THE P RTAL
July 2016 Page 23
Letters to the Editor
From Jackie Brooks
Reading the June Portal - as always an interesting read - I would just like to pick up on a couple of points .
“ Standing out from the crowd ” - our main way of standing out from the crowd is use of our own liturgy . I do not think we should be seeming to do the Roman Rite “ with greater ceremonial and solemnity than many congregations are used to ”. We need to let people appreciate the ceremonial of the Ordinariate Rite and traditional music and hymns . That is what I feel would make us distinctive .
It has been quite obvious in our group , ( where we use only the Ordinariate Rite for all Masses ), that many cradle Catholics join us for Mass because they appreciate the way the Mass is celebrated ; the reverence , kneeling for prayer and to receive the sacrament and , as we were all taught at an early age , never to touch the chalice .
Also the language used , the traditional hymns and the excellent preaching . We have been fortunate recently to be able to have a sung Mass ( with a professional organist ) and traditional hymns , but this is not always possible .
“ Successful groups ” – I think it is obvious to all of us that the most successful groups are those that have been “ given their own churches ”.
That is not to say that those priests have not worked hard for success because they all have , but for those who have to share premises , although being made welcome , the same opportunities do not arise . e . g . Fund raising for the Ordinariate is difficult in a church that is fund raising for their own needs , and the same applies with social events , and not being able to celebrate our Mass on feast days and days of obligation as there may not be a convenient slot in the day . It is just all very difficult and none of us wishes to see the Ordinariate absorbed .
Let us all continue to pray for the success of the Ordinariate , which must be uppermost in all of our hearts , for more priests to join the Ordinariate and for some more of our own buildings .
Jackie Brooks Croydon
From Dr Eleanor Care MB BCh
In the article , “ In quires and places where they sing ” Christopher Smith speaks of the beauty of Anglican patrimony within the Ordinariate . The article also refers to the possible misunderstanding of ‘ poaching ’ of Anglicans to join the Ordinariate .
On reaching the end of this article , I became conscious of another misunderstanding of the Ordinariate , in that it is thought to be something of a ‘ halfway house ’ between Anglicanism and the Catholic Church .
The writer , in the last paragraph , encourages “ those exploring the Catholic Church ”, which I take to infer disaffected Anglicans , to visit a local Ordinariate group where “ you will be sure of receiving BOTH a warm welcome and the Sacraments of the Catholic Church ...”
Is there not an implication that there is some sort of ‘ covenant ’ between the Catholic Church and the Ordinariate , and that it may be possible to simply attend a group and receive the Catholic sacraments ?
I have frequently met the query associated with a misunderstanding with regard to a ‘ halfway house ’ and I think that the route into the Ordinariate does warrant clarification when the opportunity arises , such as in the article which I mention .
Dr Eleanor Care MB BCh
The views expressed in these letters are not necessarily those of the Editors Letters for publication should be sent to :
The Editors , The Portal , 56 Woodlands Farm Road , Birmingham B24 0PG editors @ portalmag . co . uk