THE P RTAL
February 2013 Page 19
approached the various Churches in Hull and was not discouraged when one or two declined to participate . She worked with those that did .
Her idea was very simple . Set up a crib in the City centre during Advent and staff it . Have a mini Carol Service for five to ten minutes and hand out leaflets . The shopping centre allowed her team to have the Crib up for two hours from 6pm to 7:30pm on Thursdays and from 2pm until 3:30pm on two of the four Advent Sundays . The Crib had to be taken down and taken away after each event . They were at the entrance of the shopping centre and so caught the evening shoppers .
Just three preparation meetings were held . If you have lots , people will talk about the project until the cows come home , but not do a thing ! Permission had to be sought from the owners of the shopping centre . Legal requirements had to be checked . Posters and handbills had to be prepared , printed and distributed . Other handbills and posters were needed to be used at the event itself .
statues are far too heavy
Shoppers were invited to join in with a carol . A small karaoke machine was purchased for this ! Transport was required for the Holy Family as the statues were far too heavy to carry . Publicity was by personal contact , posters , church bulletins , parish links , Sister speaking to groups and the local press and radio . They also did old-fashioned leafleting , and made use of the World Wide Web , Facebook , mobile phones and texting .
Sister gave us a truly expert training in just how to hand out a leaflet . It may seem a simple thing , but there is quite a skill involved and Sister has it in abundance ! It was a model of just how to do initial evangelism and her motto summed it all up , “ Do not be afraid , open the doors to Christ !” JPII .
The weekend was worthwhile and well organised by Clare Ward the Home Mission Advisor , Catholic Bishops ’ Conference of England and Wales . One made some very good contacts . One has to report two disappointing things . First : the worship was disappointing , apart that is from Bishop Seamus Cunningham . Second : that there were not more representatives of the Ordinariate present . Having our own such events is excellent , but we have to engage with the wider Catholic Church as well .
All in all though , a well-spent weekend .
The Ordinary ’ s Diary for February 2013
The Right Revd Monsignor Keith Newton
6 Mellish Gardens , Woodford Green , Essex IG8 0BH
Tel : 020 8505 7259 Fax : 020 8504 3349 Email : ordinary @ ordinariate . org . uk
3rd |
1100 |
Mass Darlington Group , St Osmund ’ s , Gainford |
|
1600 |
Evensong & Benediction , St Osmund ’ s , Gainford |
5th |
1130 |
St John ’ s Day , Wonersh Seminary |
8th |
1900 |
Newman Lecture , University of Notre Dame |
10th |
|
Preach , Brompton Oratory at all masses |
11th 1930 |
Patronal Feast Mass , Our Lady of Lourdes , Leigh on Sea |
Monsignor John Broadhurst
19 Spencelayh Close , Wellingborough , Northants NN8 4UU
Tel : 010933 674614 john . broadhurst @ ordinariate . org . uk
14th 1030 |
Initial Formation Programme for Ordinariate Priests , |
Allen Hall , Chelsea |
17th 1030 |
Our Lady of the Assumption , Warwick Street |
|
20th to
4th March
|
Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi |
Monsignor Andrew Burnham
Tel : 01235 835038 Email : andrew . burnham @ ordinariate . org . uk
Birmingham Ordinariate Group
In the January edition of The Portal there was an article about the North Birmingham Ordinariate Group . We have been asked to make clear that the Ordinariate has not taken cash or assets belonging to the CofE Parish of Emmanuel Wylde Green , and that the people who left that church took their own money away , not Emmanuel ’ s . We are happy to comply with this request .