THE
P RTAL
May 2019
Page 6
Personal Ordinariate of
Our Lady of Walsingham
– Chrism Mass 2019
Lucy Day reports from Warwick Street
T
he Ordinariate year is marked out with a number of “must attends”. The Friends’ Epiphany
Carol Service in January, the Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Walsingham in June, and the autumn festival
are three such. To these must be added the Chrism Mass. Although this is really for our priests, where they
re-make their priestly vows, the laity are always welcome. Indeed, it is our duty to support our priests on this
of all days.
but not just of body.
We are to interpret this
as applying to healing
of spirit and broken
hearts as well. The Oil
of Chrism is about
consecration
and
commitment. Christ
the prophet, priest
and king, sets us apart
for a special place in
God’s kingdom; the
laity as the priesthood
of the faithful, but the
sacerdotal priesthood
We are fortunate
indeed to have HE Archbishop Edward Adams, in a special way. This is so that we all become holy.
Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, as principal
Fr Keith emphasised that we have much to do to
celebrant. Like his processor, HE Archbishop Antonio
Mennini, he is a good friend to the Ordinariate. You re-gain trust in the aftermath of the sexual scandals
will find a splendid article written exclusively for The rocking the church.
Portal, elsewhere in this edition.
We sang some favourite hymns, including – of course
As always, the music, under the direction of Keith – Praise to the holiest in the height. Fr Daniel Lloyd
Brown, was wonderful. This year sung mass was acted as MC and presided over everything with his
Spatzenmesse by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. We also usual aplomb. As Mgr Keith Newton said, without him
heard Ecce Sacerdos Magnus by Anton Bruckner, and the whole thing would fall to bits! Fr Lloyd nodded
Let all mortal flesh keep silence by Edward Bairstow. enthusiastically at this.
Scheduled to be held
on Maundy Thursday,
for convenience of
those with far to travel,
this year it was held
on the Thursday of
Passion Week. Rather
more than sixty priests
attended Our Lady and
St Gregory, Warwick
Street in London;
with about the same
number of laity.
A good innovation this year was that the Permanent
Deacons also renewed their vows. Our Ordinary, Mgr
Keith Newton, gave the homily, in which he addressed
the clergy, of course, but he also addressed the laity.
He took the three Holy Oils – Catechumens; Sick and
Chrism, and applied them to priesthood.
Mass over, HE Archbishop Edward Adams gave a
brief talk of encouragement and good wishes from
Pope Francis. Instead of going straight to the Sacristy,
Mgr Keith and Archbishop Adams went to the church
door and greeted clergy and laity alike.
How fortunate are we in the Personal Ordinariate
The Oil of Catechumens was to provoke us to make of Our Lady of Walsingham to have such a beautiful
disciples of the nations and enable them to grow in faith. church building, such beautiful liturgy and music, and
The Oil of the Sick was, of course applied to healing; such beautiful friends?