THE
P RTAL
July 2011
Page 5
He sees people coming to the Group as being
retired priest, the Parish Priest being ill. He is getting
to know the Deanery, and there a very few priests in attracted to the light. “We have set up our Paschal
the area, so he moves round many churches saying candle at Wickersley,” he said, “It is for all to see.”
Mass.
We wondered if he had thought about his future. At
As far as the Ordinariate is concerned Wickersley once he replied, “To be a priest. To serve the people
is convenient for a wide area. It is close to the M1, entrusted to me both in the Diocese of Hallam and
Sheffield and the Derbyshire Peak District, so Fr in the Ordinariate. Of course the balance between
them has still to develop.” Being non-stipendiary is
Richard thinks it is a good place to have a base.
an advantage here as there are no funds available for a
Orthodox Christianity
priest, it is NSM or nothing!
He believes that as things get more difficult for
We discussed the whole question of isolation. The
Anglo-Catholics and people in other denominations,
they will look around for something more in tune with nearest Groups to Sheffield are in Manchester and
Derby. This means that isolation could be a real
problem. We asked Fr Richard about this. He was
not caught off-balance. It was a question he had
asked himself. He feels that to keep close contact
with the nearest groups could be a waste of energy
as they are so far away anyway! More productive
is to keep in close touch with the centre, with Mgr
Keith Newton, Mgr John Broadhurst and Mgr
Andrew Burnham. However, he went on to say,
“If, please God, another Group does start nearby,
or those already started approach us, I hope we
have the humility to ask them how they manage.”
He is thrilled about the formation at Allen Hall.
He joins sixty or seventy others who go to Allen
Hall in Chelsea one day a week. The Course is
stimulating, with top lecturers who make the
orthodox Christianity. The Ordinariate provides an subject matter accessible for former Anglican Clergy.
easy option for them. It is easier to approach someone Fr Richard described the process as “wonderful!”
with a C of E background, an Anglican Patrimony.
Mission and Evangelism
A small Group? Well, yes it is. Two – well four if you
include the wives – that is a small group. However, we
were impressed with the courage shown by this tiny
Group. A real, thought out approach to Mission and
Evangelism, rather than blindly rushing forward with
gusto and little theology. Of course it is easy to go into
such a venture full of optimism. Now, one does need
enthusiasm, but one also needs to be prepared for
To serve the people
disappointment and possible failure. To set out to be a
Fr Richard thought long and hard before answering. “presence” is a tall order. It is also easy to mock such a
There was quite a pause before he replied: “Christ’s small Group, but before we do, remember the start this
prayer in the Gospel according to Saint John is that Group has made is impressive. They need our prayers
his followers will be one. This is why I entered the and our support, let us make sure they have both.
Church, to love one another. Loving Church, loving
God, loving Jesus; through the Church, the Body of
Contact: Fr Richard Gomersall
Christ. When that body is broken what do we do? Our
Email: [email protected]
idea in this Group of ours, is to be ‘there’. We are here
Tel: 01709 546441
to be available. Of course one needs to be noticed, so
we have our Web Site and so on, but we are here to be
The Sheffield Ordinariate Group meets at:
a focus for people to join the Ordinariate.”
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church,
Wickersley, S66 2HF
So: his group is there ready for when people ask the
question. Ronald asked about his approach to Mission
and Evangelisation, there being two broad approaches,
one active and one passive. In the active, one goes out
to almost drag folk in. The passive approach is where
one sets up a church and worships, prays and is just
there. More the idea of Charles de Foucauld in Africa.