THE
P RTAL
November 2017
Richard was climbing up to the Abbey
on Mont St Michel. “It is not a tourist
attraction. It is a Religious Community.”
He observed that his fellow pilgrims
“Are as varied as in Chaucer!”
Lady and the English Martyrs. They
read T he P ortal (of course!), but
saw the pilgrimage mentioned in the
Ordinariate Newsletter.
They were enjoying the pilgrimage,
and felt that it was an opportunity to
know more about St Thérèse and the
Martin family. Alan confided that on
Sunday in the Basilica at Lisieux, “I got
the whole thing. I never have before,
but the power of the relic went very
deep for me.”
Lydia is a Coptic Christian of mixed
parentage. She found out about
the pilgrimage from the Pax
Travel web site. “The pilgrimage
is very important for me,” she
told us. “I have read her book,
and I know her story, but this
is my first time in Lisieux. The
Sunday Mass and procession
was lovely.
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Gill James
“I love the Catholic way of Franziska and Alan Norman
taking the celebrations to the streets. In
so many parts of the world Christians
have to keep their celebrations secret, so
this is real freedom. I loved Alençon and
Sr Anastasia who showed us round; her
joy and enthusiasm were contagious. I
have loved the worship, especially being
able to immerse myself in the Mass every
day. I like having religious freedom, but Richard Evans
fear the way Christianity has become
weak in the UK.”
Richard Evans is from Surrey, although
born in London. He attends Most Precious
Blood in the Borough. That is where he
found out about the pilgrimage. He is
an Anglican born, and bred: baptised,
confirmed and educated. He was a member
of Forward in Faith, but never quite trusted
the organisation in the CofE.
Sr Patricia
He joined the Ordinariate on 18 th April
2011. It was Monday in Holy Week. Thirty
of us were Chrismated at St George’s
Cathedral, Southwark. “I have never been
more nervous in my life,” he told us, “and I
was nervous making my first confession a
few days earlier.”
The highlight of the pilgrimage for
Tony Rossi
Tony Rossi is of an Italian family.
Both his parents were from Italy.
Tony has lived all over the world. He
is now retired from his job of looking
after commercial companies. He is, of
course, a cradle Catholic. “I especially
enjoyed the Mass at the Basilica for St
Thérèse’s Feast Day. On that day the
building came alive in all its wonderful
glory,” he enthused. He was
impressed that the pilgrim group
was pleasant with no infighting.
“You usually get one!” he joked.
Sister Patricia McMahon is a
Sister of Mercy from the We st
of Ireland, now living in East
London. A cradle Catholic from
a devout family, she worked
in South Africa until she had
to come back to the UK because she had
cancer.
“A friend said that St Thérèse had helped
her, and she would help me. I always knew
about her, but had no devotion to her. Three
years ago, I had my operation and I had
started to pray to St Thérèse. My devotion
to her grew. I was told that she always sends
you a message. When I opened a drawer, an
A4 picture of her fell out! There is a statue
of her on my corridor, and now it is never
without a flower.
“This year I celebrate the Golden Jubilee
of my Profession. I have been home to
Ireland, and make this pilgrimage to
Lisieux. The highlight of the pilgrimage for
me was Alençon. As to the Ordinariate, I
have great admiration for the people who
have made the journey to full communion
with the Catholic Church. The faith, the
sincerity, the cost, the variety: people come
so many different ways and have made so
many superb sacrifices.”
It was a wonderful pilgrimage, spiritually
speaking. Our pilgrims were a varied and
inspirational lot. Do look out for our next
one!