THE P
RTAL
Historic Events by Arnold Herron
February 2011 Page 3
Elsewhere in this second edition of The Portal you will be able to read about Westminster Cathedral . Many have had their say about the setting up of the Ordinariate . It is for The Portal to reflect upon the historic events of Saturday 15 th January 2011 .
Archbishop Vincent Nichols
Archbishop Vincent Nichols said that there had been many Ordinations in Westminster Cathedral during its one hundred year existence ; but none like those on Saturday 15 th January 2011 ! On that day three ex-Anglican Bishops were ordained to the Catholic priesthood . The occasion was as joyful as it was momentous .
Westminster Cathedral was full . The seats reserved for the Press were full . The places kept for friends and family were full .
The Press
Once those who read the scriptures to us had vacated the huge pulpit , it too became full of the Press with cameras , microphones and all sorts of recording equipment . Pictures and sound were beamed around the world in seconds . It seemed that the whole Catholic World had its focus upon Westminster Cathedral .
Our Lady of Walsingham
As the long Procession made its way to the High Altar an air of expectation was in the air . We heard that the Ordinariate is to be called the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham . It will be under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman . As these words of announcement rang out through the vast caverns of the Cathedral there was a collective sigh of gratitude .
Father John Broadhurst
Fittingly it was Father John Broadhurst who was the first priest in the Ordinariate . He had led the movement through his chairmanship of Forward in Faith , had at one time been the youngest deacon and then the youngest priest in the Church of England and also the youngest clerical member of its General Synod . Doubtless first because his name is first alphabetically , it was nevertheless appropriate .
Father Keith Newton
Father Keith Newton is our Ordinary . There was great joy at that announcement . Fr Andrew Burnham will be there to assist and bring his liturgical expertise to bear upon the Ordinariate . We are greatly privileged to have three such men at the head of the new venture .
Father Andrew Burnham
Afterwards I was able to ask Father Andrew Burnham for a comment . All he could say was , “ I am overwhelmed by the generosity of welcome !”
Fr Broadhurst told The
Portal he was pleased that Fr Newton had been appointed the Ordinary . Emotionally he continued ; “ I am amazed at the Vatican ’ s generosity , and humbled by Archbishop Nichols ’ comments about our previous ministry . It is all wonderful .”
The new Ordinary himself , Fr Keith Newton , said in a press statement that he was “ humbled ” by the appointment . He went on to say that he had not sought , or expected it ; but prayed that God would grant him the wisdom and grace to live up to the trust placed in him . He paid tribute to the generosity and patience of Archbishop Rowan Williams as well as thanking the Catholic Church for her welcome .
Speaking exclusively to The Portal , he said , “ I am overwhelmed by the events of the weekend , and was moved by the Laying-on of Hands and the Peace at the Ordination Mass . One really was welcomed into a world-wide college .”
“ The Ordinary writes ..”
Starting with this second issue of The Portal , we will carry a page each month entitled “ The Ordinary writes ..” In this issue it is Fr Keith himself who writes , but in subsequent ones , it may be any one of the “ Faithful Three ”.