THE
P RTAL
April 2019
Page 17
News from the Ordinariate
Historic Mass at Whippingham, Isle of Wight
T he Priory
School of
Our Lady of Walsingham
is the only secondary school
in England so named, and is
housed in a royal building on
the Osborne Estate – built for
the village of Whippingham in
1864 by Queen Victoria to a gothic design by Prince
Albert. Priory School is one of only two mainstream
independent schools on the Isle of Wight, and is firmly
Christian, although non-denominational. It has both
Catholic and Anglican Chaplains, and Fr Jonathan
Redvers Harris, pastor of the Isle of Wight Ordinariate
community and parish priest of East Cowes (in
which the School is situated), is the School’s Catholic
Chaplain.
Priory School was the Junior School of Upper Chine,
a prestigious girls’ boarding school that closed in the
early 90s. It was founded in 1993 and came into the
ownership of Edmund Matyjaszek, a poet, playwright
and former Director of the Poetry Society in 2009 and
moved to its current “royal” site in 2012. In 2017 it was
renamed Priory School of Our Lady of Walsingham and
it was the suggestion of Abbot Xavier Perrin of nearby
Quarr Abbey that the school take the Annunciation
as its patronal feast, as that is the feast of Walsingham
itself. So on Saturday 23rd March, anticipating the
Annunciation, the first Mass for the School was held
in the school hall and attended by Catholics – and
Anglicans – from all over the island. Fr Jonathan was
the principal celebrant and preacher, with two other
Island diocesan priests joining him. It is believed to be
the first Mass in Whippingham since 1559. This return
after 460 years of the real presence of Christ in the
sacrament to Whippingham was welcomed with real
warmth and joy at the well-attended service, which
will undoubtedly become an annual event.
On this occasion it also helped prepare for the
rededication of England as the Dowry of Mary and
there is an Island pilgrimage planned to the Statue at St
John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth on Saturday 6th April.
It confirms the school motto: “Built by the Queen of
England: Dedicated to the Queen of Heaven”.
Scottish Pilgrimage and Conference
T
he Ordinariate Mission in Scotland is broadcaster Joanna Bogle, who
holding their annual Pilgrimage and Conference at
the Schoenstatt Shrine, a peaceful
oasis nestled in seventeen secluded
acres at the foot of the Campsie
Fells, north of Glasgow, from 7th
to 10th June. The Pilgrimage will
be led by the distinguished scholar,
Ordinariate priest and blogger, Fr
John Hunwicke, and the guest
speaker will be journalist and
needs no introduction to readers
of T he P ortal .
The Centre offers excellent
en-suite
accommodation,
meeting and dining facilities to its guests and has
been the location for the Ordinariate Scotland Annual
Pilgrimage since 2013. Full details, including costs
and a booking form, will be found on the Ordinariate
Scotland website at www.ordinariate.scot
Good News
N ew members
have joined the Personal
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham recently
Coat of Arms Lapel Badge
of the Personal Ordinariate
in York; Most Precious Blood, Borough, London; and
South East Wales.
Show
Badge and Cufflinks
your
sold in support Clergy Stipends
support
available from: Ordinariate Lapel Badge, Ladies’
available from: John Worley,
for 48 Lawn Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9HL
Ordinariate Group, 22 Redcross Way, London SE1 1TA
Cost: £5 (inc P&P) - cheques payable to: Ordinariate OLW the
Badges: £4 each - Cufflinks: £12 (pair)
please remember to include your name and address Ordinariate
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