Prof. Msgr. Vladimir Felzmann aka Father Vlad
still working to help God make this World a better place

Professor Mons. Vladimir Jan Antonin Václav Felzmann (Confirmed Francis Xavier)

Early Life 

Born in Prague 6 May 1939.  Came to England in 1946. Father a Czechoslovak diplomat who in ’45 came to the Czechoslovak Embassy in London. In ’48, when Communists took control of CSR, he resigned. So, we became refugees. Expecting imminently to return home, it was only after the failure of the Hungarian Revolution in ’56 that we took on British Nationality. 

Father - Adolf Felzmann 1909-1961 
Mother - Georgina Felzmann1910-1996 
Sister   - Jarmila 1937 – 
Sister   - Georgina 1941-1995 
Brother – John 1946-1967 

Primary Education
Convent School in Prague (briefly) in 1945-46
Glengyle, Putney (Day) 1946-48 
St Peter’s Guildford (Boarding) 1948-51 

Secondary Education
Clapham College (Day)1951-58
1st XI Football Colours 1955-58
Head Boy1957 

Tertiary Education
Imperial College, BSc (Eng.) 1958-61  
DIC (Structures) ACGI = MSc (Eng.) 1961-62
Lateran University, Rome, DD (Summa cum Laude) 1967-69 

GOD: fell in love with God while on summer holiday on Eriskay, Outer Hebrides 1954 

OPUS DEI
 

Joined Opus Dei 23.9.1959 
Studied theology in Rome 1965-69 
Ordained, Priest, Madrid 31.8.69 
Participated in Opus Dei’s General Congress, Rome 1969 & 1970 
Asked for exit from Opus Dei 23.9.81 
Incardinated Westminster Diocese 1.4.1982 

Awards 

Companion with Star and Badge of Religion 1st Class Order of Orthodox Hospitallers - 1986 
Knight, Polonia Restituta - 1988 
Cavaliere di Merito Ecclesiastico, Constantinian Order of St George - 1990 
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre - 1994 
Chaplain, Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem - 1995-99 
Chaplain General (OSLJ JChlJ) - 1999 
Chaplain of the Jurisdiction of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem - 1999-2001
Prelate of Honour (Mgr) - 1999 
Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre - 2001 
Knight 1st Class Order of Francis - 2006 
Chaplain of Honour, Lourdes - 2015 
Visiting Professor, St Mary’s University, Twickenham - 2019 

Writings
  
Articles and Book Reviews in The Tablet.                                                   
The Universe and The Catholic Herald. 
Numerous articles in Westminster Cathedral Bulletin, now ‘Oremus’ 
Pamphlets:   
The Apostles’ Creed - 1989    
Life’s Pilgrimage - 1990                                  
Fortnightly Column on Sport, The Catholic Times’ then “Universe Catholic Weekly” 11.6.18 – now                               
“A Journey to Eternity” 1 &3 - 2021           
“ Life Squared” - 2021

Religious Adviser 

The Last Confession (Theatre) - 2007&14       
Brideshead Revisited (Film) - 2007
Saint Joan (National Theatre) - 2007 
Apparitions (TV) - 2007    
Romeo & Juliet (Theatre) - 2008
 
PS. The 9s have been outstanding – who knows why?
 I was:    
Born - 39
Joined Opus Dei - 59 
Ordained Priest - 69 
Diocesan Chaplain to young people & Director of Pilgrimages - 89 
Awarded Papal ‘Prelate of Honour’ - 99 
Appointed Visiting Professor at St Mary’s University - 19

 Activities

Assistant Scout Master, 28th Streatham, 1957-62     
Students Cross, London Leg
- Pilgrim    1959
- Secretary 1960
- Director   1961                                                
Member, Union of Catholic Students   1961 
International Vice-President, UCS   1960 
Secretary, Netherhall House   1960-61 
Director, Netherhall House   1961-65 
Director of first Greygarth, Opus Dei, Summer School, Manchester - 1962          
Tutor in Structures at Architectural Association 1962-64 
Lecturer in English at  Institute of Education, Rome 1966-69 
Chaplain at Turo University Residence, Barcelona 1969-70 
Chaplain to Netherhall House Boys’ club 1970-79 
Chaplain, Netherhall House 1970-81 
Chaplain to Lakefield Educational Centre 1970-81 
Preached retreats for men, women, boys, girls and Diocesan clergy 1970-81 
Started Days of Recollection - 1970 
At Sudbury, Southend, Canterbury, Camberley. Oxford, Newmarket and Cambridge. 
Led recollections, retreats, excursions and international camping trips - 1970-81 
Led retreats for diocesan clergy at Wickenden Manor, Sussex - 
1973-80 
At Cardinal Vaughan School (CVMS)
- Head of Religious Education - 1973-84       
- School Chaplain - 1976-84            
- Head of Liberal Studies - 1976-84       
- Organised Week of Disabled People - 1981   
- Vocations Week - 1982 
Founder Chairman, National Association of School Chaplains  (now ACCE) - 1984-91 
Priest in Residence, Our Lady of Victories, Kensington - 1981-82
Assistant Priest, Our Lady of Grace, Chiswick - 1982-85 
Chaplain, Westminster Cathedral - 1985 
Sub-Administrator, Westminster Cathedral - 1985-89 
Chaplain, Diocesan Education Service (WDES) - 1985-92 
Vice Chairman, The Passage Management Cttee - 1985-92 
Founder of and Chaplain to Young Adults Pilgrimage to Lourdes (YAP) 1986-92        
Foundation Governor, CVMS 1989-92 
Chaplain to Papal Knights 1985- now 
Council Member, Friends of Westminster Cathedral 1985-97 
Diocesan Director of School Chaplains (then ‘coordinator’) 1985-2009 
Diocesan Chaplain to Young People 1989-2004 
Diocesan Director of Pilgrimages 1989-2002 
Director, All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney 1991-2011 
Founder of and Chaplain to SPEC Centre, All Saints 1992-2004 
Founder of  Loft@SPEC - 1998 
- Founder SPECeast 2001                    
- SPEC-SON  2002                                            
- SPEC Mission Team 2003 
Executive Committee Member ICCJ - 1992-1998 
Provincial Chaplain, Knights of St Columba, Province 29 1993-2011 
Started Bright Lights Festival for Young Adults - 1995 
Governor, St Columba’s School 1995-99 
Executive Committee 3 Faiths Forum 1998- 2002 
Started Medical 3 Faiths Forum - 1999 
Founder & Chair Friends of Bethlehem University - 1999-2017 
Chaplain, Ascent Movement - 1999-2003 
Trustee, Genesis Foundation  - 2001- now
The Passage
- Trustee - 2002- 21 
- Chair, Fund Raising Committee - 2011-17
Trustee Genesis America (UK) 2004 - now 
Trustee Nat. Spiritual & Mental Health Forum 2007 - 09 
Trustee ‘Rights and Humanity’ 2008 - 12  
Chair of Trustees CaAPA (ex CSG) 2008 - now
Delegate International Council of Christians and Jews [(CCJ) 
Conferences in Fribourg 1987, Montreal 1988, Lille 1989 
Launched Diocesan Annual Conference of Parish Youth Workers 1990 
Diocesan Director World Youth Days to: Czestochowa 1991, Denver 1993, Paris 1997, Rome 2000 
Attended the Vatican’s “Sport at the service of Humanity”, 1st Global Conference on Faith & Sport, October 5-7 2016 
Catholic Chaplain to Canary Wharf   2010-21
Catholic Chaplain for Sport - 2011
Founder-CEO JP2F4S charity 2011-21
Priest-in-charge 
- Stepney Parish - 16.10.13-15.3.14
- Wapping Parish - 8.8.14 – 4.4.15
Care for Anglophone at St Anne’s Underwood Rd - 1.4.16 – 3.9.17
Chaplain, Olympics & Para-Olympics - 2012
Chaplain, Para-Athletic & Athletic World Championships - 2017
Joined Chaplains Squad at HMP Wandsworth for Sunday Masses - 29.4.2017 – now 
Vice-President Marketing Hydrasyst - helping reduce global warming - 2023-now


Retreats Preached

            
Many throughout stay at All Saints - 1991-2011  
St Mary’s Ascot   Yrs. 11 and 13 - 1986-2012
St Peter’s Seminary, Wexford - 1998 & 99
Venerabile Collegio Inglese, Rome 9-10.4. 06
Permanent & Trainee Deacons - Aylesford - 2008 & 9
Merville, France - 2010
Ashburnham Place, Battle - 2011

Theology Courses Taught
 
Auxiliaries of the Apostolate, Lourdes      
The Blessed Trinity - 2000  
Pneumatology - 2002  
New Testament - 2004  
Creation-Redemption - 2006