THE
P RTAL
April 2012
Growing
These Groups are growing already!
They have received two adults in
Derby and another two at Saint
John’s. The experience of these two
excellent priests shone through.
They pray for the members of their
Group and those who are interested
but have not, as yet, taken the Julia McBain Holland
plunge, by name. “We aim to pray
them in,” they laughed. Nevertheless we
felt it was not really much of a joke, more a
pastoral policy.
Fr Simon told us “Mission and Evangelism
are the point. Quite how you measure this I
am not sure. We invite folk along. Personal
contact is most important. The harder part Georgie Cann
is what to do about those with no contact
with the Church.”
An Ordinariate Caister?
They thought the Ordinariate needed its
very own “Caister”. As to the future, they
hoped these Groups would be thriving
in ten years time, and would even be two Jennifer Williams
groups.
Of course this Group is not just about
priests. We spoke with a number of lay
folk too. Among these were Chris Cann
and his daughter Georgie, Pat (from the
Organ), Rebecca Edwards, Nola Murray,
Jennifer Williams, Dorothy Mozley and
Judy Holland.
An Ordinariate ‘Brean’
Page 5
the birth of the Ordinariate and
couldn’t help but ask myself ‘Why
not you?’” He continued, “There was
no argument, other than it would be
inconvenient to me and my family.”
He relished that chance to be in
full communion with the Catholic
Church. He had been praying for
this since before the time he and his
wife got married.
The only regret any of them had was the
loss of a beautiful medieval building. With
regard to finance we were told that most
contribute via Standing Order and Gift
Aid. They all thought the Ordinariate in
general and their Group in particular will
grow. Many have remained friends with
those who stayed Anglicans, indeed some
attend the Ordinariate Mass on occasions.
Although they had been made very
welcome at their various Catholic
Churches, and Saint John’s suited them
very well, Nola put into words what they all
felt, “I think growth matters. We all get on
and it is lovely, but in time we need to grow
and have own place.”
Whilst remaining distinctive, Jennifer
Williams stressed the integration of the
Groups. “We have been well received,” she
said, “Some are on the Tea Rota and help
with Children’s Liturgy.”
Rebecca Edwards
Ordinariate Day event
As to an Ordinariate Day event, everyone
we spoke to said that they would be at
Walsingham on 15th September. The only
reservation was expressed by Jennifer, “Yes,
Walsingham is very nice, but there is no
substitute for having a meal together!”
All were enthusiastic about the
Ordinariate. Jackie was keen to chat
with Rebecca whom we remember from
“Brean” the Ebbsfleet Young People’s
Festival. Rebecca is fourteen and attends
the Blue Coat School in Woola ton. She
was indignant that we were not going to
Before we took our leave we were
be at Brean this year. Well that was good to
presented with the really hot topic started
hear. She thought the Ordinariate “a good Pat Lewis, organist
in the pages of The Portal. This concerns
thing”. Why could the Ordinariate not run
the oldest member of the Ordinariate. This
a “Brean” of its own she asked? “It would be a chance Group has two candidates in Dorothy Mozley (92) and
to invite other Catholics. I know people at School who Judy Holland (91). Judy swims every week and still
are Catholics – they would come!” She enthused “They plays Bridge!
do not know what the Ordinariate is, so it would be a
chance to show them.”
If you are in the East Midlands on the first Sunday
of the Month, drop in at Saint John the Evangelist,
Chris Cann had been a NSM C of E priest and was Midland Avenue, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 7BT:
received into the Ordinariate at Christmas. He had at 11am - [email protected] Tel: 0115 9390945
been part of the Uttoxeter Team Ministry. “I watched - Mobile: 079857 53391