THE
P RTAL
May 2017
Page 17
News from the Groups
Chrism Mass
O ne of
the lovely things about Holy Week is
that, amid the Passion, is the glorious Chrism
Mass. Among all the pain, suffering, betrayal and
death, comes the Chrism Mass. In contrast to the rest
of the week, all the priests are in their golden chasubles,
the Bishop (or in our case the Ordinary also in gold)
together with choir and people, meet for this most
special of celebrations.
It was the Monday of Holy Week when the priests,
Ordinary and people of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham met at Our Lady of
the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street in
London. The music was glorious, the whole setting
wonderful. The atmosphere was one of joy, as it usually
is. The priests re-affirmed their priestly vows and the
people promised to support and help them.
In previous years we have been honoured to be
joined by the Papal Nuncio to the United Kingdom.
But, with Archbishop Antonio Mennini moving on,
this year we were privileged to have Bishop Robert
Byrne, the Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, present.
Like Archbishop Mennini, Bishop Robert is a great
friend to the Ordinariate.
He told T he P ortal , “It is a great privilege to be here and
to be able to celebrate your Chrism Mass according to
Divine Worship”. He did us proud. It was an occasion
fitting for the Ordinariate and we all went home
renewed and ready for the tasks that lay ahead of us.
Letter to the Editor
From Ruth Heyder
Much joy and peace to you and members of T he
P ortal this Eastertide.
Thank you for your tireless work; it is bound to
produce much good fruit.
Ruth Heyder
by email