraine, Armenia and Lebanon - and how his friends from the Caribbean had miraculously drawn him, previously uninterested in sport, to become interested in cricket.  

Chinese flautist, Chai Chang-Ning, flautist who played in films The Last Emperor and Mao's Last Dancer played the flute during the launch. Chai had met Fr Stenhouse by 'chance' and was converted by this priest whom he called 'The messenger of the living God' and played gentle melodies for him as he was dying in November 2019.  

Also present were friends from Malaysian, Armenian, Guyanan, Lebanese, Singaporean, Vietnamese and Lebanese backgrounds who will never forget the many kindnesses of their friend and many of whose stories are recounted in the recently published book.