1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

THE P
R TAL
The Portal is the monthly review of the Personal Ordinariate of
Our Lady of Walsingham and of the other Personal Ordinariates
May 2015
www.portalmag.co.uk
THE P
RTAL
is the monthly review of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham and the other Personal Ordinariates
May 2015
Volume 5 Issue 53
Contents
jump to a page - click on page number
Page 3
Portal Editorial – Ronald Crane reflects
Page 4
Auntie Joanna writes – The “Our Father” project
Page 5
Snapdragon – The Election
Page 6
Called To Be Holy – Antonia Lynn
Page 7
ARCIC – A meeting with Archbishop Bernard Longley
Page 9
Newman – Dr Stephen Morgan
Page 10
Anglican News – The Revd Paul Benfield
Page 11
Ymweliad â Chaerdydd – Jackie Ottaway & Ronald Crane
Page 13
Finding us at prayer – around the UK and Australia
Page 16
News from the Groups around the UK
Page 17
Mgr Keith Newton’s Ordinary’s Diary
Page 18
News from Australia – Eliza Frank
Page 19
Mgr Harry Entwistle, Australia’s Ordinary, writes
Page 20
The National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham
– Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane meet Mgr John Armitage
Page 22
Chaplains without Borders – Fr James Grant OOLSC
Page 23
Book Review and Letter to the Editor
Page 24
Now tell me if I have got this wrong – Geoffrey Kirk
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Page 3
Portal Editorial
Ronald Crane airs a dilemma and offers a Personal View
Where do I place my “kiss” in the coming General
Election?
General Election on 7th May?
Voting is important. It is my
chance to give a “kiss” to the
candidate who, if elected, will
represent the area where I live.
Those who say that voting is
a waste of time, find no place
in my heart or mind. It is my
duty to vote, right, and having
in mind the historical cost of
winning the vote, my responsibility. Not to vote is an
abdication of duty, responsibility and right. So: on 7th
May I shall go to the Polling Station. But where do I
place my “kiss”?
Green MP.
I know a number of
Conservative MPs voted
against the measure as did
one or two of the others, but it
was pushed through, and I do
mean “pushed through” by the
Conservative Prime Minister.
This measure is a gamechanger. It attacks the very
roots of society, and alters the
meaning of one of the great supports of that society
– marriage. We now have, in effect, two definitions
of marriage that are in conflict with each other. As if
that were not bad enough, it is a measure that, once
enacted, cannot be reversed. Once done, it is done.
This dilemma has been rehearsed in various places
in the Bloggasphere. It was brought to my attention the popular “death culture”
on 18th April by Fr Ed Tomlinson in his blog www.
The second problem I have is with pro-life issues.
tunbridgewells-ordinariate.com/blog/.
There is no party prepared to stand up to the popular
“death culture”. Abortion with the best part of 200,000
Fr Ed wrote a good piece on this very subject, a year (that is the population of Luton, York or
quoting Deacon Nick Donnelly and Fr Ian Hellyer. Peterborough) killed each and every year.
You can find their contributions at www.marklambert.
blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/deacon-nick-donnelly-whoAssisted Suicide is coming. If the old dear is not
can-i-vote-for.html, and www.swordinariate.blogspot. worth keeping alive, well, let’s get rid of her; seems
co.uk/2015/04/the-human-person-must-be-principle. to be the attitude. The Catholic Church teaches that
html respectively. Deacon Nick Donnelly’s piece is all life, from the moment of conception until natural
especially troubling.
death, is sacred. Where are the politicians putting
forward this truth?
The economy
The economy, we are told, is what matters. But it is
not a matter to concern me on the question of where
to place my “kiss”. Whoever wins the election, or forms
the government if no one wins, will have to deal with
the economy.
carnage in the Middle East
Thirdly, I am deeply concerned about the deafening
silence about the carnage in the Middle East. Our
Christian brothers and sisters are being killed in their
thousands and, until recently, we were told nothing by
our press, or by our politicians.
There may be minor differences between the various
policies being put forward, but in essence, the action
Now, at last, thanks to Aid to the Church in Need
will be the same. It has to be if we are not, as a country, and Prince Charles, it is in the news. But what is being
to go bust. No, the economy will not determine where done about it? Ought not those Christians facing
I place my “kiss”.
murder and persecution be offered asylum in the UK?
So far they have not.
same-sex marriage law
My problems lie elsewhere. The first is with the three my only option?
main Parties. The Conservatives, Labour and Lib
It seems there is no one standing at the coming
Dems all; to a greater or lesser degree, supported and election who speaks for me. Is it an option to spoil the
pushed through the same-sex marriage law, as did the ballot paper? It may be my only option.
contents page
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Joanna Bogle keeps us up to date
Various Ordinariate
groups are supporting a
nationwide ecumenical project for children at Catholic and
Church of England primary schools. Some Portal readers may
know about this venture, but others don’t – and meanwhile it is
growing year on year.
It’s the “Our Father” project, run by Christian
Projects – based at 24 Smith Terrace, London SW3
5TN. Christian Projects began as a small prayer group
back in the 1950s, launched by a Methodist, Mr Ernest
Tapp.
Ecumenism wasn’t so fashionable in those days,
and he was quite a pioneer. He called his little group,
meeting in Hampshire, the Order of Christian Unity
and they had a badge made, showed two hands shaking
across the base of a Cross.
Auntie Jo a n
The “Our Father”
project
Page 4
na
wri tes
The project is
simple: a leaflet – this year’s has been designed by an
excellent Evangelical publishing organisation – goes to
every CofE and RC primary school in a given area (we
liaise with local volunteers, as indicated).
The children are invited to copy out, in good
handwriting, the Lord’s Prayer and to decorate it any
way they like. They then answer three simple questions:
What does ‘hallowed’ mean? What are trespasses? And
who taught us this prayer? It is all done by hand – no
computers – and the aim is to foster good handwriting
In the 1970s the group expanded, and under the and artwork and an appreciation of good craftmanship,
chairmanship of Lady Lothian – a Catholic and as well as to teach this beautiful prayer.
organiser of a number of major events including the
“Women of the Year” Luncheon – it became a notable
As you read this, the entries are coming in and teams
voice in support of good religious education in schools, of judges will be reading them. We enjoy the howlers
organising events and conferences on this and related - “hallowed means scared” etc. We are touched by the
subjects.
beautiful work that is done. We enjoy the kind letters
from teachers who find the project helpful.
She was followed as chairman by The Rt Rev Maurice
Wood, the retired (CofE) Bishop of Norwich. It was
Christian Projects is well funded, so printing,
during his chairmanship that the Schools Bible Project postage, and other costs are all covered, and we are
was launched – an essay project for secondary schools able to offer prizes to children whose work is of a high
which flourishes to this day.
standard, and a commemorative Gospel booklet to
every child. These booklets carry a bookplate with the
It marked its 25th anniversary last year (2014) with Lord’s Prayer and a place for the child to sign his/her
a big united Thanksgiving Service at St Margaret’s, name.
Westminster, which I was privileged to help organise.
As I write this, the Ladies Ordinariate Group is
And so to the “Our Father” Project. With the project braced to tackle a great stack of entries that wait for
for secondary schools flourishing, it seemed right to us at Precious Blood Rectory at London Bridge. We
do something for primary schools – but it’s a vast field. set aside several days for the work, organise tea and
sandwiches, and work in relays to read and evaluate
Following in the footsteps of previous chairmen the entries, and pack and post prizes. of what is now called Christian Projects, I felt we
should go ahead in faith, and knew that there were
Want to join in? I am willing to come and talk to any
many dedicated people who would be willing to help. group of volunteers who’d like to run an “Our Father”
Ordinariate groups, including Coventry, Pembury, project in their area. An email to me via The Portal
and the Ladies Ordinariate Group in London have
- - - - [email protected] - - - been among the generous groups responding.
will get things started…
contents page
Snapd
ragon
THE
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May 2015
Page 5
The Election
Snapdragon has also been thinking about the Election
It is easy to forget, amid all the mudslinging and eleventh-hour promises,
that who we vote for in next week’s
General Election ought to be based
on what each of the parties actually
stands for. Entertaining though the
mud-slinging is, and tantalizing the
promises, what ought to move us in
the voting booth is policy.
Where our X goes should also
be informed by our theology, because our theology
should always be the motivation, the ‘why’, of what
we do. As Christians, we are presented with the same
hotchpotch of political parties and policies as the rest
of the electorate. We have to try our very best to weigh
them against each other just like them, but we have
the additional responsibility of testing them all against
what we believe.
There are many outside the Church who believe that
individualism - the personal aspiration to survive and
succeed - has become unhealthily overemphasised in
our society, and social responsibility weakened. But,
as Christians, we have a distinctive sense of social
responsibility and awareness of how we should play
our part in society, informed by our theology.
Similarly, one doesn’t need to be a Christian to
acknowledge that people are dependent on each
other. We have developed an understanding that we
cannot exist as a nation in which some live happily and
prosperously while others lack life’s basic necessities.
We have grasped that no country, not even the richest
and strongest, can stand alone. We need each other.
Additionally as Christians we have an understanding
of God that provides a model for human relationships
between individuals and communities and nations.
The doctrine of the Trinity shows us how we are to
live and relate to each other in the most Godlike way.
The relationships within the Trinity do not support
any human structures in which those at the bottom
are dominated or oppressed by those at the top, but
point us to structures and relationships of mutual
interdependence and support.
A Christian sense of social responsibility goes
beyond recognising that people matter most and
depend on each other to live well, to an understanding
that we should demonstrate an active concern for the
welfare of others.
Our concern for those on our doorstep or half the
world away is based on a sense of justice and fairness
which we have in common with many who don’t share
That people, not money and power, are most our faith, but also on our experience of the love of God
important is a belief held by Christians and many non- in Jesus Christ. We have a concern for others because
Christians alike. We have only to observe the response we have experienced the love of God for ourselves and
to a disaster at home or overseas to see that people are don’t want to keep that love to ourselves.
generally regarded as the most important thing in the
world. As Christians though, we know that people are
Whether this policy is better than that policy, this
important because God created them in his image and party preferable to that party, we can’t as Christians
likeness, and when later his handiwork was spoiled judge solely on the strength of the statistical data that
by sin, he redeemed them. A basic element in our is thrown at us. I’m not sure yet how I’ll vote on May
Christian sense of social responsibility is that people 7, to be honest, but I’ll endeavour to put my X where
are precious in the sight of God, and therefore in ours. my theology is. contents page
THE
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May 2015
Page 6
Called To Be Holy
Antonia Lynn explains this Ordinariate project
‘Does what you do, in pursuit of a proper distinctiveness, clearly lead
to holiness? Is it in the service of sanctification? This is what counts.’ Cardinal
Nichols’ address at the Ordinariate Festival 2014
I am using my page this month not for my usual
reflection on Anglicanorum Cœtibus but to encourage
all our readers to take part in a practical response to
the Cardinal’s challenge, to be launched this month:
Called To Be Holy, a follow-up to last year’s Called To
Be One, which (as we saw in these pages) bore so much
fruit in our Ordinariate groups and beyond.
individuals…
the
material will be
available online each
day, or you can order
extra copies from the
website: see below for
details. Please join us!
Of course, both these projects have grown out of
Anglicanorum Cœtibus itself. Pope Benedict speaks of
‘many elements of sanctification and of truth [which]
are gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ;
they are forces impelling towards Catholic unity.’ Pope
Benedict said more about ‘sanctification’ when he
addressed schoolchildren across the country during
his visit in 2010:
Day of Recollection
‘What God wants most of all for each one of you
is that you should become holy. He loves you much
more than you could ever begin to imagine, and
he wants the very best for you. And by far the best
thing for you is to grow in holiness.’
Groups are encouraged to host a day of recollection,
either during the period of the Novena or later in the
year: a day with ecumenical appeal, to which all our
Christian friends can be invited. This year, there will
be no national publicity campaign, so the challenge is
for each group to spread the word locally. Don’t forget,
personal invitations work best!
Other resources…
• Prayer cards: your groups should already have
started distributing these; the Pentecost cards will
appear soon. They are all illustrated with examples of
English Christian art through the ages.
• DVD: a message from the Ordinary, to be used at
Called To Be Holy is an exercise in hospitality, an the group’s day event. There will also be other video
expression of our ‘holy desire’ for unity and a celebration resources online - watch this space!
• Children’s materials: ideas for children’s sessions
of our English Christian spiritual tradition. So, what’s
happening? The Ordinary has invited a small group during your day of recollection; also activity and prayer
(Fathers Christopher Lindlar, Scott Anderson, David sheets so that children can join in with the Novena.
Lashbrooke, David Waller and myself) to put together
… and where to find them?
a plan, with the support of the Area Coordinators.
We have set up a special website www.calledtobe.
Here are the key elements:
org.uk - which, at the moment, has a link to download
Novena of Prayer, 15 to 23 May
the poster. A further pages will be added soon where
Of course, this project will be launched in prayer. you will be able to download The Novena of Prayer
We invite all Ordinariate members, our friends both booklet so that you can have your own copy on your
Anglican and Catholic, and all who care about the computer, laptop, i-pad, tablet, phone (or even to print
Christian heritage of our country and long for us to be it yourself).
united again, to join in a Novena in that sacred time
of waiting on God between Ascension and Pentecost.
Other pages will follow and from Day 1 of the
Novena, Friday 15th May, you will be able to follow
As you read this, Group Pastors will be receiving the Novena on the website.
copies of a booklet which contains, for each day, a
www.calledtobe.org.uk
reading from the English spiritual tradition we all
share (from the eighth century Cloud of Unknowing to
Come and see for yourself - we hope to update the
Michael Ramsey, 100th Archbishop of Canterbury), a content regularly. How will you respond to the Call
psalm and a collect. This can be used by groups, families, To Be Holy?
contents page
THE
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May 2015
Page 7
The Anglican-Roman
Catholic International
Commission
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane meet His Grace
Archbishop Bernard Longley, Catholic Co-Chairman of ARCIC
Speaking in
Archbishop’s House, Birmingham, Archbishop Longley began by talking about The
Portal. “I think The Portal is an effective communicator within the Ordinariate and also within the family
of the Catholic Church. I am conscious that Pope Benedict has described the Ordinariate as a prophetic gesture
towards the cause of Christian unity. I’ve come to understand that better, in the context of ARCIC, through
knowing the stories of individuals who have made that journey of faith from the Church of England into the
Ordinariate. Their own experience mirrors the journey of Blessed John Henry Newman.
ARCIC dialogue
has changed
“We are now at the third phase of
ARCIC, whose brief is coloured by
the development of the Christian
Faith as it evolves within the
Catholic Church and the Anglican
Communion. The ARCIC dialogue
has changed over fifty years, both
in pace and expectation, but its
goal remains the same. From
the Catholic point of view, this
goal must be full visible unity no
matter how difficult or challenging
that seems. We still have that aim
because it expresses the will and
the prayer of our Lord that all may be one.
churches’ rules about sacramental
sharing. The Anglican Communion
welcomes people who are ‘in
good standing with their own
church’, but we’re mindful that no
Roman Catholic would be in good
standing with his own church if he
actually received communion. Our
Anglican colleagues are respectful
of that.
“People sometimes speak of the
inability to share the sacrament
fully with each other as a “neuralgia
point” in ecumenical dialogue. We
need to continue dialogue until
we are fully in communion with each other. Until
then we must respect each other and realise that the
“This third round of ARCIC dialogue follows the same receiving of the sacrament of the Eucharist is not
pattern as its predecessors. Members are appointed by only a means towards full visible unity, but is a sign
the Anglican Communion office and the Pontifical of that unity which is already present. We must hold
Council for Promoting Christian Unity, with 12 or those two things in balance yet experience the reality
13 on each side. There are bishops, theologians and of not being in full communion. It is important that
representatives of specific dimensions of the Catholic we have become good friends. Ecumenical friendships
Church’s life. As a world-wide church, we can reflect are essential if we want to work together for full visible
on Catholic life in every continent, and we include unity.
the Eastern Catholic Churches. Anglican participants
come from all parts of the Anglican Communion. that full visible unity
“An additional point was made to me by a friend
We meet annually, for eight or nine days, in various
of mine, from the United Reformed Church. She
locations.
asked how the practice of Free Church Christians
We observe the churches’ rules
and Anglicans receiving communion in each other’s
“We each observe our own disciplines and traditions churches over the past 40 years has contributed to the
to the letter; an important dimension of ecumenical full visible unity of those churches. “Are we actually
dialogue and engagement. We have each day Mass any closer to that full visible unity of the Church for
and Anglican Eucharist alternately. We observe the which Christ prayed?” I think it is a fair question.
contents page
THE
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May 2015
“We have had joint meetings of bishops nationally
for four or five years. They are bearing fruit, but we
are conscious of the fact that a woman has now been
consecrated bishop within the Church of England.
This is a new reality for us and serves to highlight the
challenges before us and the obstacles on the way to
full visible unity. It must be something which future
ARCIC discussions address. How do the Anglican
Communion and the Catholic Church understand the
sacramental sharing in the priesthood of Jesus Christ
as it is expressed in the ordained ministry within the
Church?
faithful to the will of Christ
“We believe that we are faithful to the will of Christ
by calling men to the Sacrament of Orders after the
fashion of Our Lord’s own calling of the apostles
and respectful of that tradition that has continued in
the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Catholic
understanding of sacramental priesthood is that what
we have received is a given which was always to be
respected and continued within the life of the Church.
Page 8
who have been part of the Church of England have
brought into the Catholic Church also influences the
way in which we relate to the Church of England.
Blessed John Henry Newman’s experience obviously
brought an insight to the heart of the Catholic Church
in our understanding of the Church of England.
This is part of the prophetic gift that Pope Benedict
mentioned.
a deeper appreciation
“At first I couldn’t fully understand how Pope
Benedict saw the Ordinariate as a prophetic gift. I
now think that he meant that the gift is the presence
of Ordinariate Catholics within the Catholic Church,
bringing a deeper appreciation and the experience
of Anglican Patrimony. We are still learning how to
appreciate the presence of that patrimony. It will
continue to influence the way in which we understand
the development of liturgy and our relations with the
Church of England.
“In ecumenical terms the Ordinariate can be a
great help. In our own ecumenical dialogue, we need
“The ARCIC dialogue has not yet looked at to involve the insights of the Ordinariate and I am
the theological understanding of priesthood as a pleased that Mgr Keith Newton is a member of the
sacrament. When we do, we should look at what is the Department of the Bishops’ Conference charged with
scope for ordination, for administering this sacrament furthering ecumenical dialogue.
and who are to be the recipients. We believe this is
not determined by the Church alone but by what the Anglican Patrimony
“As to Anglican Patrimony, I think you’re better
Church has received from the Lord.
qualified that I am. I am aware of work that Mgr
in the Lord’s own time
Andrew Burnham has been doing and the liturgical
“The ultimate goal of every Catholic Ecumenist is, books which are available. I realise that most of the
in the Lord’s own time and in his own way, through communities that I know continue to use the Roman
the Holy Spirit, full visible unity of the Church. The Missal, but I am also aware that there is an appreciation
journey is longer than we in the Catholic Church of the poetry and hymnology and the liturgical
imagined 50 years ago, but we need to be realistic.
tradition of Choral Evensong.
“The goal is the same in our international dialogues
with the Methodists and Lutherans, ecclesial
communions which do not have the same structures
that the Anglican Communion has in terms of
episcopal ministries. We know the reality within those
protestant churches and we need to keep before us that
goal, but be realistic about what we can agree together
in the shorter term and what we can ultimately achieve.
“You may remember that Cardinal Kasper was
invited to speak when the Church of England was
preparing legislation for the ordination of women as
bishops. That legislation was carried, but Cardinal
Kasper’s intervention and the fact that he was invited,
were significant. The dialogue continues, and now
needs to include the Ordinariate.
“In my own Archdiocese, the experience that those
contents page
“It is difficult to quantify the whole experience of
having lived as members of the Church of England,
which is something that I have tried to touch on when
speaking of Blessed John Henry Newman. I know of no
Anglican who is not grateful for having been baptised
within the Church of England or for that network of
friendships which have formed part of your life.
“I don’t think becoming a Catholic was a rejection
of those important bonds of friendship, or of the faith
that you’ve lived as Anglicans and have now brought
into the Catholic Church. It is a significant part of the
Patrimony that you bring.”
We are grateful to the Archbishop for his time,
thoughts and kind words about the Ordinariate in
general and The Portal in particular.
THE
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May 2015
Page 9
Thoughts on Newman
Books, Books, Books!
Dr Stephen Morgan looks at his library of works by Newman
Over my
years of studying Newman, I have acquired more books by, on or about him than I care
to admit. They currently take up nearly nine yards of bookshelf space but there’s always room for one
more, especially if the new book fills a notable gap in the collection. Alongside the first editions of The
Arians, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, and Apologia pro vita sua the volumes of Newman’s
Letters and Diaries, edited with a level of care and attention by Charles Stephen Dessain, Thomas Gornall and
Ian Ker, must rank amongst my most treasured. There are, in total, thirty-one volumes but they are not all
readily available. Until Thursday of this week, my bookshelves boasted twenty-seven of the thirty-one: the
four I did not have being rare and often eye-wateringly expensive.
own study was not to be passed up:
that evening’s business could always
wait. Time spent in such a pastime
rarely fails to yield serendipity’s
abundant harvest and Thursday
evening’s diversion was no exception.
In amongst letters to Frederick Faber
about the risks of a cholera outbreak
– “Pray institute a continual inquiry
if there is any bowel disorder among
you . . . and if so, have the culprit out
of London at once” (17th July 1849) –
and the usual correspondence with
hesitant converts – “It makes me
very melancholy to think that you are
delaying . . . I will not believe that your
Amongst titles as varied as Biblia
own heart does not tell you where the
Sacra Nova Vulgata, Panzer Attack
truth is” (to Mrs Henry Wilberforce,
and Ten Tunes for Miss Lucy were
three consecutive volumes of the Letters and Diaries, 18th April 1850) – was the following spiritual counsel,
including one of the precious volumes that I lacked. a jewel of faith, trust and abandonment to Divine
Refusing a donation – which would have had to be Providence:
considerable if it were to be commensurate with the
We are all in God’s Hands, and He orders us
prices being asked by booksellers for this volume on
about, each in his own way; happy for us, only, if
the rare occasions when one becomes available – my
we can realise this, and submit as children to a dear
friend gave me Volume XIII with nothing more than a
Father, whatever He may please to do with us (to
promise to keep him in my prayers.
John Edward Bowden, 21st September 1849).
I had not the heart to tell him that he is rarely out
Anthony Powell entitled the tenth of his Dance to
of them but thanked him profusely and went home
clutching the book in my hand as firmly as a child with the Music of Time novels, Books do furnish a room.
They do certainly that but, by God’s grace, they not
a particularly welcome birthday present.
infrequently also furnish an answer to an unsettled
rare and often
heart. For the moment Volume XIII sits on my table
eye-wateringly expensive
awaiting the creation of more shelf space but it has
Although the letters in Volume XIII, covering the already earned its place amongst its companion
period from January 1849 to June 1850, were well volumes. Before I call the carpenter, you might just see
known to me from hours spent in the University library, if you have a spare Volume XXI, XXII or XXV needing
the opportunity to dip into them in the luxury of my a new and, I promise, loving home!
I had all-but given up hope of ever
obtaining any of them: that was before
the intervention of a priest friend. On
moving into his new parish he had
found a stock of various books about
the house: an eclectic mix of titles of
various vintages, displaying almost
no discernable pattern of subjects or
organising principle. His predecessor,
who had been there for fifteen years
and more, had confirmed that they
were books that had been in the house
when he had moved in and he certainly
didn’t want them.
contents page
THE
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May 2015
Page 10
News from the Anglican
C of E
News
The Revd Paul Benfield keeps us up to date
In January
a report entitled ‘Optimising the role of the National Church Institutions’ was published.
It contained a proposal that the way the Church of England makes its laws should be greatly simplified.
This has now been worked on and a consultation document was published in April.
The problem identified by the report is that to pass
or amend existing primary legislation is complex
and time-consuming. At present church legislation
normally has to pass through five stages in the Synod
(first consideration, revision in committee, revision
in synod, final drafting and final approval) followed
by consideration by the Ecclesiastical Committee of
Parliament and by both Houses of Parliament before
receiving Royal Assent. This takes time. The example
given in the consultation document is that of the
legislation which introduced common tenure for
clergy. This resulted from a report in 2002 and did not
come into force until 2011. But in fact the proposals
on common tenure were subject to significant
modification after consultation with the wider church
and debates in Synod before the legislative process
even began.
First consideration of the actual legislation was not
given by Synod until February 2007. Major changes
were made during the synodical procedures, not least
my amendment which removed the provision which
would have vested parsonages in the diocesan board
of finance rather than the incumbent.
burden, or the overall burdens, resulting directly or
indirectly for any person from any legislation”. So the
Archbishops’ Council proposes that it should have
power to make an order which would repeal or amend
church legislation, including primary legislation in the
form of Measures and Acts of Parliament. There would
be certain pre-conditions that would have to be met
before the power could be exercised.
A draft order would have to go before a Scrutiny
Committee of Synod which could suggest amendments
or that the order be withdrawn. The Archbishops’
Council would consider those suggestions and amend
the draft order or not as it saw fit. The draft order
would then come before Synod which could approve
it or reject it, but not amend it. The order would then
pass to Parliament where it would be passed as a
statutory instrument, thus by-passing the Ecclesiastical
Committee.
Questions which need to be asked are, firstly, will
this procedure produce properly scrutinised and
workable legislation? This has often not been the case
with government orders passed under the secular
legislation. Secondly, is this part of a continuing
The Measure received Royal Assent in April 2009. process of centralisation of the Church of England,
Because of its complexity, the legislation could not whereby the Archbishops’ Council would become akin
be brought into effect quickly and so it did not come to the board of a public company, with full executive
into force until 2011. Nevertheless, the authors of power over all matters?
this consultation (which goes out under the name of
William Fittall, Secretary General) are content to give
the impression that it was the legislative process which
caused a delay of 9 years.
The Archbishops’ Council believes that the solution
to the problem of slow legislative process is to reduce
substantially the categories of legislative change that
require to be made by measure. It is proposed that an
enabling measure be passed which would be similar to
Part 1 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.
This Act allows a government minister to make an
order for the purpose of “removing or reducing any
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THE
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May 2015
Page 11
Ymweliad â Chaerdydd
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the new
Ordinariate Group in Cardiff
R
egular readers will know that recently we have visited new Ordinariate Groups in
Walsingham and in Chichester. This month we have been to Wales, to visit the Group that meets in the
Metropolitan Cathedral of St David.
Meeting once a month, they use a
lovely chapel in the Cathedral with
an Altar bought by members of
the Cathedral congregation. Upon
arrival, we were shown to our seats,
provided with a mass booklet and
service sheet, together with the CTS
leaflet about the Ordinariate and
some useful prayer cards. A truly
wonderful welcome.
Rodney & Elenor Care.
A truly wonderful welcome
The mass (Ordinariate Use) was holy
and reverend and Fr Bernard Sixtus gave
an excellent Homily. After mass the twenty
people present, of all ages from Primary
School to ancient (!), all wandered over
the hall for some refreshment. This gave us David Holmes
opportunity to speak with some of those
present.
the Bristol group
Rodney and his wife Eleanor Care
introduced themselves. He is a semi-retired
chartered surveyor and she a retired medical
practitioner. Eleanor became a Catholic
back in 1985, lapsed before returning to
the Faith when her husband joined the
Ordinariate. He said, “At the time when the Robin & Jonathan Sixtus
exploratory group in South East Wales got
going we had no priest, so I was received
in the Bristol group with Fr Peter Clarke.
When Fr Bernard Sixtus came along we
found a home here.”
member of the Ordinariate group.
“It is the ‘One, Holy, Catholic, and
Apostolic Church” he said, and
continued, “I am now connected to
the historic Church founded two
thousand years ago. I am now plugged
into the mains. It is good to be in a
group of people who have all made
the same journey.”
Eleanor said her reception into the
Church had been very friendly. They
attend the Cathedral on Sundays when
there is no Ordinariate mass. The Dean
has been very supportive. However, some
Anglicans have asked, “Will you become a
Catholic eventually?” It appears they think
the Ordinariate is only half-way! Their
experience is that in the Cathedral the
Ordinariate is a welcome addition. The
Cares have maintained their relationship
with the Bristol group and visit them
regularly.
a mixed bunch
Not all the members of the Cardiff group
come from the same Anglican Church.
They are a mixed bunch, and not all from
what one might describe as ‘Anglo-Catholic’
backgrounds.
Here in Nonconformist Wales, it seems
that Catholics were either Irish or Italian
immigrants. There is little deep-rooted Welsh
Catholicism, Rodney thought, “Progress will
be slow. Anglo-Catholics in The Church in
Wales just say, ’There will be no women priest
here in our parish’. They do not appreciate
the joy of certainty beyond that.”
Eleanor took up the story, “Before one
is received into the Church, Catholics are
very keen, but afterwards they forget you!
Matthew Evans
You just become one of them. Being in the
Church gives a secure feeling and this is enhanced
by the Ordinariate group. In fact the authority of the thinking and praying
Church gives us freedom.”
Matthew Wade Evans is a Secondary School teacher
who joined the Ordinariate last year. He spent a
connected to the historic Church
number of months thinking and praying about which
Rodney felt so pleased that he was becoming a direction to take.
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THE
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Page 12
“The Archbishop, who had met with the exploration
A friend was already in the Ordinariate when a
group began in Cardiff, so Matthew just came along. group before, then invited us to meet at the Cathedral
where a chapel would be made available to
“It was,” he said, “A difficult thing to leave
us, complete with an oak reredos. This has
the Anglican parish behind. I had been at
worked very well, especially since we always
St Mary’s for ten years or so. They were very
celebrate the Ordinariate Rite, which feels
supportive of my decision. It was something
‘natural’ in this setting and is just right for
about realising Christian Unity and joining
this group (many of whom will have been
the Church. I attend mass at the Cathedral
used to the traditional-language ‘Green
when there is no Ordinariate mass. We have
Book’ liturgies of the Church in Wales
received a warm welcome. I think there will
beforehand).
be more people who will come over. People
are still not sure that it is fully part of the
Catholic Church. There is still a lot of work Alan & Marilyn Jones interested and positive
to be done.”
“I am not sure I understand why so few
people made the move in the end. We
We chatted to a number of people who
have excellent relations with the Catholic
described themselves as “nibblers”. There
clergy and people, who have all been most
was David Holmes, a civilian investigator
welcoming. I have a small Diocesan Parish
with the South Wales Police and Euan Tait,
to care for as well, which had no idea what
a College lecturer, as well as some who did
the Ordinariate was, so we got the CTS
not wish to be named at this stage.
leaflet that we always give out to visitors at
the Ordinariate mass, and they have been
Nicki & David Prichard
We have not changed
very interested and positive.
They all said more or less the same thing.
They wanted to be able to go to mass, say
“At the same time, in the Anglican Church
their prayers without intrigue. They told us,
in Wales there is really no substantial
“We are already Catholics. We have had the
provision for the orthodox at all now, yet
same views from a young age. We have not
still few have come so far. As to our future:
changed. It is the Anglican Church that has
we have some enquiring and some nibbling.
changed. It has lost its way. In the Catholic
We do what we do, and hope people will “get
Church we can go to mass anywhere.” We
it” and do something about it. I sometimes
will have to keep our eyes and ears open, for Philip Jones
wonder if there will come a point of final
we suspect there will be some receptions in
“estrangement” between Anglo-Catholics
Cardiff before long.
and the Church in Wales. There may be, and
if and when it comes, we will hopefully have
Fr Bernard Sixtus
been able to “prepare a place”, a home, for
Fr Bernard Sixtus is a gentle person, and
people.”
obviously a holy man. Married, with a family,
he leads the Cardiff group, although he does
This is a good group. Not large, but
have a “day job” as Director of RE for Schools
prayerful and holy. It is well led and has
in the Archdiocese. We come from many
knit together rather well. We are grateful to
Fr Bernard Sixtus
different churches. We have people from all
Fr Sixtus for his welcome and to the group
over South East Wales. Most did not know each other members for their warm welcome too. It may well be
before the Ordinariate. I had an exploration group of that we shall hear more of them.
around twenty or so, but only two actually came the
whole way! We were rather scattered, so where should at the heart of the Diocese
The Archbishop of Cardiff, the Most Revd George
we meet? A church in the Dock Area of Cardiff was
Stack told The Portal, “I am pleased that the
suggested originally.
Welsh members of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of
“The idea was to put all the various “other rites” of Walsingham continue to worship regularly at St David’s
the Catholic Church (i.e. not ‘standard Latin Rite’) Cathedral, Cardiff. I have always been anxious to have
together at St Cuthbert’s. However the largest of them at the heart of the Diocese, not least in reflecting
them is a group of an Eastern Rite (Ukrainian Greek on the words of John Henry Newman ‘Heart speaking
Catholic) using a full ‘iconostasis’. While a great idea, unto heart’. I hope both the Cathedral community and
that just wouldn’t have worked in practice: the kind of the members of the Ordinariate are enriched by the
experience.”
‘liturgical space’ required is just too different.
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Ordinariate Groups
Where to find us at prayer around the UK
The Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham
www.ordinariate.org.uk
Ordinary: Monsignor Keith Newton
24 Golden Square, London W1F 9JR - 020 7440 5750
[email protected]
Beckenham Mass: Convent of St
Peter Claver, 89 Shortlands Road, Bromley BR2
0JL - 2nd Tues, Our Lady of the Rosary, 330a Burnt
Oak Lane, Blackfen DA15 8LW - 1st 3rd & 4th Tues:
7.30pm Mass followed by talk and discussion - Sunday
as announced Contact: Fr Simon Heans: 020 8333
2815 - [email protected]
BLACK COUNTRY Our Lady of Perpetual
COVENTRY St Joseph the Worker,
Cannon Park, Coventry, CV4 7DU Mass:
11am - also Mon 7pm, Tues 10am, Wed
10am (with parish); Thurs 7pm, Sat 10am
(followed by Adoration & Confession)Coffee
morning: Sat 10.30-noon Contact: Fr
Paul Burch: 024 7669 3752 - paulburch5@
hotmail.com
Croydon Virgo Fidelis, Central Hill, Upper
Norwood, SE19 1RT Mass: Sunday: 8am, 12.30pm,
also on Wed 7.30am (7am Matins), Thurs 6pm, first Fri
of month: 6pm Mass for Healing (Ordinariate Usage at
all Masses) Contact: [email protected]
- www.sites.google.com/site/croydonordinariate
Succour, Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 8PG Darlington
Mass: 3rd Sunday of the month: 12 noon (followed
by refreshments in the sacristy), also on Wed 10am
Contact: Fr John Lungley: 01902 896292 [email protected]
black.country@
ordinariate.org.uk
BOURNEMOUTH St Thomas More, Exton
Road BH6 5QG Mass: Sunday: 11.15am and Wed:
10.30am Contact: Fr Darryl Jordan: 01202 485588
- [email protected]
Bristol St Joseph, Camp Road, Weston-super-
Mare, BS23 2EN Mass: 2nd Sunday of the month: 12
noon, followed by lunch in the Hall and Evensong and
Benediction at 2:30pm Contact: Fr Peter Clarke:
01935 850408 - [email protected]
CHELMSFORD
Blessed Sacrament, 116
Melbourne Avenue, Chelmsford CM1 2DU Mass:
Sunday: 9.30am and 11.30am, (on 1st Sunday of the
month specifically Ordinariate), also on Mon to Sat
at 9.15am with RC community Contact: Fr Ivor
Morris: 01245 354256 - [email protected]
COLCHESTER St John Payne, Blackthorn
Avenue, Greenstead CO4 3QD Mass: 3rd Sunday
of the month: 4pm Contact: Fr Jon Ravensdale:
01206 870460 [email protected]
CORNWALL St Augustine of Hippo, St Austell,
PL25 4RA Mass: Sunday: 5.30pm, also on Wed 7pm
Contact: Fr John Greatbatch: 01822 612645 [email protected]
contents page
St Osmund, Main Road,
Gainford, County Durham DL2 3DZ Mass: Sundays
9.30am Parish Mass, 11.30 am Solemn Mass; Mon 12
noon; Tues 10am; Wed 10am; Thurs 10am; Fri 7pm; Sat
10am, Holydays 7 pm. Confessions after Mass on Thurs,
Fri, Sat. Contact: Fr Elkin, PP: 01833 638133, Fr
Grieves, Pr in Residence: 01325 730191 - darlington@
ordinariate.org.uk - www.darlingtonordinariate.com
DEAL St John the Evangelist, St Richard’s Road,
Mongeham, Deal, Kent CT14 9LD Mass: Sunday:
11am, 6pm Evensong Contact: Fr Christopher
Lindlar: 01304 374870, 07710 090195 - c.lindlar@
btinternet.com or [email protected]
DERBY St George, Village Street, Derby Derbyshire
DE23 8SZ Mass: Sunday: 9.45am - 1st Sunday of the
month: 11am St John, Midland Road, Stapleford,
Nottingham, Notts NG9 7BT Contact: Fr Peter
Peterken: [email protected]
Eastbourne St Agnes, 6 Whitley Road,
Eastbourne BN22 8NJ
Mass: Sunday: 4pm
Contact: Fr Neil Chatfield: neil.chatfield@
eastbourneordinariate.org.uk
FOLKESTONE Our Lady Help of Christians
Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1EF Mass:
Sunday: 9.30am and 11am, Evensong and Benediction
6pm; Tues: Mass Contact: Fr Stephen Bould: 01303
252823 - [email protected]
HARLOW The Church of The Assumption,
Mulberry Green, Old Harlow, Essex CM17 0HA Mass:
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THE
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May 2015
Sunday: 10am, Evensong and Benediction 6pm
Contact: Fr John Corbyn: 01268 733219 - harlow@
ordinariate.org.uk
Page 14
12.30pm, Sat 5.30pm Contact: 0207 407 3951 www.preciousblood.org.uk
LONDON, WALTHAMSTOW Our Lady
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD St Mark’s, Hollybush and St George, Shernhall Street, London E17 9HU
Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2PH Mass: Sunday: Mass: Sunday: 6.30pm Contact: Fr David Waller:
9am, Tues: 7.30pm Contact: hemel.ordinariate@ 020 8554 3763 - [email protected].
gmail.com
uk
HOCKLEY, ESSEX St Peter’s Eastwood,
59 Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9
4BX Mass: every Sunday: 10am, also on Holy Days
7.30pm; St Pius X, Southend Road, Hockley, Essex SS5
4QH Mass: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Sundays: 10.30am, also
on Fri 9am Contact: Fr Jeffrey Woolnough: 01702
525323, 07956 801381 - [email protected] or Fr
Bob White: 01268 543910 - pilgrimclub@waitrose.
com - www.hockleyordinariateolw.blogspot.com The
HockleyMission is served from St Peter’s Eastwood:
www.saint-peters.co.uk
Manchester Mission St Joseph, Mary
Street, Heywood OL10 1EG Mass: Sunday: 11am, also
on Tue 7.30pm, Holy Hour: Thur 12 noon: Bible study:
Mon 7.30pm, 2nd Sunday of the month: Evensong
4pm 4th Sunday of the month: House Mass at The
Old Coach House, 3a Bostock Road, Broadbottom,
Cheshire SK14 6AH 4th Sunday of the month: 6.30pm
Contact: Fr Andrew Starkie: 01706 625512 [email protected] - www.manchesterordinariate.org.uk
Ipswich Holy Family and St Michael, Kesgrave,
Suffolk IP5 2QP MASS: 2nd Sunday of the month:
11am. CONTACT: Fr David Skeoch: 01473 612178
- [email protected] - www.ordinariate.org.
uk/ipswich
Blessed Virgin Mary, Old Oscott Hill, Kingstanding,
ISLE OF WIGHT, RYDE St Mary’, High Street,
PO33 2RE MASS: every Sunday: 9am Solemn Sung
Mass, Ordinariate liturgy. CONTACT: Fr Jonathan
Redvers Harris: 01983 292726 - frjonathanrh@
btinternet.com
Midland Road, Stapleford, Nottingham, Notts NG9
7BT Mass: 1st Sunday of the month: 11am, Sun 9am,
Thur 7pm. Contact: Fr Simon Ellis: nottingham@
ordinariate.org.uk
Leytonstone/Wanstead
S.
North Birmingham Sisters of the
Birmingham B44 9AG Mass: 1st Sunday of the
Month: 10.30am. Contact: Ronald Crane: 0121
241 8730 - [email protected]
NOTTINGHAM St John the Evangelist,
OXFORD Holy Rood, Folly Bridge Mass: Sat (of
John Sunday) 6pm, Mon 9am, Tues 9am, Thu 6.30pm, Fri
Vianney, Clayhall, Ilford IG5 0JB MASS: Sundays: 12.30pm (Latin) - all at Holy Rood - also Wed 10am at
10am (Solemm Mass), 12 noon (last Sun of month
Solemn Mass, Ordinariate Use) 4:30pm (Exposition),
5pm (Low Mass); Daily (except Mon) 8:30am
(Expsoition) 9am (Mass); Holy Days 9am (Low Mass),
8pm (Solemn Mass); Confessions: Sat 10am or by
appointment. CONTACT: Fr Rob Page: 020 8550
4540 - [email protected]
LONDON, Central Ordinariate
Church Our Lady of the Assumption and St
Gregory, Warwick Street, London W1B 5LZ (Nearest
tube: Piccadilly) Mass: Sunday: 10.30am Solemn
Mass with choir (Ordinariate Use), Weekdays: 8am
and 12.45pm (Novus Ordo in English), Feasts and
Solemnities as advertised. Contact: Fr Mark ElliottSmith 07815 320761 - [email protected]
Oxford Oratory Contact: Mgr Andrew Burnham:
01235 835038 - [email protected].
uk or Fr Daniel Lloyd: 01865 749466 - daniel.lloyd@
ordinariate.org.uk
PORTSMOUTH
St Agatha, Market Way,
Landport PO1 4AB MASS Sunday 11am (Solemn),
Mon, Fri (Requiem) and Sat 11am, Contact: info@
stagathaschurch.co.uk - www.stagathaschurch.co.uk
READING St James, Abbey Ruins, Forbury Road,
Reading, Berkshire RG1 3HW (next to Reading Gaol)
Mass: Sunday: 9.15am. Contact: Fr David Elliott:
07973 241424 - [email protected]
SALISBURY The Most Holy Redeemer, Fortherby
Crescent, Bishopdown, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3EG
South Most Precious Blood, Mass: Sunday: 11am, Wed 6.30pm, 2nd Sunday of the
O’Meara Street, London SE1 1TE Mass: Sunday: month: 6pm Evensong Contact: Fr Keith Robinson:
6pm (Sat), 8.30am, 11am; Mon-Fri 1.05pm, Thur 01722 504807, 07722 653367 - [email protected]
7pm; Evensong, Thur 6.30pm; Confessions: Mon-Fri or [email protected]
LONDON,
continued on the next page >
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THE
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May 2015
SCOTLAND: Edinburgh St Columba, 9
Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh EH9 1SN Mass: 2nd
Sunday of the month: 11.30am HIGHLAND
(Fortrose) St Peter and St Boniface, Cathedral
Square, Fortrose IV10 8TB Mass: 1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays
of the month: 11am. Stirling Holy Spirit, 1
McGrigor Road, Stirling FK7 9BL Mass: 2nd Sunday of
the month: 4pm. The Ordinariate Use is used at every
Mass in Scotland. Contact: Fr Len Black: 01463
235597 or 07836 365719 - [email protected] or
Fr Stanley Bennie: 01851 703259 or 07768 660612 [email protected] - for full details please visit
us at: www.ordinariate.scot
Wales
(South
East)
Page 15
GOLD COAST: LABRADOR - St Joseph
the Worker Catholic Church, 44 Imperieal Parade
Labrador, Queensland. Mass: 1st and 3rd Sunday:
5.30pm. Contact: Fr Stephen Gronow, OLSC: 0212
117 635 - [email protected]
Rockhampton Our Lady of Walsingham,
St Vincent’s Catholic Church, 4 Herbert Street, Wandal,
Rockhampton 4700 Contact: 07-4928 4193 [email protected]
NEW SOUTH WALES: Diocese of Lismore
Mullumbimby St John Contact: Fr Lyall
Cowell: 0423 086 984 - 02-6684 2106 - mullumbimby@
Metropolitan ordinariate.org.au
Cathedral of St David, 38 Charles Street, Cardiff CF10
2SF Mass: 4th Sunday of month: 1pm Contact: Sydney Holy Cross Contact: The Ordinary:
Fr Bernard Sixtus: 02920 362599, 07720 272137 - 0417 180 145 - [email protected]
[email protected] - www.ordinariate.org.uk/
groups/wales-se.html
VICTORIA: GIPPSLAND Most Holy Family,
Maffra - HEYFIELD: Mass: Sundays 10am, 4th Sun:
4pm Evensong and Benediction; COWWARR: Mass:
Wed
10am Mass and Holy Hour; MIRBOO NORTH:
The Personal Ordinariate
Mass:
2nd Saturday 11am. Contact: 0403 383
of Our Lady of the Southern Cross
873 - [email protected] - www.gippslandwww.ordinariate.org.au
ordinariate.com
Ordinary: Monsignor Harry Entwistle, PA
Around Australia
40A Mary Street, High-Gate 6003, Western Australia
08-9422-7988 – 0417 180 145 – [email protected]
Office: 0409 377 338 – [email protected]
Melbourne St Benedict - Holy Cross Church,
707 Glenhuntly Road, South Caulfield. Mass:
Sunday: 11am (Ordinariate Use), 7pm Evensong and
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Perth St Ninian & St Benediction; Mon: 7pm; Wed: 10am. Contact: 03Chad, 11 Susan Street, Maylands, Perth WA Mass: 9822 8489 - [email protected]
Sunday 9.30am, 2nd Sun, 4pm Evensong & Benediction,
4th Sun, 4pm Evensong, Wed 9.15 Contact: The Melbourne
Bayside/Peninsula:
St
Ordinary: 0417 180 145, Asst Priest: Fr Ted Wilson: 08- Edmund Campion - St Patrick’s Catholic Church,
9349 5798 - [email protected]
Childers Street Mentone. Mass: Sunday: 9.30am
(Ordinariate Use); Thurs: 10.30am (Ordinariate Use).
QUEENSLAND: Brisbane St Thomas Contact Parish Priest: 03-9580 1032 or 03-9770
a’Becket - St Benedict’s Church, Mowbray Terrace, 6700 - [email protected]
East Brisbane. Mass: Sunday: 9.30am; 6.30pm:
Evensong and Benediction. Contact: Fr Tony Iball: North East Victoria St Patrick
Contact: The Ordinary: 0417 180 145 - ordinary@
07-3841 2352 - [email protected]
ordinariate.org.au
Cairns St Clare - meet in St Francis Xavier
Catholic Church, corner of Atkinson and Mayer SOUTH AUSTRALIA: ADELAIDE Blessed John
Streets, Manunda 4870. Mass: Sunday: 10am; Wed Henry Newman Contact: Fr Ian Wilson: 0427 851
and Thur: 7.30am. Contact Parish Priest: 07-4036 030 - [email protected]
0348 or 0429 400 176 - [email protected]
GOLD COAST: UPPER COOMERA St
Japan
Stephen - meet in St Stephen’s College Chapel, Tokyo OLSC Community of Saint Augustine
Reserve Road, Upper Coomera. 4209. Q’ld. Mass: of Canterbury (Japanese speaking) Contact: Fr
Sunday: 9am, other times as announced. Contact: Raphael Kajiwara: +8142 439 4634 - raphaelkaji@
Fr A Kinmont: 07-5556 0361 or 0417 711 699 - yahoo.co.jp - www.ordinariatejapan.org
[email protected]
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Page 16
News from the UK Groups
Exhibition of antique vestments
An exhibition
of antique vestments is
planned to take place in St Agatha’s Church,
Portsmouth in June, 2015. The event will be opened
by Mgr Keith Newton, together with Dom Cuthbert
Brogan, Abbot of Farnborough Abbey, on Friday, 12th
June, at 11 am.
The exhibition will be open from 10am until 4pm
on Sat 13th June, it will be closed on Sunday and open
again on Monday 15th to Friday 19th June 10am to
4pm. Light refreshments will be available.
The collection includes Banners, Copes, High Mass
Sets and Low Mass Sets. Ranging from the late 18C to
the early 20C, the collection is quite unique and features
some of the finest examples of the art of embroidery
and gold work including vestments from Belgium,
France, as well as fine quality English convent work
of the 19C including work by Franciscan nuns and
the Anglican Clewer Sisters. There is even a chasuble
made, it is claimed, for Lord Halifax, in India.
The exhibition is a rare opportunity to see items of
great beauty and quality and a welcome change for
those who are sick of the sight of polyester!
The exhibition venue is likewise worthy of a visit in
its own right - a Grade II star Italianate basilica filled
with fine furnishings of the 18C, 19C and early 20C.
Car parking available and only 10 mins walk from
Portsmouth town railway station. Follow route for
historic ships - M275.
Ordinations
Thursday 21st May
Richard Cerson (South Benfleet Group)
- be ordained to the permanent diaconate
Paul Cracknell (Harlow Group) and Stephen
Lambert (Oxford Group)
- to be ordained to the transitional diaconate by
Bishop Alan Williams, the Bishop of Brentwood
The Choir of the Darlington Ordinariate from St Osmund’s, Gainford,
at 6:30pm at St James the Less, Priory Street,
Hexham & Newcastle, in St Paul’s Outside the Walls, Rome, after
Colchester CO1 2QB.
singing Mass as part of the group’s Easter Week pilgrimage of
thanksgiving for Reception into Full Communion.
Saturday 4th July
Mennini at 12noon at Our Lady of the Assumption
Shaun Morrison (Kings Lynn)
and St Gregory, Warwick Street.
- to be ordained to the permanent diaconate by
Bishop Alan Hopes the Bishop of East Anglia at
12noon at Our Lady of the Annunciation, London Saturday 25th July
Road, Kings Lynn.
Rev David Butler (Manchester Group)
- to be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John
Saturday 18th July
Arnold the Bishop of Salford at 12noon in St John’s
Rev Paul Cracknell (Harlow Group) and Rev Stephen
Southworth Catholic Church, Park Drive, Nelson,
Lambert (Oxford Group)
Lancashire.
- to be ordained to the priesthood by the Apostolic
Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Please pray for those to be ordained.
Faith of our Fathers
S
t Agatha’s, Portsmouth, are organising a
First speaker: Fr Nicholas Liviseur (Pembury) followed by Q and A
Lunch break. Bring your own or go to M&S, just 5 mins walk from the church!
Second speaker: Fr Stephen Bould (Folkestone) followed by Q and A and Tea
4 pm (appproximately): Evensong
Day Conference “Faith of our Fathers” to discuss
and debate on the duties of a parish priest as they
once were and now should be. Can the Faith of Our
Fathers convert and hold these lands today? Has the
managerial and administrative model swept all before
Fr Nicholas Liviseur is a former military chaplain,
it? What should the faithful be demanding of those set barrister and country parson. Fr Stephen Bould is an
apart to serve?
inspirational speaker with wide ministerial experience
in varied pastoral settings.
11am: Low Mass (Ordinariate rite) followed by Coffee
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Page 17
The Ordinary’s Diary
The Right Revd Monsignor Keith Newton
The Presbytery, 24 Golden Square, London W1F 9JR
Tel: 020 7440 5750
Email: [email protected]
Ordinariate website: www.ordinariate.org.uk
May 2015
3rd 5th 6th 10th 1400
1400
1030
0930
May Devotion, Sacred Heart Bournemouth
Governing Council, 24 Golden Square, London
Meeting Cathedral House, Brentwood
Admission of Shaun Morrison to the Office of Acolyte, Holy
Family Kings Lynn
12th 1830 Tyburn Lecture 2015, Tyburn Convent, London
14th 1115 Ordinary’s Council, 24 Golden Square
17th 1030 Solemn Mass, Our Lady of the Assumption, Warwick Street,
21st 1830
24th 1130
28th 1500
30th 1800
31st 0900
London - Cardinal Nichols preacher
Ordination to the Diaconate by the Bishop of Brentwood, St
James the \less Colchester
Solemn Mass with the Darlington Mission, St Osmunds
Gainford
Installation of Bishop Richard Moth, Arundel Cathedral
Our Lady Immaculate Chelmsford
Our Lady Immaculate Chelmsford
Monsignor John Broadhurst
Monsignor Andrew Burnham
Telephone: 010933 674614
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01235 835038
Email: [email protected]
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Selamat datang
Chào mùng
Benvingut
Tere tulemast
Witamy
Welkom
Vìtejte
Welcome
to Walsingham ..
Bem-vindo
Bienvenido
Benvenuto
Bun venit
Bienvenue
Maligayang pagdating
.. the home of ...
The National Shrine of Our Lady
A warm welcome awaits all.
Why not organise a pilgrimage?
Bring a coach from your parish, organisation
or youth group, or come away by yourself for
a while, to pray and relax in the
Norfolk countryside.
Elmham House,
the Shrine’s own guesthouse,
is open from March to
mid-December.
Single, twin and
family rooms available
For information on the Shrine, Accommodation
or the Walsingham Association:
visit our website at www.walsingham.org.uk
telephone us on 01328 820217
email us at [email protected]
or write to us at: R. C. National Shrine,
Friday Market Place, Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6EG.
contents page
Forms of words for Making a Bequest
in favour of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham in your Will
I GIVE to the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham, 24 Golden
Square, London W1F 9JR, the sum of ______
pounds (£
) and I DIRECT that the receipt of
the Treasurer or other proper officer of the Personal
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be
good and sufficient discharge to my Executor.
or
I GIVE the residue of my estate to the
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London W1F
9JR, and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer
or other proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and
sufficient discharge to my Executor.
THE P
Hail Mary,
full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou
among women
and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
RTAL
Registered Address:
56 Woodlands Farm Road,
Birmingham B24 0PG
www.portalmag.co.uk
Ronald Crane (Editor-in-Chief), Jackie Ottaway (UK) [email protected]
Fr Neil Fryer (Australia) [email protected]
Editorial Board: Fr Len Black, David Chapman, Fr Neil Chatfield,
Gill James, Antonia Lynn, Cyril Wood Observer: Catherine Utley
Advisors: Fr Aidan Nichols OP, Fr Mark Woodruff
The views expressed in The Portal are not necessarily those of the Editors or the Ordinariate
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Page 18
Australia News roundup
from Eliza Frank
Ordination to the Diaconate
O
n 26 March 2015, Ian Wilson was ordained
as a transitional deacon by the Bishop of Port
Pirie, The Right Reverend Gregory O’Kelly SJ, to
serve the Ordinariate community in Adelaide, South
Australia. Along with Monsignor Harry Entwistle we
congratulate Ian for this important achievement and
look forward to his ordination to the priesthood later
in the year.
The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a Christian
The Revd Deacon Ian Wilson will continue as the
Moderator of the Adelaide Odinariate community of devotion, based on the visions of Jesus reported by
Blessed John Henry Newman. He looks forward to Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), known as
“the Apostle of Mercy.” She was a Polish sister of the
being ordained to the priesthood later in the year.
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
canonised as a Catholic saint in 2000. Faustina
Fr Stephen Hill gets a move and
stated that she received the prayer through visions and
onsignor Harry Entwistle, conversations with Jesus, who made specific promises
has announced the following Clergy News: Fr regarding the recitation of the prayers. Her Vatican
Stephen Hill will leave the parish of St Ninian and St biography quotes some of these conversations.
Chad, Perth on 30 April 2015, in order to undertake
a stipendiary ministry in the parish of Mayfield in Divine Mercy
the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and establish an
Ordinariate presence in that Diocese.
for Catholics and Anglicans
M
Fr Stephen will continue as Director of Vocations
for the Ordinariate and hopefully will be able to hold
quarterly Ordinariate Masses in central Sydney until
a priest is available to take up ministry there. Until Fr
Hill is replaced, the Ordinary will act as Administrator
of St Ninian & St Chad, assisted by Fr Ted Wilson.
A
s a Roman Catholic devotion, the chaplet
is often said as a rosary-based prayer with the
same set of rosary beads used for reciting the Holy
Rosary or the Chaplet of Holy Wounds, in the Roman
Catholic Church. As an Anglican devotion, The Divine
Mercy Society of the Anglican Church states that the
chaplet can also be recited on Anglican prayer beads.
Fr Kenneth Clark will shortly take up some further The chaplet may also be said without beads, usually
duties in the Diocese of Sale assisting in the Cathedral by counting prayers on the fingertips, and may be
Church. He will continue as priest to the Ordinariate accompanied by the veneration of the Divine Mercy
parish of The Most Holy Family in Maffra and image. Therefore some Anglicans who have become
Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.
members of the Ordinariate are already accustomed
to the devotions of The Divine Mercy.
The Divine Mercy
A
t the morning Mass on Wednesday
in Holy Week, at St Francis Xavier Church,
Frankston, a large framed picture of our Lord Jesus of
the Divine Mercy was blessed by our assistant priest
and after devotions and prayers was placed in the side
chapel. A growing number of parishioners are being
drawn to the Divine Mercy devotions which were
officially established by Pope John Paul 11 in the year
2000, when he declared the second Sunday of Easter to
be “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
Cyclone Marcia
A
s a result of the damage caused by
Cyclone Marcia the Rockhampton Ordinariate
parish of Our Lady of Walsingham, meeting in St
Vincent’s Catholic Church in Rockhampton, has had
to relocate until repairs have been completed. Parts
of Rockhampton were smashed by Tropical Cyclone
Marcia as it moved down the Queensland coast. The
cyclone made landfall as a category five system but
later became classed as a tropical low.
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Australia Pages - page 19
From Australia’s Ordinary
W
hen I was reflecting on the gospel story some years ago, I began to notice how often
Jesus borrowed places, things and people. In order for God to carry out his plan of salvation, he chose
to become available, accessible and approachable to his people. For the Word to become flesh, God asked
the Blessed Virgin if she would allow herself to be borrowed so that this could happen. Her agreement came
when she responded to Gabriel’s request by saying, “Be it unto me according to thy word.”
a borrowed stable
Jesus was born in a borrowed stable, where not only
shepherds and wise men visited him, but many of the
residents and visitors in Bethlehem at the time, would
go to the stable to rejoice in the new birth. Joseph
allowed himself to be borrowed to fulfil the role of being
a father to Jesus, providing him up with a stable and
loving family, enabling him to ‘increase in wisdom and
in stature, and in favour with God and man” (Lk 2:52).
borrowed lunch, a donkey, a Cross
In his later ministry, Jesus borrowed a small boy’s
lunch to feed the crowds who listened to him; he
borrowed a donkey on which he rode into Jerusalem,
and he borrowed the Upper Room in which to hold
the Last Supper. He ‘borrowed’ the Cross on which
to offer himself as the sacrifice for our salvation, and
he borrowed Joseph of Aramathea’s tomb in which to
continue his work until his resurrection on Easter Day.
Above all, he borrowed his disciples to be his agents
to continue his ministry in the world and grow the
and people that we need to fulfil our mission. We have
Kingdom of God.
to borrow bishops to ordain our priests, cathedrals
There are many other occasions on which he and churches in which to ordain them and in which
borrowed things, and whenever he did, a miracle to worship.
occurred or the salvation of the world took another
borrow resources
step closer to realisation.
We need to borrow the resources of the Catholic
to allow ourselves to be borrowed
Church to teach our people and allow the Catholic
We members and friends of the Ordinariate have Dioceses and Societies to borrow our expertise and
been invited by Pope Emeritus Benedict to allow experience. Like Jesus, in these our early days, we have
ourselves to be borrowed, so that Our Lord’s vision of to allow ourselves to be supported by our Catholic
unity of the Church will grow a step closer, and the Bishops and other friends and benefactors.We are
English Spiritual Tradition will become a gift to be extremely grateful for all the help and support we
shared by all.
have already received from those who have allowed
themselves and their resources to be borrowed by us.
We began our life in the Ordinariate with nothing of
our own other than our willingness to allow ourselves to enthusiastically welcomed
be used to show our fellow Catholics, other Christians
With Jesus, we have been enthusiastically welcomed
and the world, that true unity can only occur when by many, misunderstood by some, while others have
those coming into unity share the same faith. We are tried to make us what we are not, and a few have been
currently few and discovering God’s way for us, but hostile. However, like Jesus, we must be resolute in our
like Jesus, we must be available, approachable and obedience to God’s will and continue to work alongside
accessible to those who approach us.
our fellow Catholics in the new Evangelisation to bring
others to know and love the Lord and God of all.
Like Jesus, we must not be afraid to borrow things
Mgr Harry Entwistle PA
contents page
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Page 20
The National Shrine of
Our Lady at Walsingham
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane meet Mgr John Armitage,
Rector of the National Shrine M
gr John Armitage has been a priest of the Brentwood Diocese
for 35 years. Born in Canning Town, his family have lived in the East
End of London for over 200 years. They worked principally on the river
or the docks or as merchant seamen; indeed, his father and grandfather
were buried at sea. His father, when he came ashore, was a publican so
he grew up in a pub in Limehouse. This was, he says, “Great training to
become a priest!” His last parish was North Woolwich in Silvertown and
Custom House in Beckton and for the last fourteen years, he has been
Vicar General of the Diocese.
He is a no-nonsense person who says what he
means and means what he says. He is business-like,
competent, pleasant and confident. We asked Fr
John about the differences between the Catholic and
Anglican shrines.
but Lourdes has
the infrastructure to accommodate the sick, which
Walsingham hasn’t. the sick and disabled
“A top priority is to ensure that we have facilities for
He said, “Well I think for the Anglo-Catholic groups to bring the sick and disabled. Our current
community, Walsingham is their principal shrine. facilities are small and limited.
There is only really one shrine to Our Lady in England
“Most of our residential pilgrims come from the
in terms of the Anglo-Catholic community. It is a place
North of England. At the Anglican shrine, it’s mainly
of identity as well.
residential, but we have somewhere in the region of
Walsingham “slept”
130,000 registered day pilgrims at the Catholic Shrine,
“The Catholic Church is universal, not just English, and as many again who just turn up. so although Walsingham is the English national shrine,
and indeed one of the most the most ancient, it is but
“Some of our biggest groups are the ethnic ones,
one among many. Walsingham “slept” for a long time, who show great devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham.
but with Fr Hope Patten and Charlotte
Two large summer pilgrimages are
Boyd the shrine began to develop
New Dawn and Youth 2000, the latter
again, particularly for the Anglobeing young people, who love coming
Catholic community. The Catholic
to Walsingham. We need to improve
bishops in the 1930s established it as
the facilities for youth groups here.
the National Shrine for the Catholics
plans for the future
of England.
“Five types of accommodation
are planned, at the bishops’ request.
“Pilgrimage to Lourdes has become
A youth hostel accommodating
a significant part of most parishes, and
up to 40; fifty-two en-suite twin
diocesean pilgrimages to Walsingham
bedrooms, (twenty with disabled
have had a different pattern, with
access); provision for priests to come
parishes form the north coming to
on retreat and finally a Retreat Centre
stay for a few days, but parishes from
for the laity. These are well under way
the south mainly coming for a day
in the planning stage. We can already
pilgrimage. The thing about Lourdes
accommodate groups of priests and
is the sense of healing; healing of
hope to have a retreat centre in the old
the soul and sometimes of the body.
Sue Ryder building by next season.
There is healing at Walsingham,
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THE
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May 2015
Page 21
time-table for the future
“My timetable is entirely dependent on getting the
money to do it. The first thing is good and appropriate
accommodation. The diocese purchased a house for
the rector to live in and that will be a place where
priests and bishops can come and stay. 23 High Street
gives us a centre in the village, which we have not had
before. Accommodation is the key to getting people to
come and stay.
Slipper Chapel spring
“At the Slipper Chapel site, we will take the candles
out of the Holy Ghost Chapel and create a new place
for holy water and candles just outside the Slipper
Chapel. We think there is a spring there, which we will
tap for the water. There will be four outside Candle
Houses, as at Lourdes. The chapel will be dedicated to
St Alban, St Augustine and the Saints of England. I’ve
secured a relic of St Alban from Cologne Cathedral,
where it’s been since the 10th century, and we hope to
add relics of St Augustine, St Edward the Confessor, St
Gregory the Great and other great English saints of the
time of the founding of the shrine.
new pilgrim centre
promoting the Year of Mercy as a place where people
can come and experience the mercy of God. There
are two principal statues of Our Lady of Walsingham,
one crowned in the name of the Pope in 1950 and one,
carved by Professor Tristam in the 1930s, that was
originally in the Slipper Chapel. The intention is to
take the latter around to all the cathedrals. I hope the
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham will play a
significant part in that promotion and tour.
“We’ve removed all the sheds. Firstly, a new pilgrim
centre accommodating to 100 will be built for use by
confirmation groups and the like. Secondly, the area
where the holy water and cloisters are will be enclosed
to make a new cafe. It will be a warm lounge in winter
with a wood burner in the middle and in the summer,
the doors can be opened. We hope to build a new
linking cloister which will be useful to give some
shelter if it rains, with bench seating and a mural or
mosaic of the history of England through the lives of
the Saints. The shop and the cafe will therefore change
places.
We touched on the vexed subject of two shrines
at Walsingham. Fr John was not fazed. “I think
there is one shrine at Walsingham. It’s Walsingham
that is the shrine. At the shrine of Our Lady AT
Walsingham, there is very clearly devotion from
Catholics, Anglicans, the Orthodox and Methodists. None of us owns Our Lady: none of us. But one must
always respect the differences and our traditions. It’s
interesting in that the devotion was originally to the
Holy House. The Anglican Holy House is therefore a
replica of a replica!” We said that we thought Fr John
and Bishop Lindsay were of the same mind.
ten million pounds
not an ecumenical shrine
“I’m here to promote the shrine, run the shrine,
Fr John responded, “Yes, but we are not an ecumenical
develop the shrine. We need to raise about ten million shrine. To say we were would suggest something that
pounds. Between five and six million for the buildings we are not. The key is to look at Our Lady, not to look
but we also need to have a proper development fund.” at differences. With Our Lady, we can be united in
the sense that we all honour the mother of God. We
It seemed to us a lot of money, but Fr John allayed come with our own traditions and they have to be
our fears, “I’m not too worried, because when you understood and respected but do I think that will
have a good idea, money follows. It’s the promotion there be one shrine? Well that’s in God’s good time. of devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham that’s As it stands at the moment, can we all work together
really important, and it has to be linked to the new in respect and Christian fellowship? Absolutely. If we
evangelisation. There’s to be a Holy Year of Mercy can’t do it here, where else can we?
starting on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The Holy Father recognises the great need for mercy
Thank you, Fr John, for a most inspiring and
in the world today. interesting interview. We are sure all members of the
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham will pray
the Year of Mercy
for him, for the plans for the future and, indeed, for
We want Walsingham to be at the forefront of Walsingham.
contents page
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Page 22
Chaplains without Borders
Fr James Grant OOLSC works in the Diocese of Melbourne
Southern Cross
Station in Melbourne (population five million) is the major rail line for the
State of Victoria and combines transport for metropolitan and rural services throughout the State.
It has also become a major low cost shopping
exchange featuring direct factory outlets and a Virgin
megastore. The Station was awarded the Royal
Institute of British Architecture’s Lubetkin prize for
the most outstanding building outside the European
Union in 2012. Underneath all this busy activity is another world
seen regularly by Station Chaplain Fr James Grant and
his pastoral associate Vinnie Azzopardie. This is a
world of lost children, drug affected adults, low grade
criminality, daily accidents and injuries, loneliness,
suicides and people of all different backgrounds just
looking to visit a big city or to engage someone in
conversation.
Fr James Grant notes that this is exactly the kind of
chaplaincy and engagement required in the modern
world. “Vinnie’s chaplaincy is based on the idea of
going to others, entering their world and their concerns
and bringing something of significance to offer. The
days of the church sitting back and hoping for the odd
person to come past our door are over. This is a chaplaincy focused on others, without
evangelising, but firstly getting to understand the local
issues. Only after establishing this basis of trust can
deeper issues be voiced. It might not be rocket science
but the isolated and stand-off nature of many clergy
continues to see many of these ministries to others
fail to develop fully. Whilst there is a role for musical
and liturgical expertise, if you only do that in a busy
Chaplains Without Borders has worked out of modern world you will continue to deal with a small
Southern Cross over 10 years. It has a focus on those number of people. Chaplains Without Borders works
who are permanent workers, security, rail staff and because its focus is on the immediate concerns of the
retailers, but also deals with life’s emergencies as individual”.
well. Vinnie Azzopardie has recently commenced a
chaplaincy role with a focus on retailers, their needs,
Southern Cross Station sees around half a million
hopes and sometimes their complaints. journeys conducted per day. That’s a lot of work for two
chaplains, yet there is no doubt in this workplace as
Vinnie has already become part of the furniture with to where the workplace centre can be found, whether
his joking and stirring nature and has quickly become you’re religious or not.
a ‘go to’ person for help and support. He notes, “We
could all do with a tune-up from time to time; most of
In another venture, Catholics in Business, Fr Grant
us just need an unbiased ear to bounce our thoughts tells us that the inaugural breakfast in Adelaide
off. A little push in the right direction and we realise attracted 110, not bad for the first one. www.
we probably aren’t that far off course”.
catholicsinbusiness.org
contents page
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Page 23
Treasures of Ushaw College
Ronald Crane reviews a recently published book
As Jackie
Ottaway and I travel the country visiting Ordinariate Groups, and interviewing important
people; there are sometimes opportunities to spend time with friends. On a recent visit to Durham to
interview Professor Paul Murray, our friend Dr James Kelly invited us to visit Ushaw College. We were given
a tour of the place, spending time in the magnificent library. A reception was followed by a lecture and a
lovely supper. It was a most enjoyable afternoon and evening.
The Seminary at Ushaw is, alas, no-more. The
premises are to be, we hope, become part of Durham
University. But: what of the treasures of Ushaw? The
few that we saw on out visit were enough to take our
breath away. They were stunning. The ring found inside
St Cuthbert’s tomb. Placed there in the thirteenth
century probably by a bishop; silver tableware from
Douai (the forerunner of Ushaw) buried to keep it safe
from those who would destroy beautiful things; and
medieval vestments from the court of Richard III.
In the Library we were privileged to see and handle
Cranmer’s Prayer Book, annotated by the man himself;
more than sixty books printed prior to 1501; books from
Durham Priory that had been destroyed during the
dissolution of the monasteries between, as well as the –
now famous – Book of Hours, used by King Richard III. We
read letters by Newman, saw first editions of many works
from England and the continent. Catholic authors as well
as protestant ones including Luther and Robert Southwell.
Imagine my delight when Dr Kelly sent me a copy of
a new book which he has edited entitled, “Treasures of
Ushaw College”. The book is as wonderful as the treasures
it describes. The text is carefully written by various
experts in the required fields. It is beautifully illustrated
with some stunning photographs in full colour.
One hundred and sixty pages of some of the most
precious treasures the Catholic Church has in this
country. They deal with Recusant times, times when
the church was prescribed, right to the eve of Catholic
emancipation. It is indeed a labour of love. It is something
all those interested in the history of the Catholic Church
in England from the Reformation until now ought to
have and to read. This is more than a Coffee Table book.
I have used it as an aid to meditation as well as to lean
about the various subjects covered. If you are in any way
interested in how the Catholic Church came to be as it is
today in the UK, you need to read this book. If you are
interested in beautiful things, especially from the “old
times” until now, you need to read this book.
Moving to the Chapel we saw the wonderful building
itself containing that magnificent brass eagle lectern. It
Treasures of Ushaw College is edited by dr James Kelly
is by Pugin and cased a real stir at the Great Exhibition and published by Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers Ltd
of 1851. We were also instructed in the rules of the in 2015 in association with Durham University. ISBN
game of “Cat”, played at Ushaw from its earliest days. I 978-1-85759-934-3, price £20.
cannot say that I fully grasped the essentials of it!
Letter to the Editor
From Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris
Following the recent correspondence about leaving
the “Protestant” Church of England and not looking
back, it’s perhaps worth remembering that all citizens
of England are, on one level, parishioners of their
national church. Yes, the “special place” of the Anglican
Communion, proclaimed by Vatican II, is more
questionable in the light of recent developments,
but Anglicans are not simply seen by the
Catholic Church as Protestant, having “Catholic
traditions and institutions” (Decree on Ecumenism). Many of us had our faith nurtured in the CofE
contents page
as “the ancient Church of this land, catholic and
reformed” (Revised Catechism). Although those of us
in the Ordinariate believe we have fulfilled part of that
claim in returning to the rock of Peter from which
we were hewn, we continue to maintain, in keeping
with our spiritual patrimony, a healthy interest in the
affairs of our Anglican brothers and sisters, and not
least in keeping open an ecumenical bridge.
Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris
Isle of Wight
Apology
Last month we gave the wrong Post Code for the
Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It should be B44
9SR. We apologise for an inconvenience caused.
The Editor of The Portal
THE
P RTAL
May 2015
Page 24
Now tell me if I
have got this wrong
Some personal queries by Geoffrey Kirk
Cardinal Kasper
has informed us that Mercy is ‘an essential
attribute of God’. (I am not so sure about the ‘essential’, but that may be a
Thomistic quibble). He goes on to say that this necessarily leads to an enhanced
degree of pastoral compassion for divorced people and those in other irregular relationships (for example, gay
couples). For many this is uncontentious. Only an arid legalism, they say, could contradict such generosity. It
is a view which certainly accords with the movement in Western culture which has largely exempted adultery
(for example) from public censure; and where casual cohabitation is rapidly becoming the norm of sexual
relationships. There will soon have grown up a generation which simply does not comprehend the nature
and purpose of marriage. The narrative of the church’s teaching about sex will have been handed over to the
likes of Diarmaid McCulloch.
Why are liberal churchmen merciful
about some things and not others?
It is a question which genuinely puzzles me. Is there
a plausible and coherent answer out there? You can
But, all that apart, the question has to be: why is the imagine how dispiriting it would be to discover that
dialectic of mercy so observably variable? Why are there is no explanation for this blatant discrepancy
liberal churchmen merciful about some things and not beyond the desire, in both cases, to fall into line with
others? I am thinking, of course, about child sexual the ambient secular culture.
abuse. In that case, not only is there no mercy for the
offender (or any statute of limitation, as it appears);
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
but no mercy also for those pastors who have sought
to show mercy to the offenders.
Bishops who were very far from condoning the sin,
but sought to show compassion to the sinner, have
been hounded and discredited. And the church has
been made to seem conniving and hypocritical. The
feeding frenzy which has overtaken the secular world
has tragically infected us all.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy
There is, of course, always a tension in pastoral
practice between righteousness and mercy. And there
is, after all, the apparently merciless saying of the
Saviour about millstones and necks. But Jesus (who
is God, and therefore, according to Cardinal Kasper,
‘essentially’ merciful) is also quite as adamant about
marriage and divorce as he is about causing the little
ones to stumble.
Why, then, should we show mercy in the one case
and not the other? If the church, with a general appeal
to a divine attribute, can contradict Jesus about one
thing, why not other things as well? The world, which
increasingly sets itself up as judge and arbiter in these
matters, will predictably shy away from such a question.
But we owe it to ourselves and to the tradition to ask it.
contents page
Martyrs’ Walk
A walk in honour of the Martyrs of England,
who died to uphold the Catholic Faith
Sunday 21st June 2015
Meet 1.30 pm for 2.00pm Start
At
St Sepulchre’s Churchyard
(Opposite the Old Bailey)
Nearest Tube Station is St Pauls.
From there we will be walking along the Tyburn Way to
St Anselm’s and St Cecilia’s Church,
St Giles-in the-Fields (ancient Parish Church of Tyburn)
St Patrick’s Soho Square
and then on to Tyburn Convent
for Confession, Benediction and
a reception given by the Tyburn Nuns
The Walk will last approximately two and a half hours.
Some historical talks will be given on the way
Wear comfortable shoes, and suitable clothing
we'll be walking whatever the weather!
Fr Nicoletti, Miles Jesu, will lead the Prayers
The Martyrs Walk is Promoted by:
To promote the rediscovery of our Catholic roots and the renewal
of the Catholic Faith in the British Isles
Willow Cottage, 75 Lockgate Road, Sidlesham Common, Chichester, West Sussex. PO20 7QQ
Mob: 07816 422851 Email: [email protected]
www.mjcontinuity.blogspot.com
www.mjcontinuity.com