THE P RTAL
August 2014
UK Pages - page 12
“At Lancing I taught general medieval history and
championed the cause of the medieval papacy. I had
thought of the CofE as the historic church of this land.
That was perhaps understandable at Lancing with its
cloisters and beautiful neo-gothic chapel in which
Mass was celebrated daily. But it was a bubble. A series
of often painful experiences brought home to me that
my vision of the CofE was largely a fantasy.
Blackfen and other local parishes (and prisons!)
on Sundays.”
the Holy Father loved us
and wanted us ... I never felt
much loved or wanted in the CofE
a Catholic identity
Feeling cheeky, Jackie asked, “If Mgr. Keith
Newton offered you an Ordinariate job with a parish
somewhere outside London, what would you do?” Fr
Simon laughed and said, “I have taken a canonical
oath of obedience to my Ordinary.”
“I enjoy working in prison. I see many people in
need. A lot of them are wild men and have done mad
“I was deeply moved by the offer of the Ordinariate. things. I think that’s why I like them. Drink, drug and
I felt that the Holy Father loved us and wanted us. I gambling addictions fuel so much crime and violence
never felt much loved or wanted in the CofE.” At this especially against women.
point Anne interrupted, “We had already planned to
move. Our house in Worcester had been sold. As soon
“There are lots of foreign nationals in prison:
as our youngest daughter left school, we were off.”
they swell my Mass attendance of course. Our own
prisoners have often had no experience of settled
Mass in the local
family life. With parents absent, Nan has often been
Catholic primary school
the only parental figure in their lives and it is often
Fr Simon continued: “I started the Evangelium from her (and sometimes Catholic schools) that they
course in Advent 2010 and tried to gather my group. derive their Catholic identity.”
It continues to be a source of sadness to me that so
few came, but I wasn’t really surprised. We never had multi-purpose faith room
a viable group and we knew it. We were just too small.
“The prison is run by Serco and the accommodation
for prisoners is good, but it is not so good for chaplains
“The local Catholic church of St Edmunds has a busy since there is only a multi-purpose faith room. Still,
programme with six masses on Sundays served by we have an image of the Divine Mercy and have just
three priests. There was no room for me. We tried to got an altar. (Previously I celebrated on an oak table.)
set up Mass in the local Catholic primary school. The Outside prison, I am treasurer of the G K Chesterton
Headmistress was keen but it never happened.”
Society and involved with the ‘Good Counsel Network’
- 40 Days for Life.
suspicious of Roman Catholicism
“We have also had Masses at St James’ Elmers End,
at the invitation of the vicar, my good friend Fr Leon
Carberry, and with the permission of the Bishop of
Rochester. However, although people from there and
St Barnabas have attended and seen the Ordinariate
Use in action, they are elderly, committed to their
build ings, and suspicious of Roman Catholicism.”
“I say a monthly Mass for them and take part in the
vigils they organise. I also say Mass for a Lumen Christi
group and preside at Adoration and Benediction
every Thursday in the Convent of St Peter Claver in
Beckenham, which is where the monthly Ordinariate
Mass takes place. The Sisters there have been very
good to us.
Anne told us about life after the Ordinariate was set
up. “Fr Simon was appointed chaplain and teacher in a
local Catholic school, but it was not satisfactory. A new
prison was opening and I saw they wanted a Roman
Catholic chaplain. Fr Simon was appointed has been
working there since March 2012.”
absolutely committed to
Benedict XVI’s vision for unity as
expressed in the Ordinariate idea
baptised and/or confirmed
nearly thirty prisoners
“As to the future of the Ordinariate, it could be a
generational thing. I hope more people will come in
because I am absolutely committed to Benedict XVI’s
vision for unity as expressed in the Ordinariate idea.
“I look forward to there being an Ordinariate for
Fr Simon added, “I am at HMP Thameside. We take Lutherans – that would please Pope Benedict – and
prisoners on remand and short sentence, category indeed for every protestant community. As it is, I’m
“B”, inmates. In the past two years I have baptised very happy to be a member of the Ordinariate of Our
and/or confirmed nearly thirty prisoners. Mass is Lady of Walsingham.”
on a Saturday and I help in Our Lady of the Rosary,
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