Letter from the Director

Praised be Jesus Christ! Welcome to the Partington Household, and thank you for supporting our first-ever production at Newman Pasadena! To my family and friends who have always supported my creative and whimsical endeavors, thank you for giving me so much room to dance and for being my soft place to land. To my co-laborers in the Kingdom (at St. Philip and beyond), thank you for sharing with me the zeal for souls and sharing the Gospel. To my cast, crew, and volunteers: may God reward you for your tireless efforts in bringing to life Miss Glossop Comes to Tea. Our program was made possible by a small but mighty team of artists, whose credits couldn’t be properly noted in print. Their initiative, dedication, and perseverance in this process is truly awe-inspiring, and I’m thankful I got to be in the front row to witness it all. 

This year has been incredibly painful for our community, starting in January with the devastating fires that affected so many here at St. Philip. With the support of our pastor, Fr. Tony, we ran a fire relief distribution drive for nineteen days. I witnessed firsthand generous and unadulterated charity in our community, and this experience both broke my heart and left an indelible imprint on it. The next month, I travelled to Rome for my 33rd birthday pilgrimage (my “Jesus year”) for the Jubilee of Hope & the Jubilee of Artists. On the day of my arrival, Pope Francis was hospitalized, and all of my plans on my itinerary were cancelled. Amidst my own little sufferings, I wondered how the Lord would show Himself to me as Hope Himself. Pope Francis’ homily was read at Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, and his words struck a chord and resonate still. 

“Dear artists, I see in you guardians of beauty who are willing to attend to the brokenness of our world, listen to the cry of those who are poor, suffering, wounded, imprisoned, persecuted, or refugees. I see in you guardians of the Beatitudes! Art is not a luxury, but something that the spirit needs. It is not a flight from reality, but a charge, a call to action, an appeal, and a cry. Educating about true beauty is educating about hope. And hope is never separated from the drama of existence; it runs through our daily struggles, the hardships of life and the challenges of our time. True art is never easy; it offers the peace of restlessness. And do not forget that hope is not an illusion; beauty is not a utopia. Yours is not a random gift but a calling. Respond, then, with generosity, passion, and love.” (JUBILEE OF ARTISTS AND THE WORLD OF CULTURE, 16 February 2025).

Not only did we want to give our post-fire community a little joy and farcical silliness, but this production was a personal response to an invitation by the Holy Father to respond with the gifts we’ve been given. To me, the effort of making art in community was inherently healing, and as Pope Francis said it is “something the spirit needs.” I invite and encourage you, dear reader, (artist or not) to bring beauty into the world through the canvas of your life. 

St. John Paul II, pray for us! St. Hildegard of Bingen, pray for us!

Originally published on 8/30/2025 in St. Philip the Apostle's program of Miss Glossop Comes to Tea (by Stuart Arden)