Green Bananas
-The Book
THE WISDOM OF FATHER BILL ATKINSON
Conversations with Steve McWIlliams*
*The author—a caretaker and friend to Bill—famously said :
It was like “Tuesdays With Morrie”
on Mondays and Wednesdays!
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As the Vatican is now considering “Father Bill” for sainthood, this book will be your best introduction to this remarkable man.
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Who was "Father Bill"?
William "Bill" Atkinson was a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, priest, confessor and friend to countless people whose paths he crossed. He came from a loving, working-class family in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He was a "golden boy" and many thought he'd become a great athlete and that his brother Al—the quieter, devoted young Catholic—might one day become a priest.
Life took them on quite different paths and after BIll's terrible toboggan accident—while a seminarian—left him near death and a quadriplegic for life, Al became a star linebacker at Villanova and some years later Father BIll watched from his wheelchair as Al won
a Super Bowl ring with Joe Namath's New York Jets. . .
"God had a different plan". . . as Bill often stated!
The Priest and The Author
Father Bill Atkinson
Augustinian Priest
February 2nd, 1974 – on the day of Bill’s ordination at St. Alice’s Church. On the left is Bill’s brother, Allen Atkinson, Father Bill Atkinson and Father John Melton, OSA (Bill’s counselor at Msgr. Bonner High School). This was almost nine years after the accident that left Bill a quadriplegic.
Father Bill Atkinson returned to his high school (Monsignor Bonner in Drexel HIll, PA) after his studies at Villanova University and his elevation to priesthood. ANYONE who attended “Bonner” from 1976-1999, will remember “Father BIll” with affection and genuine awe for this saintly priest
Steve McWIlliams
Author
Steve McWilliams is a Philadelphia playwright, screenwriter and producer. He holds degrees from Rutgers, Villanova, and Temple Universities. He holds a Master’s Degree in Theater Arts from Villanova and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Play and Screen Writing from Temple University.
In addition to his MFA, Steve studied scriptwriting under
Granville Burgess, Robert Hedley (Iowa Playwrights Project)
and Jeffrey Proehl. He currently teaches theater
and film at VIllanova University.
Every Monday and Wednesday for over 25 years, Steve helped to dress, feed and get Father Bill off to work, sharing an uncomfortable intimacy which only blossomed into a deep, sharing friendship a few years before Bill’s death
. Steve was changed by the relationship and in Father Bill’s final years he recognized that Bill’s thoughts and words needed to be recorded for posterity.
Steve’s intimate and warm writing has produced a gem
in the book, GREEN BANANAS (whose title BIll deftly
provided one day to the VIce President of Villanova University—which vignette is described on page 20).
The book’s first hardcover edition quickly sold out and the paperback edition is now in print
A Meeting of Two Saints?
In 1979, Pope John Paul VI visited Philadelphia and during that momentous time, he was introduced to a remarkable young priest.. . .their eyes met and the moment is captured in this photo which timelessly portrays a meeting of two humble “saints among men”. . .
Vatican Recognizes His Life
In 2015. the quest began (see right) to have “Father BIll” recognized as a true “Saint”. . . in 2018, the Vatican has been investigating his life and works and has agreed that the process is worthy of continuance.
Father BIll was a scholarly and critical thinker and the author of GREEN BANANAS, Steve McWIlliams, was interviewed in the process as his deep friendship with Father BIll made him one of BIll’s closest confidantes and they shared MUCH together. Steve wrote the book as a “tribute to a friend”. . . one who had a profound effect on his life and this is shared with the world in BIll’s words.
What readers have said
“This book is written from the heart with love, compassion and empathy. Guaranteed to inspire you and give you an understanding of an amazing priest with incredible courage.”
— Martie Gillin, Founder of AIDS Alive and SpeakUp!
“A strained exchange of shallow words becomes a bright and unencumbered poem of shared insight: a friendship in full bloom!”
— Father George Magee, O.S.A
“If I were comparing it to other works, I would say it is somewhere between St. Augustine’s Confessions and RIck Warren’s The Purpose Driven LIfe.”
—Jim Murray, Former General Manager of the Philadelphia Eagles
and Co-Founder of The Ronald McDonald House
Working hours
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(Phone until 17:30 Hrs)
Friday - 900-14:00
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3943 Providence Rd. Newtown Square, PA 19073 Office: 1-610-353-5585 Toll-free order line: 800-747-8356 eMail: harrowood@verizon.net