Fr Stephen Wang, a priest of the Diocese of Westminster and recently appointed Rector of the Venerable English College, Rome has just published a new book: Sycamore: The Catholic Faith Explained (London, CTS: 2021 [ISBN 978 1 78469 616 0]).
It has 20 short chapters that explain the central beliefs and practices of Catholic Christianity for those who are exploring the faith for the first time and for those who want to deepen the faith they already have.
Sycamore looks into the search for happiness, the existence of God, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Church, the Bible, the gift of faith and the power of prayer. Other topics include the meaning of love, the seven sacraments, the moral and social teachings of the Church, Christian vocations, the Virgin Mary and the Saints, life after death and the hope of heaven.
It is written in a conversational style, with stories and examples to bring the ideas to life and has over 100 illustrations. The book can be read on it own or used by those following the Sycamore course which many in our parish have participated in.
About Fr Stephen Wang
Fr Stephen Wang, 54, is a priest of the Diocese of Westminster. He was born in London and grew up in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
From 1992 to 1997 he was in priestly formation at the Venerable English College in Rome. From 1997 to 2001 he worked in parish ministry in Dollis Hill, London.
From 2001 to 2005 he studied for a PhD on the subject of human happiness at Cambridge University, and assisted at Fisher House University Chaplaincy for two of those years.
From 2005 to 2013 he was on the formation team at Allen Hall Seminary, teaching philosophy and theology. He also held the role of Dean of Studies for the last five years. During this time he was also a visiting priest at Wormwood Scrubs Prison and a confessor at Notting Hill Carmel.
Since 2013 he has been Senior University Chaplain in the Diocese of Westminster, Catholic Chaplain at the London School of Economics, and also Vocations Director for the last two years.