THE P RTAL
April 2015
Page 20
Ecumenical Pilgrimage
to Walsingham
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane make a special pilgrimage
It was
Mid-Lent when we made our way to Norfolk and Our Lady of Walsingham for this special
pilgrimage. Seventy people joined us, from the UK and abroad. It was a wet day and we hoped it would not
dampen things for the week.
Day One
Fr Mark Woodruff, who had done
so much to facilitate the pilgrimage,
gave a scriptural reflection. This
led, rather naturally to a talk by
The Revd Dr David Cornick on the
history of the ecumenical movement
from the Reformation until now. He
drew out many themes and held
the pilgrimage in thrall. He did not
mention, until questioned about it,
the Ordinariate.
The first day began with
Registration and the welcome by
Mgr John Armitage, Rector of the
Catholic National Shrine of Our
Lady. The first of several talks was
by The Revd Philip Corbett, Vicar
of St Stephen’s Lewisham. He spoke
about the Christian history of Japan
in relation to the place of Our Lady
in Japanese life. His talk was both
moving and instructive, punctuated
as it was with many references to
persecution and martyrdom.
Metropolitan Kallistos
Later in the morning we assembled
Father Ivan Moody on the Mother of God in, or outside - it is not that large - the
in Orthodox Music
the Methodist Church
Orthodox Church of St Seraphim,
After tea, a walk down to the Walsingham Methodist for the liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts served by H.
Church for Holy Communion. It was a wet walk as the E. Metropolitan Kallistos.
rain was torrential. We all got very wet indeed. The
church is beautiful and full of character. The welcome
Lunch was followed by some free time before
was indeed warm from the Minister,
Professor Morna Hooker gave
The Revd Jennifer Pathmarajah, and
a talk entitled “Holiness: Paul’s
some of the local congregation. The
Understanding of Sanctification”.
hymns were sung in a true Methodist
The Mother of God in
fashion, and we were treated to an
Orthodox Music
excellent Biblical Sermon on Mary
In the evening, there was yet
by The Revd Dr David Cornick of
another treat. Archpriest Ivan
the URC. Mercifully it had ceased to
Sister Marie Farrell rsm, speaking on
rain for the walk back.
Australian Aboriginal primal spirituality, Moody of the Centre for the Study
of Sociology and Musical Culture
and the Mother of God
at the New University of Lisbon,
After supper, Bishop Lindsay
Urwin, the Administrator of the Anglican Shrine, Portugal addressed us on the subject of “The Mother of
gave his welcome, and this was followed by a talk on God in Orthodox Music”. This talk was accompanied
“The Australian Scene: Aboriginal Spirituality and by an audio presentation. Listening to the beautiful
the Mother of God” by Sister Marie Farrell rsm from music in the Shrine Church was quite an experience.
Randwick, New South Wales.
Day Three
The day ended with Sprinkling at the Well in the
Professor Morna Hooker led us in a Scriptural
Shrine Church.
meditation before H. E.Kallistos, Metropolitan of
Diokleia spoke about “The Mother of God in the
Day Two
Theology of Fr Sergius Bulgakov”. Fr Bulgakov died
Today started with Anglican Eucharist in the Shrine in 1943 and this address was both amusing and
and Catholic Mass in the Barn Chapel. After breakfast instructive.
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