THE P RTAL
December 2013
Page 4
The Bistro on the Quay!
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the Ipswich Group
We always
enjoy our Group visits, but this one was rather different. Different because we had
been invited by the laity, and different also because we already knew most of the Ordinariate members
in Ipswich.
“Arts and Crafts” Church
arrival.”
After Mass in the splendid “Arts
and Crafts” Church of the Holy
Family with all its associations with
early aviation and the R101 Airship,
we spoke with Alan and Wendy
Fouche over a glass of something
good.
Alan and Wendy Fouche
seventy-five mile
round trip
Alan and Wendy Fouche
Alan is a retired Journalist. He and
Wendy live in Norwich and travel a round
trip of one hundred miles for Mass. This
Group meets on the second Sunday of
the month only. Like everyone else in
the Ordinariate their welcome into the
Catholic Church had been “very warm”.
The Ordinariate?
Not large, but regular
They thought the Group “quite stable.
Not large, but regular”. Yet he felt growth
had not been what they had hoped for.
“Maybe when the CofE has women
Bishops this might help. But, people are
David and
still uncertain of their position.”
Margaret Banister
They thought the idea of choosing two
Ordinariate Groups to support for three
or five years, a good one. “I like it,” said
Martyn, “We are so fragmented. We met
people on the Rome Pilgrimage. That was
important.”
We glowed!
To blow our own trumpet a bit, as they
left us, Alan said, “I worked as a journalist
and I must say The Portal is a very
professionally produced magazine”. We
Christina and
glowed!
Martyn Wraight
Our dear friends Martyn and Christina Wraight
told us they had been welcomed into the Church
“amazingly and with love”. “Unquestioned warmth,”
added Martyn. He continued, “Cradle Catholics have
been amazed we came over. Catholics rejoiced at our
Christina thought the Ordinariate Mass
ought to be united with the Parish Mass so
that people got to know each other. She was
passionate about Catholics getting to know
about the Ordinariate. “We need a Road
Show going round the Catholic Parishes
to tell people all about the Ordinariate. In
some places people know about us, but not
enough! The Ordinariate seems unable to
promote itself.”
fragmented
Alan and Wendy side-stepped our
question about mission and evangelism.
They were enthusiastic about their
relations with other Catholics in the area,
and would support a National Ordinariate
event, “if it was within reach”.
Martyn and Christina Wraight
Martyn, a retired Police Officer,
and Christina, an International
Investment Manager, normally
attend the Colchester Ordinariate
Group, but sometimes come over
to Ipswich. It is a seventy-five mile
round trip. Martyn gave a little shake of the
head as he said, “Sad that there is little sign
of growth”.
“We need to raise our profile: a Road
Show: Fund Raising.”
They liked the idea of a National
Ordinariate event, “If we could get there”.
Christina said, “Many are still wearing
their Anglican blinkers.” Martyn took up the theme,
“We really need our leaders to explain just what the
Ordinariate is, and who we are.” Christina had the
last word, “We need to raise our profile: a Road Show:
Fund Raising.”