THE P RTAL
April 2011 Page 3
900 Join the Ordinariate !
Groups Receive Warm Welcome
by Arnold Herron
The Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is now well and truly under way . The Groups began to attend their local Catholic Parish Churches on Ash Wednesday . On 13 th March , the First Sunday of Lent , over 800 were welcomed at the Rite of Election at their local Catholic Cathedral . 900 laity and some 61 priests are expected to be received into the Church in Holy Week .
Rite of Reception
The Rite of Reception is really for adults who are to be Baptised into the Church , although many Dioceses include those adults who are to be Confirmed as well . This year , many Catholic Dioceses included the members of The Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham .
The London South Group in St George ’ s Cathedral , Southwark
Bristol Group after the Rite of Election
Warm welcome
Richard Gomersall of the Sheffield and South Yorks Group told The Portal , “ We went to the Cathedral of Saint Marie in Sheffield and were warmly welcomed . The Bishop spoke about the relationship of the Bishop to us and to the Holy Father .” The Sheffield Group have also found a warm welcome at their local catholic Parish Church .
Scotland
In Scotland , it was the same story . A welcome was arranged for the members of the Ordinariate at Saint Ninian ’ s Inverness , and although the Bishop of Aberdeen , the Right Reverend Peter Morran , was unable to be present , according to our correspondent , “ He has been very kind and welcoming .” The the Ceremony of Enrolment was conducted by Fr
The Reception at Clifton
James Bell , the Highland Dean , and began with Newman ’ s ‘ Lead Kindly Light ’.
Those from other parts of Scotland received a wonderfully warm welcome from Bishop Philip Tartaglia in the Rite of Recognition in St Mirin ’ s Cathedral , Paisley , during the Mass for the Annunciation .
Folkestone
At the other end of the country , at Folkestone in Kent , Stephen Bould told The Portal that their group is attending Our Lady , Help of Christians for Mass and Instruction . The Rite of Election in Southwark Cathedral “ was delightful ,” he said . “ The Ordinariate was mentioned several times and prayed for , as was the Archbishop of Canterbury . Afterwards we were invited to stay for coffee , and the members of the Ordinariate rather overwhelmed the system !” He continued , “ It was marvellous with hundreds of people being enrolled with us . The welcome for the Ordinariate was particularly warm . It was noticeable that those being welcomed were from every continent , all over the world , in fact .”
Privileged
Similar reports have reached The Portal from up and down the country . A warm welcome has been experienced by everyone . One lady told me , “ We are so privileged . Our Church has been chosen to host the Ordinariate .” Now that is a lot to live up to !
The Reception at Portsmouth