ragon
THE
P RTAL
February 2012
Page 8
Happy First
Anniversary!
The great and the good (and others) gathered with our local groups and centrally at
St James’ Spanish Place to celebrate the first anniversary of the erection of the Ordinariate.
A grand occasion it was too:
Evensong beautifully sung from the
gallery and choreography beautifully
executed, gracing one of the most
splendid sanctuaries one could wish
for. A splattering of former Anglicans
graced the occasion and we thank
them for their continued support of
our new-found status.
Mgr Keith did
much to boost our
confidence in the
future as we looked
back in breathless
thanksgiving
at
the speed with
which so much has
happened.
which we are hewn”?)
That set me thinking: if walls could speak what a lot
those interior and hallowed walls could report since
becoming the home of so much ecclesial political
intrigue over recent years! Or put another way – what
would one have given to have been a fly on the wall
when some of their decisions were being plotted? I
don’t suppose the history of that movement will ever
be fully written and many of us have snippets that will
go with us to our
graves, never to be
retold. My train of
thought led me on
further.
Where else I
would have liked to
have been as a fly
on the wall? What
other
reactions
Our
Ordinary
would I like to
had
expressed
have witnessed or
his concern as to
planning meetings
whether
anyone
overheard as our
would turn up on a
own
(inspired
cold winter’s night:
and
unique)
but turn up they
ecclesial solution
did – more than
four hundred I’ve heard tell. Some of those present are was formulated? It is a fascinating period of history
aspiring to join the growing throng sooner rather than (and for one I am delighted to be part of it, despite
later. You are in our prayers: we hope and pray that the hardships and uncertainties it has thrown up).
your welcome will be as warm and generous as ours These “fly on the wall” experiences might have been
international decisions affecting the whole Church or
has been.
domestic ones in vicarages and Anglo-Catholic homes
Yet more celebrations...
up and down the country.
Not so many had gathered earlier the previous
week to celebrate the first anniversary of this august,
A (multi-lingual) Italian fly on a Vatican wall could
virtual magazine, but that too was a jolly occasion – tell an interesting tale, I feel sure! Perhaps some of our
yet another gathering of the great and the good (plus virtual readers might like to let us know what virtual
me). Our editorial board are to be thanked for laying flies have whispered in their ears as they buzzed their
on such a spread.
way around, eavesdropping.
Perhaps a few were put off by the venue – the crypt
of the Catholic Apostolic Church in Gordon Square
known now for being the national headquarters of
Forward in Faith. (Could that be our principal church?
– now there’s a thought! Dare one say “the rock from
In London again soon?
Go and see the Hockney exhibition at the Royal
Academy . Well worth it. There’s a wall or two I
wouldn’t mind being a fly on. A true artist who knows
what a painting should look like! Happy buzzing.