THE
P RTAL
February 2012
but slowly; depending on events at the Church of
England General Synod. They acknowledged that
their Group has had a slow start. It is only recently
that the Group has “got going”. Now, they are sure
they have things together. They are talking about an
imaginative scheme for evangelism in
local hotels, of which there are many!
Although this would produce transient
worshippers, there was a view that
this was the Group’s job as they are in
Bournemouth. They were anxious to
point out that it is still very early days. Tom and Veronica
There is a tendency to want everything
now, at once. But life is not like that. It
takes time. Nevertheless, they stressed
that they were not afraid of hard work.
Page 5
They all worried that local Catholics had seem to
have been told very little about the Ordinariate, or if
they have, “it has not registered”. A day event for the
whole Ordinariate was needed as Bärbel said, “Any get
together is good”.
Mark Furness
Mark Furness had a different
experience in joining the Ordinariate.
He had been worshipping with a local
Roman Catholic Church for the past
five years, without being received into
full communion with the Catholic
Church. Now, he is in full communion
with the Catholic Church as a member
of the Ordinariate.
One idea they raised was for the
Travelling to Our Lady, Queen of
Ordinariate Head Quarters to produce
Peace for Mark is a bit of a trek as he
an on-line Hand Bill explaining just Renée Dufall andLilley Rosser
lives some way away and does not
what the Ordinariate really is. This could be
drive. He is happy to do it though.
down-loaded and printed locally and be for
distribution to non-Ordinariate people.
Addressing the question about growth
he said, “I see the Ordinariate growing. I
With regard to relations with the local
think we have come together strongly, how
Catholic Church, they had the impression
we grow remains to be seen.” The priority at
that; “Many do not know what we are
the moment was to concentrate on a base.
about. They have either been told nothing Mark Furness
He went on, “But we need to pay attention
or have not listened or have
to young people.”
misunderstood.”
He had experienced
Leaving the Church of
interest
from
local
England was “an horrendous
Roman Catholics, “We
time” yet they are so happy
need something on paper
now.
to show local Roman
Catholics who we are;
With regard to a national
something to give them”
event for the Ordinariate
he said, “because there
they thought this a great idea,
is a lot of interest.” For
“provided it is liturgical”.
Mark a day event for
Brian Copus, Teresa Smith, Ray White, Patrick Lee,
the Ordinariate is “Very
Bärbel Copus-Lange and Fr John Lee
Jane Barnes, Sue
important”.
Vine and Bärbel Copus-Lange
Jane Barnes, Sue Vine and Bärbel Copus-Lange, like
One interesting feature of this Group (above) is that
everyone else we have spoken with, have absolutely no Teresa Smith thinks her Father is the oldest member of
regrets about joining the Ordinariate. They are happy the Ordinariate. Raymond White is eighty-six. That is,
to be “home”. However, leaving friends behind was of course unless you know different?
hard, and worshipping with a far smaller number in
the congregation is difficult.
Our time in Bournemouth was pleasant and we
were well received. The Group may have begun with
One issue they know needs addressing, was expressed difficulties, but they have got themselves together
by Sue. It is the fact that there are no children, families alright now. We found the contrast between the
or young people in their congregation. Sue went on to facts of a middle-aged and elderly congregation in
say that they pray about this growth issue, but for the a middle-class area, and their vision for a go-ahead
present mere survival is paramount. She went on to congregation attracting families, children and young
declare, “I am determined we shall grow.”
people, inspiring. We wish them well.