THE P RTAL

January 2012 Page 9

It is amazing to think that it is only a year ago that Monsignors Keith , Andrew and I were received into the Catholic Church together with two wives and three nuns . Three weeks later we were priested and the Ordinariate formally established .

That said , it did not really get going until Easter when the bulk of our members were received . At Pentecost our first group of priests was ordained . A lot seems to have happened in a brief period .

It is difficult to remember the pain and anguish most of us felt in our last few years in the Church of England . It is fascinating to read the Church Times as an interested spectator .

My concern remains for our many friends still in the Church of England but I no longer feel the worries that are theirs . For us this year has not been without its own difficulties . Some of our Ordinariate Groups are now well established but others are finding it difficult to secure an appropriate Mass slot in their local church .

I think we have all thought that we are welcomed and loved by the Catholic community , but that does not make our development any easier . We owe it to our fellow Anglicans and the Holy Father to make this project work . I do not intend to speculate or comment on our need for churches of our own , though I do recognise it is very difficult to set up home as a lodger in someone else ’ s .

Finance

Mgr Keith has established various portfolios which Andrew and I do our best to fulfil . One of mine is Finance . I did have quite extensive experience in the Church of England in this area . Our present task is not easy .

The Catholic Hierarchy gave us a generous gift when we were established but that has nearly all gone . Some of our priests are being paid by their local Catholic Diocese but others are totally dependent on us . We have not yet made any pension provision which has to be a major moral and financial responsibility this year .

Standing Order or Envelope Scheme

When we began , all group leaders were asked what they felt they could reasonably give to the work of the Ordinariate and the payment of the clergy . Many

All groups need to address themselves to the issue of giving . I w o u l d h o p e that all members w o u l d give to their local group , either by Standing Order or Envelope Scheme , and that these contributions would be gift aided .

All gift aid will be handled centrally . Members of the Ordinariate who are not part of a local group should give to the Central Account .

Details of this can be found on the “ Contribute ” button on the website . Without a serious level of giving we will be in some difficulty in the coming months . I have little doubt that this is a challenge that we can meet but it does require some effort .

We are also having to fund the Administration and we will be taking a 10 % levy from all our groups . I hope our situation will now rapidly change .

As I go round our Groups I am encouraged by the atmosphere and spirit . I meet a real determination to make this work . May God bless us all in our efforts .

The Friends of the Ordinariate www . ordinariate . org . uk / foto . htm