THE
P RTAL
February 2012
When the
Ordinariate was announced, as a “born
Catholic” I was thrilled. Here was the fruit of much debate, prayer
and longing. I wrote enthusiastically about the Ordinariate for a
magazine that was widely read by Anglicans, to whom the Holy
Father’s invitation was specifically addressed. It was exciting -
something magnificent. Would it work?
Now, a year on, I’m reviewing what I wrote, and
remembering how I and others felt.
enthusiasm
pray
and
hope
I was thrilled
Page 6
na
wri tes
So there
are things for
which to pray and hope. But in the meantime there is
much that is cause for rejoicing: the sense of vigour,
hope and new life that the Ordinariate brings to the
wider Church, the joy of some specifically exciting
moments
such
as
Mgr Keith addressing
a packed hall at the
Towards
Advent
Festival of Catholic
Culture in Westminster,
young deacon James
Bradley chanting the
Gospel in the presence
Later, I joined a large
of the Holy Father at
congregation
in
St
World Youth Day, Fr
George’s
Cathedral,
Ed Tomlinson speaking
Southwark, as a further
group of men came forward for ordination. Among to a hall full of young people at the Evangelium
them were some who had already by then become conference.
friends with whom I’d had long discussions. It was a
I’m not privy to the plans for the future, but I can
joy to be celebrating with them.
only say that the excitement that I felt when I first
Any disappointments? Like a lot of other wishful read the formal announcement of the Ordinariate
enthusiasts, I had hoped that some Ordinariate groups and heard the media buzz about it, has certainly been
might share the parish churches where they had proved to have been well-grounded.
worshipped and into which they had put love, care,
funds and work. I now realise that this was never going Britain’s neo-pagans
There is so much for the Ordinariate to do! When
to be a realistic possibility. That is sad, and everyone
loses out. But it isn’t impossible that different forms of I wrote in 2009, I was thinking about the glorious
sharing arrangements may yet be worked out over the possibilities for mission that it could represent: a
good English liturgy, the attractiveness of Anglican
next years.
traditions that have become part of our sub-culture, the
sadness
beauty of bell-ringing and choirs. Of course I can see
There’s a sadness that the numbers of lay people that it’s not going to happen all immediately and not in
are smaller than we had hoped. People’s attachments, the way that I might wish: we’re not suddenly going to
loyalties, family links, are complex and important. get an outbreak of enchanting do-come-and-join-us
Things sometimes have to work more slowly than we communities that present an irresistible attraction to
might wish. And things sometimes work out differently Britain’s neo-pagans and convert millions. But I do see
from the way we think is the only way. God’s plans possibilities, and we must pray a lot, and work steadily
and timing are not ours. We can’t give him detailed and trust God. In another couple of years I’ll review
instructions and orders.
that 2009 feature again.
My enthusiasm has, if possible, increased. In those
early days, there was the worry that perhaps there
would be insufficient men with gumption to take up
the invitation. I need not have worried: the men who
were to form the leadership of the Ordinariate of Our
Lady of Walsingham
were
ordained
to
the fullness of the
Catholic priesthood in
Westminster Cathedral
in January 2010; I
watched from the USA.