THE
P RTAL
February 2016
Page 12
An Inspirational Group
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit Hemel Hempstead
It was
the day of the first snow of the year. Nevertheless, we made it to St. Mark’s Hemel Hempstead in
time for mass at 8.45am. The Ordinariate Group that meets there is a lovely group. Yet, it has been through
the mill somewhat. Fr Bugby retired to Norfolk, and the group has been without a priest for some time now.
Despite this, they are in good heart and
numbers have remained stable. On the
Sunday we attended, there were forty or
so present at mass, this included children.
After mass refreshments were on offer.
Because of our visit, these included cake as
a special treat. A treat, of which we took full
advantage!
is so important. The group kept together,
we had to just survive.” Brian said, “We are
pleased to have Fr Simon now.”
They told us, that what really helped them
to get a priest was to find accommodation
for him. The group raised the cash, which
was added to by various grants, and they
were able to purchase a house. Brian took up
Brian
Cox
Brian Cox, a company secretary; John
the account, “It now has an extension. Our
Worley, a local funeral director, and two old friends group is smaller than when we began. Two families
of ours did as much as anyone to keep things stable have moved away and one person has sadly died. But
during the long interregnum.
we are growing. Two people were confirmed last year
and a family is waiting to join us.”
John told us that things had not been
smooth, “We have been tested,” he said.
With Fr Simon now firmly installed,
Brian added, “Yes, but two years without
he wanted to meet the group away from
a priest – it has been fun and we have had
church, so the next day they were all
wonderful priests doing duty for us, some
meeting at the Three Horseshoes for a
at very short notice. Many have travelled
social. All the while the group had no
some distance to be with us.” John told us,
priest, they kept the practise of have post“We were one of the first groups to lose
mass refreshments. This was so much
their priest, that is to say, he moved on.
the case, that one