THE
P RTAL
May 2011
Page 3
Ordinariate Under Way
as nearly 1000 are received
into the Church
by Arnold Herron
The Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham is well and truly under way.
During Holy Week nearly 1000 people were received into full communion with the Catholic Church as
members of the Ordinariate.
Torbay
All over the country groups were
warmly welcomed. In Torbay,
Lizzie told The Portal that forty
three people were received into the
Church at Holy Angels, Chelston
prior to the Liturgy on Maundy
Thursday. “It was lovely,” she said:
“Just wonderful, like coming home.”
She went on to explain that it was
an emotional occasion. The ages of
people being received ranged from
eight to eighty-odd, but the majority
were on the young side. A forty-fourth was received at
the Easter Vigil, so the group is already growing!
West Midlands
In the West Midlands, four groups were received on
Holy Thursday in Saint Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
Ian from Coventry said it was, “Inspiring and moving.
The Archbishop was graciousness personified. It
was a wonderfully fitting way to end our Eucharistic
Fast. Indeed the whole weekend was wonderful and
inspiring.” The music at the Maundy Thursday liturgy
was magnificent.
Cornwall
Down in Cornwall people were also received before
the liturgy on Holy Thursday. John told me, “People
were in tears afterwards, it was so moving; really
emotional. We said to our priest, ‘Thank you for
leading us here.’”
East Midlands
In the East Midlands, Simon and a group of some
thirty-seven people were received in Saint Barnabas
Cathedral, Nottingham. Like many other groups their
reception was before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper
on Maundy Thursday. Simon told The Portal that a
large number of people were there to support those
being received into full communion
with the Catholic Church. He said,
“The reception itself was a simple
ceremony.” He noted that there was
a fair amount of media interest from
local radio and TV.
Essex
Over in Essex a group was
received in the Church of Our Lady
Immaculate in Chelmsford. This
group was received by Mgr Keith
Newton, a fact that Jo, who was one
of those received, described as “the
icing on the cake!” Here the music was wonderful and
the whole group were very excited.
Isle of Wight
Seventeen people were received at Saint Mary’s
Catholic Church in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. One of
them, Wendy, said things went very well. Fr Anthony
Glaysher did the reception and confirmation on a
hot and sticky Holy Saturday evening. It was a very
humid evening for The Easter Vigil. The Vigil took two
hours and forty minutes, and all was calm, but joyful.
Members of this group were anxious to point out that
Bishop Crispin Hollis “has been magnificent.”
All round the country
So, all round the country people have been received
into full communion with the Catholic Church
and confirmed. The welcome has been uniformly
warm and the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham has got off to a great start. However, it is
only the start. Much will depend on how these groups
progress and grow. Those received as pioneers have a
great responsibility to develop the Ordinariate. The
Portal will be there to report on and support it.
Blessed John Henry Newman and
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.