THE
P RTAL
December 2012
Page 5
a long-term project
admin. in the Path Lab at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
“People drifting away is not a problem for us. It is
John and Margaret are members of the Group, and
less likely to happen if you have a weekly, Ordinariate
dedicated, Mass. Being a small Group helps us to keep Stephen Slack is to be received soon. All are very
together. We see the Ordinariate being a long-term happy with their reception and the local Group. John
said, “We are faithful and regular in attendance. We
project.
are growing, but slowly. We have people of real calibre
do we join a Pilgrimage to
here.” Margaret stressed the way the people in the
Walsingham with local Anglicans?’
Group are really supportive of each other.
“We will have Evensong at the beginning of
home for the time being
December. As Anglicans we used the Roman Rite,
but in hymnody and teaching sermons we tend to be
Margaret felt that Saint James’ is “home for the time
more Anglican. Plainchant
being. But wherever we
has been preserved recently
are would be home.” John
in the CofE. Also we have
added, “Fr John O’Shea
social events, and go out
has gone out of his way to
to dinner together. We
welcome us. After Mass
have a Treasurer and a
we meet in the Presbytery.
Secretary. At the moment
When I was in the CofE
the question is ‘do we join a
and on General Synod I was
Pilgrimage to Walsingham
worried about things. I am
with local Anglicans?’
relaxed and at home now. It
“Reading, and places like
was the best thing I ever did,
it, need to be reminded that
joining the Ordinariate.”
we are here: A notice in the
We need an
local paper for example.
Annual Convention
Public invitations to talk to
Margaret was keen on a National Ordinariate event,
the local community are very important.
but John went further. He said, “We need an Annual
People miss meeting up
Convention, rather like the FinF Assembly. All the
with each other
priests and all the lay members
“National Ordinariate events are
together. Let the world see how big
essential. People miss meeting up
we are! We also need to forge links
with each other. Before, they did
with the Ordinariates in the USA and
it quite often. It is also a chance to
Australia.”
invite prospective new people.”
John and Margaret said that T he
the joy of being
P orta l showed the Ordinariate to be
in the Catholic Church
lively and moving forward. We are
“I do not know where I will be in
grateful for such kind remarks.
ten years time! I hope the Group will
Stephen Slack
have grown and brought in people
from other traditions, and not just
Stephen Slack (53) is an Operational
Anglo-Catholics.
Sales Manager for BT. He is to be
received into the Group as you read
I hope people will join for the
this. He is impressed that the Catholic
correct reasons, not as disaffected
Church has the magisteriam and
this or that, but because of the joy of being in the speaks with one voice the world over. It is not in hock
Catholic Church. It is a massive liberation for many, to political divisions played out in the media. Unity is
being free of the problems of being in opposition to unity. I am looking forward to the 16 th December and
others - we are all part of the one same pool now.
my reception into the Church.”
John Hares and Margaret Dhaubhadel Thank you
After Mass we spoke with John Hares (68) a retired
Computer Consultant, formerly a member of General
Synod, and Margaret Dhaubhadel (55) who works in We enjoyed our visit to the Ordinariate Group in
Reading. It is lively, forward looking, realistic, well
lead, and certainly not in any way in ruins.