THE
P RTAL
September 2017
attack, still with his cassock on, and aged only 47. He
was such a loss as he was such a fighter for the faith -
he really was.”
Sheila was trained as a nurse and went to work in
Canada where she met George on a blind date. They
married and have two boys, who are themselves
married. The couple have three grandchildren who
live in Canada.
Sheila and George moved to the UK 1997. “Of
course we went back to Grandad’s church: St Martin’s
in Worcester.
George told us, “Sheila introduced me to an Anglo
Catholic church in Montreal and I thought, ‘This is
what I grew up with. I have finally found it.’ When I
came here to Worcester that was it. After a few years
and with what was happening in the Anglican church I
thought, ‘That’s it I’m going to lapse again or it’s Rome
or nothing. but we both, when finally the time came,
and Fr Pitchford told us about the Ordinariate, looked
into it and went to St Chad’s one day with Fr Pitchford.
We were finally accepted into the Catholic Church.”
Sheila’s Grandfather produced the famous St
Swithun’s Prayer Book. This will be well known to our
older readers, many of whom will have been brought
up with it.
Jackie asked, “What do you think would have
happened, Sheila, had Pope Benedict made the offer to
people such as your grandfather?” Sheila has no doubt
that had the Holy Father of his day made the offer that
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Pope Emeritus Benedict did with the Ordinariate,
William Monahan would have accepted it like a shot.
Although George and Sheila are members of the
Ordinariate, they are some way from the nearest group;
Fr Pitchford in Malvern leads the nearest. But at their
advanced age, it is some way to travel, so they attend
the local Catholic Church. Through all the difficulties
of their lives, and those of their relations, they remain
absolutely firm in the faith. This is a family that is an
both an example and an encouragement to us all.
We enjoyed out time with George and Sheila. Thank
you both very much for your time. Readers will want
to read Mark Vickers’ book, and do not forget to watch
out for our review.
Forms of words for Making a Bequest
in favour of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham in your Will
I GIVE to the Ordinariate of Our Lady
of Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London
W1F 9JR, the sum of ______ pounds (£
) and
I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other
proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate of Our
Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient
discharge to my Executor.
or
I GIVE the residue of my estate to the
Ordinariate
of
Our
Lady
of
Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London W1F
9JR, and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer
or other proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and
sufficient discharge to my Executor.