THE
P RTAL
March 2012
Page 11
Of course they do not think they are extra-ordinary
at all. They are just doing what comes naturally. But
Helen, and all the people we will feature in the coming
months are extra-ordinary, and they are all members of
the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
I was driving to her about three times a week. That under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman.
is a lot of miles. We had just found out that her hot They are our people, our brothers and sisters, and they
spots have gone. I went straight round to Father’s are doing the Lord’s own work.
and the Mass of Saint Scholastica became our Mass
Their attitude to this is summed up in Helen’s parting
of Thanksgiving. It was wonderful. Our Ordinariate
Group has a special ministry for the bereaved. One shot to us, “I do not want to come out of this article
day during the week, we have a Mass and then some looking like a saint!” she said. No Helen, you don’t
refreshments afterwards. It has grown from half a look like a saint at all!
dozen people to over thirty now. We have even been
able to transfer it to our new Catholic Church.”
Nevertheless she needed life-saving surgery, Intensive
care, then time in a Care Home before she was able to
return home. Now she is in her own home, and she
just about copes.
such a lot to offer
The Portal asked Helen about patience. Surely, one
needed vast amounts of patience with the elderly? She
replied, “Yes, but they were young once. They have
such a lot to offer, such a lot of stories to tell you. You
will be an old age pensioner one day, me too. I hope I
am sowing the seeds and someone else will take the
mantle and look after me!”
Here am I Lord
This series of articles called “Here am I Lord” is
really about what has been called The Lay Apostolate. It
is about ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things.
Rome Pilgrimage: singing Newman’s ‘Praise to the holiest
in the heights’ at the Audience with the Holy Father
Rome Pilgrimage: at Evensong in the
Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere