If you thought the real challenge was jumping out of the aeroplane you are wrong because the difficult part all along has been getting the right weather in order to do the jump. The jump was first scheduled for March 10 but was cancelled because of rain and then rescheduled for March 23 but again cancelled because of high wind (they reached an unprecedented 56mph!). In addition to the difficulties the weather posed the other challenge we faced was working with six very busy priests and trying to find a date in their diaries which would work for all six of them. Gathered around in a circle on March 23 at the British Parachute School it was agreed that April 15, 16 and 17 could be blocked out of everybody’s schedule. As this week approached it became apparent that these days would offer us only inclement weather illsuited for parachute jumping. As God (and a little luck) would have it, April 14 was a perfect day, and as many priests and lay people who could, were scrambled to make their way to Langar Airfield that morning. Thankfully the weather held and nine of us jumped that day. Fr Paul Moss did his jump a few days later on April 19 and Frs Mealy and Norton did their jump on May 1.
Nothing on earth can prepare you for throwing yourself, strapped to a highly trained instructor, out of an aeroplane at such a height. The speed (freefall is terminal velocity at 120mph), the thrill, the exhilaration, the adrenalin and the sheer surreal and out of this world experience combine to make quite a heady and unforgettable mix.
Fr Paul Moss, Fr Stephen Fawcett, and Fr Paul Haines reflect on their own parachute jump and on what it meant to them:
‘A false recourse to hyperbole is all too common in our daily speech, yet for once such adjectives as amazing, fantastic, and unforgettable were entirely appropriate, for jumping out of an aircraft at 13,000 feet is hardly a common occurrence. And what an experience it was. To see God’s creation from such an unusual viewpoint was a privilege, and more so for the sake of such a worthy cause. It was also a great opportunity to spread the Good News with the people we met at the parachute school who were surely unused to meeting Catholic priests under such circumstances.’
Fr Paul Moss
‘The jump was fantastic, awesome. It hurt a bit when I was free falling but my stomach was still on the plane, but once over that, it was very exhilarating. Then the parachute opens and suddenly everything slows down and you’ve got time to think and enjoy the amazing view and the freedom.
‘It’s such an adrenalin rush though - for half hour afterwards I was completely manic. I think the others noticed the difference!
‘I’m glad I did it - for retired priests who have done so much for us, and especially for Fr John Bentley who was at seminary with me but is now in need of full time care because of an illness to his brain - but I do feel a bit of a fraud, because it was so enjoyable! It’s like getting paid for having fun!’
Fr Stephen Fawcett
‘I have total admiration for each and every priest who devotes any part of his life for the ministry and service of others, and therefore because of this, it was a privilege for me to be part of this campaign to help offer something back to them in return. I had no idea though, that by making the small sacrifice of agreeing to become part of ‘The Johnson Fund Leap of Faith Challenge Team’ that the experience of completing a tandem parachute jump would in return, become one of the most exhilarating, unimaginable, worthwhile and rewarding moments of my life.’
Fr Paul Haines
