THE
P RTAL
April 2013
Page 5
singing. We sing all over the Manchester area doing group. We use the Book of Divine Worship Rite One,
and the Customary except when I am saying Mass for
various functions.”
the diocese.
absolutely lovely
She continued to extol how she gets
on with the Diocesan Catholics in the
area. “Wonderful,” she said; “Diocesan
Catholics come to the Ordinariate
Mass and our Evangelium evening. It is
absolutely lovely!” Rita confessed that
she “sneaks back to Saint Gabriel’s from
time to time”. Generally relations with
the CofE are fine, “although one or two
people have been frosty”.
“Fr Paul, the Parish Priest, is a star. When
we arrived he asked if I would say Mass
for him on a Monday as it was his day off.
This was very welcome and introduced
us to the congregation. Rosalind said, “At
Saint Peter’s our Mass was at 4pm, then at
12 noon. Here at Saint Joseph’s it is better,
Mass is at 11am.”
Paul Savage
no baggage from Middleton
Fr Andrew was anxious to tell us that
relations with the local CofE clergy were
excellent. “There has been no baggage from
Middleton (Saint Gabriel’s). Our local
Vicar, Susan, is brilliant. We even have a
CofE cleric who attends our Evensong!
As we were talking, Raven Wenner from
Houston, Texas approached. She is a lively
devotee of the Ordinariate from the USA.
She had seen it grow in Texas and was
praying that the same would happen in
Greater Manchester.
Paul Savage (62) is a Courier. He told us
“I am not an Ordinariate member. Shall
I join? I am coming up the hill towards
the bridge. To be Catholic with Anglican
tradi tions is attractive. The social evening
will be a good thing. The Ordinariate is a
definite possibility for me. I am attending
the Evangelium evenings at the moment.
I do miss receiving Holy Communion. It
has been twelve months or more now.” A
short drive and we enjoyed lunch with the
Starkies. Afterwards we settled down with
Fr Andrew and Rosalind.
Rita Tonge
cast-iron piece of Canon Law
Sandra Modric
everyone is a disciple
Fr Andrew told us, “The Mission is small,
but it has a strong sense that everyone is a
disciple. Bible study and catechesis is an
important part of what we do. The move
to Heywood has been good. Although
we have a small number enrolled, larger
numbers are interested: both Anglicans
and Diocesan Catholics. Our Evensong
has attracted interest. I have tried to show
people that the Ordinariate is normal.
“Finance is difficult. We need a grant
from the Ordinariate so we must raise more
money. We pay expenses and Council Tax.
Giving is not bad for the size of the Group.
Some people from outside the Group have
responded to a request for financial help.
“The vision is wonderful. We have been
given this cast-iron piece of Canon Law
and we have to make it work. We try to
give the feel of a Parish, so it does not look
like it is just a Sunday meeting. Our liturgy
is distinctive.
We preach and teach the Catholic Faith
taking note of our Anglican Patrimony.
Many Diocesan Catholics are baffled by
our liturgy, but the “trad” ones, those who
never coped with the new Mass, they love
it!
“We relate to the priest in a different way
to
most Catholics. We are not clericalist at
Terry Miller
all. We have a high view of the Church and
the priesthood, but the clergy are not a caste apart.
distinctive our own Church building
“Saint Joseph’s is a nice venue and suits us well. As an
Anglican I used modern language Common Worship;
two candles on the altar; the parish was sacramental
but not particularly Anglo-Catholic. At eight o’clock
we used 1928 BCP and we had 1928 BCP Compline
after PCC meetings. For us now, it is important to
be distinctive, especially if we are to be a missionary “In ten years time, I hope we shall have our own
Church building, Rectory and Hall with little satellite
places around with their own Mass at least once a
month, and with more clergy - and solvent.”
Thank you Fr Andrew and Rosalind, and your lovely
children. We really enjoyed our time with you.