THE
P RTAL
August 2015
Page 13
Coventry Ordinariate Group
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the West Midlands
It was
in January 2012 that we last visited the Ordinariate Mission in Coventry. In the three and a half
years since then, a lot has happened. Fr Paul Burch, the Pastor, has been appointed to the Ordinariate
Governing Council and helps with Ordinariate vocations and the annual Ordinariate Pilgrimage to Our
Lady of Walsingham.
The Mission still meets at St Joseph the
Worker in Coventry and Sunday Sung Mass
is still at 1100. The Sunday we were present
there were forty to fifty people present
including a goodly number of young people.
We were treated to a very warm welcome.
Gaynor Smith
The Mass was beautifully sung, and the
hymns (accompanied by recorded organ
music) were enthusiastically sung by the
congregation. Fr Paul gave an excellent
homily. All in all, it was a beautiful and
holy experience to be at such a celebration
of mass.
Of course, Fr Paul is well known to us
both, as we work together on various
projects together, and do not live that
far apart.
a Pagan background where God is “She” and
“He”. This creeping into the Christian Church
worried me. The eroding of marriage in the
CofE also was worrying. How far will it go?
When will it stop?
“I joined the Ordinariate with Fr Paul
Such, and we found a lovely home here.
We have a wonderful priest with Fr Paul
Burch. This morning I was enrolled as a
Special Minister of the Eucharist here. I
have moved on.
Ian O’Hara and Mary Oliver
Gaynor Smith
After Mass, tea, coffee and some
light refreshments were served. This
gave us the opportunity to chat with George Pittam
Gaynor Smith who works for the
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
“In fact, I work in Mary Arden’s
House and on the farm,” she told
us.
Karen Dean
“I do attend other Catholic Churches
and am welcomed there. Here at St
Joseph’s, Fr Harry (the Parish
Priest) has been very warm with his
welcome.
“My husband is not religious, but
he supports me in everything I do.
My daughter (she is twenty-eight)
has asked about Baptism.
“This Ordinariate Mission is
ticking over. Fr Paul Such and I are
the most recent ones to join. We
have young families and people
who come to mass, but have not
“I came back to Faith four years
joined the Ordinariate, as well as
ago and joined St John the Baptist David Forman, Catherine Burch and Pat Forman people from the University.”
Anglican Church in Coventry
Les Thacker
with Fr Paul Such. I am a cradle Catholic,
Les is a retired CEO at the St John
but thought St John’s was great and the
Ambulance in Warwickshire. “I joined
faith taught there was great too! It was
the St John Ambulance after having
very friendly and loving, but firm in its
been