THE
P RTAL
January 2013
Page 3
Portal News
Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Will Burton is excited....
Yes, I am excited! Of course it is the New Year and who can forget those events of January 2011 and
the Official beginning of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The sheer joy when our title was
announced! This anniversary is always a joyous occasion.
an Order of
Religious Sisters
Walsingham. So it was that
SSM came to the Norfolk
Shrine in 1947. In 1955 this
Branch House became an
Autonomous House, with its
own Reverend Mother.
However, this year it is
even more special, if that
is possible. The Personal
Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham now has a new
cared for pilgrims
Order of Religious Sisters.
Over the years the Sisters
Known as “The Sisters of
have cared for pilgrims locals
the Blessed Virgin Mary”
and visitors. They have run
the twelve founder members
the Hospice, cooked meals,
from two CofE communities,
are to be received into full communion with the dealt with finances as well as a hundred and one other
Catholic Church at Oxford Oratory on New Year’s Day. things!
William John Butler received into full communion
The Community of Saint Mary the Virgin was
founded by William John Butler, the Vicar of Wantage
from 1847 to 1881. Mother Harriet, (Harriet Day)
was the first Reverend Mother. Simplicity of life, and
the primacy of prayer have always been marks of this
Community. Three Sisters were received into full communion
with the Catholic Church in 2011, and Sister Carolyne
Joseph is now a member of the new community, the
Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
a prophetic gesture
Mother Winsome, the Reverend Mother, said, “We
believe that the Holy Father’s offer is a prophetic
It has always been important for CSMV to keep a gesture which brings to a happy conclusion the prayers
balance between work and prayer. They have worked of generations of Anglicans and Catholics who have
in many parts of the world, but Wantage has always sought a way forward for Christian unity. The future
been “home”.
of our community is a fulfilment of its origins, and
as part of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of
John Mason Neale
Walsingham we will continue with many of our
In 1855 Dr John Mason Neale founded, at East customs and traditions, whilst also seeking to grow
Grinstead in Sussex, the Society of St Margaret. The in Christ through our relationship with the wider
Sisters of this Community were not essentially about Church”.
getting some work done, but were to show their
vocation by entering deeply into the mystery of Christ, a powerhouse for us
and each finding there her own personal sanctification.
Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinary of the Ordinariate
This charism has taken the Sisters to many parts of of Our Lady of Walsingham told The Portal, , “I am
the world. They have worked and lived in America, delighted that the Ordinariate now has an Order of
Canada, Haiti, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Sisters constantly praying for our work. They will be a
powerhouse for us and a great resource. This is doubly
St Saviour’s Priory, Haggerston
pleasing as they come from one of the oldest religious
St Saviour’s Priory, Haggerston, East London, was communities in the Anglican Church and we are
founded by Neale himself. It was to Mother Kate that greatly heartened by their faith and spiritual cour age
Fr Hope Patten requested Sisters for the Shrine at in making this step. “
work and prayer