THE
P RTAL
January 2013
a Group. Now some have decided to leave the Group”.
Difficult relations
Caroline went on “It is important
to know that we are Ordinariate
and to be encouraged in that on a
regular basis. It is our patrimony.
That is what we are!”
make sense of Anglican
history
David Stokes and Laura Magson
She continued, “We show other people
(Catholics and the CofE) that this is the
way we can make sense of Anglican
history.” Janet took up the theme, “We
show the catholicity of the Anglican
tradition and history”.
Growth?
Laura hoped the Group would
grow. Elaine was more pragmatic,
“Without a priest we will not
grow. We shall die as a Group
without a priest. It is a testament
to the members of the Group that
we have kept going as long as we
have”.
Caroline emphasised Ronald’s
leadership, “It has been vital.” She
continued, “Without this we would
never have survived. We do not
want him to be just a lay leader”.
Jackie Butcher the cook
Ronald Crane
Peter Hale
total silence
The Group turned to a discussion
of the Year of Faith. Caroline said, “In
this Year of Faith the Catholic Church
has a mission to lapsed Catholics. But
they are not our lapsed! So within this
Year of Faith what are we supposed to Terry Brown
do?” Laura said, “We target everyone
else!” Janet added, “Yes, those who regard themselves
as CofE!”
All the interviewees said they got
on well with most Catholics, and
joining the Catholic Church had
brought them closer to Catholics
who were work colleagues or
neighbours. As to relations with
the CofE, these were difficult. Janet
had received “pointed remarks
about going back, and ‘this is where
you belong’”. John had had “terrible
remarks. The knife is still in my back!”
he said. Elaine said, “There has been
resentment. Remarks like we left them
in the lurch financially. Some blame us
for taking their money away”.
difficult being so spread out
Whether they would support a
National Ordinariate Family Day
would depend on where it was held.
Tim said that he would support his
wife going to an event like the old
Breen Children’s festival, it would
leave him a quiet Saturday! This
was greeted with general laughter.
Elaine said that it was difficult with
the Ordinariate being so spread
out. John said, “To travel a long way
for a couple of h ours is not on. But,
if it were for a day or even two, that
would be different”.
Ready and waiting!
When Jackie asked about Mission
and Evangelisation there was total Vincent Byrne and Louisa
silence. After a few minutes, Tim
spoke up. “We are missing continuity
and being able to host festivals and
other events”. Elaine expressed the
view that it was very hard as a lodger.
“We cannot initiate events like - say - a
Flower Festival as the building is not
ours. We cannot be seen to be taking Ted Ware
over”.
the Year of Faith
Page 5
As we went to take our leave,
Elaine said, “What we really need
is leadership and vision”. Caroline
said “The Group needs to be given a few
challenges” and Tim’s parting shot was,
“We have been given very few tools with
which to grow”. Caroline ended things
by saying, “We all became Ordinariate
members. We have skills. We are ready
and waiting!”
As we discussed this visit, our thoughts
came to the fore. It is a miracle that
this Group, with no regular priest, still
exists at all! There is a different priest
every Sunday to say Mass at 1230, not
the best time, yet still turn out numbers
that compare well with other Groups
of a similar size. For nigh on two years
they have been “treading water” as it
were. The Group has no “job” yet is still active, lively
and looking to the future. Inspiring indeed.