THE
P RTAL
February 2016
lodgers. If a light bulb blows, we do not
have to replace it! We merely inform the
landlord. It must be said that we have been
made very welcome at St Marks.” John
took up the story, “We are a bit out of the
way here. In the long term we would like a
place of our own. We get between twenty
and forty every Sunday. Someone asked me,
‘How can we grow? Where is your mission?’
Another person said, ‘we must do what we Nick Molnar
do and people will come.’ You have to have a
separate mass of your own every week.”
As well as Sunday mass, this group has
a mid-week mass on Wednesdays at 1945
when they use Divine Worship. It seems the
new family love the 8.45am Sunday mass, as
it leaves the rest of the day for family things.
Brian pointed out, “We do have people who Rachel Molnar
come on an occasional basis because they
need an early mass.” John concluded our chat
with a heartfelt remark, “Communications
are important. Priests get to know what is
going on, but the laity has only The Portal
for information.”
Page 13
They have survived without a priest for two
years without a drop in numbers. That is
cause for rejoicing and hope.
“I have only been here three months.
The next three months we shall see, at the
moment I am just looking and getting to
know the local Catholic parish and the
Ordinariate people. I help over the border
in Northampton diocese.
“The job here will take working out. I
shall be wearing three ‘hats’: PP here, the
Ordinariate’s Communications Officer, and
Mgr Keith Newton’s priest secretary. This
last one may well involve some travelling –
but, unfortunately, I’m not off to the USA for
the Episcopal Ordination of Steven Lopes!
“I shall be saying a regular mass at Precious
Blood for Fr Chris Pearson. Here we have
reintroduced the Wednesday evening Mass
which had lapsed, as well as the monthly
Holy Hour. Another fortunate thing for us
is that the people here at St Mark’s are happy
to see the Church used regularly other than
on Sundays.”
We are able to chat with the “new family”
Brian and John mentioned. Val Ison is a
retired accountant and her daughter, Rachel Fr Simon & Jean Chinery Fr Simon’s wife, Jean, told us, “For me, the
Molnar, a sports marketing manager. They
big thing is that we were seconded to the
have started to attend the Ordinariate
diocese, now we are back in the Ordinariate,
mass with their respective husbands and
and it is wonderful. Back to our true calling.
Rachel’s child. Val told us, “We belong to
This Group has been without a priest, yet
Abbyfield RC Parish and the church is busy
they all rally round. Everyone is involved.
and very noisy. Here we find peace and
The house is lovely and we are thankful for
calm. The time here is convenient. We like
it and for its location, which is good.”
the intimacy here. We knew John Worley
and of an Ordinariate Group. We thought
We enjoyed out brief stay in Hemel
we would try it out. My friends did not after Mass...
Hempstead. This is a good group and we
understand the Ordinariate, but we did.”
pray they will prosper. But: all too soon we had to
make our way back to our homes. Fortunately the
Rachel continued, “I have been Catholic all my life. snow had melted.
Then I married Nick at his church – a CofE church
– it was complicated to get married at our Catholic
church. Phoebe came along and we got her into the
local Catholic School, so we made the move back to
the Catholic Church. Our local Catholic church was
too big and too impersonal and we came here with
Mum and Dad. Here we not only feel part of things,
but we are part of things. Now Fr Simon is here – he is
brilliant! He is sorting us out!”
As people began to drift away we were able to speak
with Fr Simon Chinery. “They are a lovely Group,” he
told us, “Self-sufficient, and they have made it very
easy for me. We have core people and generous givers.
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