The Portal | Page 4

THE P RTAL July 2015 Keeping up to date with the Ladies Ordinariate Group with Joanna Bogle   Whitstable in Kent saw the Ladies Ordinariate Group Auntie Jo a n And what of LOGS? Page 4 in good spirits on their annual visit to the Vocations Centre:  Mass in the beautiful chapel with its “Dun in altum...” inscription around the chancel, a delicious and talkative lunch, a talk from Fr Stephen Langridge with an update on the activities of the Centre (ranging from talks in schools to involvement in a mission to travellers), a visit to the garden shrine of Our Lady, and then the Rosary and Tea...  Our own evangelistic efforts have kept us busy too – the “Our Father” project drew entries from over 30 schools across London and, at time of writing, the Ordinariate groups at Pembury and Coventry are reporting good numbers of entries too, with teams of judges. We’ve also had enquiries from two other Ordinariate groups, and I’m visiting one of them this coming month… cherishing our spiritual heritage   The aim of the venture - which is an ecumenical effort backed by the Christian Projects group bringing together Christians from various denominations – is to ensure that children in Britain learn the Lord’s Prayer and come to cherish it as part of their spiritual heritage.  Schools value the project because it gives scope for children to discover skills in handwriting and artwork, and offers a simple and non-invasive way of learning this ancient and beautiful prayer.  We have been touched by the beautiful work produced by children, and some will go on display at, among other places, the Towards Advent Festival in Westminster contents page na wri tes Cathedral Hall later this year.  We’re busy with much else, too - talks from excellent speakers including Fr Mark Vickers on the work of a university chaplain, and from Fr Nicholas Schofield on the life and message of Fr William Lockhart, famous London priest and close friend and colleague of Blessed John Henry Newman. Fr Nicholas’ book on him (Gracewing Publishing, Leominster) is a good read.  A very special evening was with Fr Ken Berry, husband of our LOGS member Rebekah, who told us about his experiences serving the Church in Zimbabwe, beginning with his arrival in what was then Rhodesia back in the 1950s.  Looking ahead, we’ve got a visit to the Ordinariate Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Birmingham, a talk from author Philip Vander Elst on C. S. Lewis, and, in December, carol singing at London Bridge station. And we’re happily tackling things like the refreshments for Ordinariate gatherings, a stall at Towards Advent, and more. And oh, and we’ve booked ourselves in for a weekend pilgrimage to Walsingham in 2016.