THE
P RTAL
January 2013
Page 18
Letters to the Editor
an inspired act
Dear Fellow Catholics,
I am a “cradle-Catholic” of 61 years, living in the
suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, USA, who reads every
issue of “The Portal.” I am most supportive of the
Ordinariate and pray that it is successful.
I am disturbed, however, at hearing that you are
at times “downhearted” or discouraged at both the
growth of the Ordinariate and the opposition you
face from other members of the Catholic Church. The
latter is both un-Christian and unwarranted. I am
sorry that you are experiencing it. Please do not let it
get you down.
I believe that the establishment of the Ordinariate
was an inspired act by his Holiness, a work of genius,
one full of hope, but also fraught with difficulties.
Let me say that as an ex-seminarian and faithful
Catholic father, I at times envy those of you who
have “crossed the Tiber.” You - having had to make a
positive decision to join the Ordinariate at an adult
age - may have also made a stronger commitment to
Personal
Ordinariate
of
Our
Lady
of
Walsingham
the Church than those of us who have been Roman
Catholics all our lives. We tend to take the Church
for granted. Many cradle-Catholics do not even
understand their Faith, which, in most instances in
my country, has been poorly taught and passed on.
(I am a former Religion teacher, also.) You who have
made this commitment to enter the Ordinariate may
be in a stronger, even enviable position, having made
a more informed decision than those born Catholic.
I stand behind you and together with you in the
Church and pray that the Ordinariate be successful
and fruitful. I ask that you pray for those of us who
have not had to make that difficult decision, but need
prayers to be good, faithful Catholics. It’s not an easy
road for any of “us.”
Thank you for continuing to inform us about the
Ordinariate. Thank you for the liturgical richness
and history which your background brings to our
musically poor liturgies. Don’t get “dispirited,” if
you’ll pardon the pun!
Please pray for my two sons and I will pray for all of
you. Oremus pro invicem.
Bill Schuetter
Name and address supplied - USA
under
the
patronage
of
Blessed
John
Henry
Newman The views expressed in these letters are not necessarily those of the Editors
PILGRIMAGE
TO
THE
NATIONAL
SHRINE
OF
ST
AUGUSTINE Letters for publication should be sent to:
The Editors, T he P ortal , 56 Woodlands Farm Road,
Birmingham B24 0PG
[email protected]
Saturday
25
May
2013
National
Shrine
of
Saint
Augustine,
Ramsgate,
Kent
12.00
p.m.
Angelus
&
Solemn
Mass
at
A.
W.
Pugin’s
church
of
Saint
Augustine,
Ramsgate
celebrated
by
the
Ordinary,
the
Right
Reverend
Monsignor
Keith
Newton
3.00
p.m.
Procession
to
the
St
Augustine
Cross
at
EbbsOleet
and
the
2013
St
Augustine
Sermon
The
procession
will
begin
from
Pegwell
Bay
4.00
p.m.
Tea
with
the
Benedictine
Community
at
St
Mildred’s
Priory,
Minster
Abbey
For
more
information,
email
[email protected]
A Date for your diary
Ordinariate Pilgrimage
to Walsingham
Saturday 22nd June 2013