THE
P RTAL
December 2017
Page 12
Torbay Revisited
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane revisit the Torbay Ordinariate
R eaders will
remember that we have visited the Ordinariate Group in Torbay before, both the
church and the famous charity shop. The group was recently installed as the first Ordinariate Parish in
the UK. Wonderful news for Torbay and wonderful news for the Ordinariate.
Spiritually it is very holy and very good.
One feels the Spirit here. We have lots of
social events that are so important.” Alan
joined in to endorse this.
The Church of Our Lady of Walsingham
and St Cuthbert Mayne was, as you will
know, a Methodist church. It has been
beautifully restored. On our last visit the
congregation numbered about thirty. This
time there were fifty people present. These
included children and every adult aged
group from twenties to nineties!
The Rite was Divine Worship, and
beautifully celebrated. A real occasion,
marking Sunday as the day of the
resurrection. As it was the Solemnity of
Christ the King, afterwards we all made
our way to the hall for some lunch. This was
itself wonderful, with cottage pie, rhubarb
crumble and varieties of Polish cake.
Piran Kiszezuk is of Ukrainian descent
and the father of Fr Lashbrooke’s grandson,
Oscar. He told us he is a Sales Rep. selling
broadband to businesses. He was present
because of Martha, Oscar’s mother. He
found it all quite normal, and the welcome
warm and friendly.
Alan Cutts is a carer for the elderly
in a nursing home. He is to be received
into Full Communion with the Catholic
church via the Ordinariate soon, he hopes
by Christmas. He has completed the
course and is waiting to be baptised. He
told us, “I was a non-believer, but unsure
about things. I was advised to pray by a
friend. So I did and things became clearer.
I came to the Catholic church, all because
of prayer and someone prompting me.
Katherine Latanski is Polish, but has
lived in England for ten years. “I came,
then my children followed,” she told us.
“They have been educated here.” She too
is a carer and loves the small community
at Our Lady of Walsingham Church. “It
is more of a community,” she said. “Very
friendly and you are made very welcome.
Piran Kiszezuk
Alan Cutts
Karen Lawrence
Navin Patelcanalda
Karen Lawrence is retired. She worked
as a teacher for twenty years, then as a
prison officer for eleven years. She has
worked all over the country, and is a cradle
Catholic. “I like it here,” she enthused. “I
like the people, it is a lovely congregation,
and a nice service. I live at the other side of
Paignton, so have to travel here. Together
with Lorraine, I volunteer with a local
charity, as did my husband. It closed down,
so we have set up another one! Through
Lorraine, I found out about this Church. I
came once, and stayed.
“The charity is Paignton Community
Larder Food Bank. During my life, I have
met so many interesting people on both
sides of the bars!”
Roger Bulley is the welfare officer of
the Knights of Saint Columbia in Torbay.
“Alex is here too, he is the Treasurer,” he
told us. “The HQ us now at this Church for
the Torbay Knights. I am very pleased to
be here and grateful to Fr David for giving
his permission to be here. The Knights do
anything for anyone. I do the grounds here,
others do the repairs, or serve at the altar.
We collect at Tesco’s with the Salvation
Army and the Community Larder. We
hope to save up for a van for the Larder.
Sue Varlow is an old and dear friend of
ours. She said, “Fr David is a “Go-Doer”,
he makes things happen and knows how to
generate the cash. We may have different
ideas and expectations now from when we
started. We have this building now, and
maybe the Ordinariate needs four strategic
places around the country where people
(clergy and lay) can come to be refreshed.