THE
P RTAL
May 2012
Page 5
numbers, I think we are the largest.”
difficult one at all. It was in response to an invitation
to a sumptuous party! I had to do it. It is not so much
“The Catholics is the area have treated us very well. that we left the C of E, rather that we have joined the
Bishop Welby of Durham has been
Catholic Church. It is the faithful
too. He did a placement at Saint James
one’s hopes for unity. Our Group has
many years ago and never forgot us.
stayed together and it brings what we
He still has a soft spot for us. He was
have into full communion with the
extremely kind.”
See of Pater.”
“We are looking forward to the day
at Walsingham in September.”
Nicola Reeves is an IT Consultant
for the International Company
Hewlett-Packard. As with most
of the people who have joined the
Ordinariate, she has no regrets. “The
welcome has been very kind. Right
from the word ‘go’ we have always
had Catholic members at Saint James
anyway. They have come with us.
We have a family environment. It
is what we have brought with us. I
joined Saint James to sing in Church
ten years ago, six months later my
Mum joined! Although Saint Anne’s
is about ten miles from my home,
where else would I go?”
“We are good at raising money,
so I am sure we can afford to keep
ourselves and Fr Grieves.”
Nicola gave the subject of growth
for the Group deep thought. “Most of
those who have stayed at Saint James,
will stay. We shall gather people from
other C of E Parishes. But we are all
about Mission and Evangelism, that is
how we are the size we are now! We
are a good community and we draw
people in.”
Rory Thompson
“Fifty-eight people we welcomed
into the Catholic Church, but we have
a total of seventy-none altogether
from Saint James, worshipping with
us here at saint Anne’s. We have been
hugely welcomed at Saint Anne’s by
Sister Evelyn and the congregation.
We went to Ampleforth last
Sunday and some fo the Anglican
congregation came with us.”
“There is no Sunday mass here at
Saint Anne’s, we will offer that when
I am ordained. So Saturday evening
and Monday evening Mass and
Stations for now.”
Sr Evelyn
“I have been an Anglican priest
for twenty-eight years and at Saint
James for a long time. We welcomed
everyone there, Bishop Seamus came
to Saint James, so we were well known
by the Catholic community already.”
“The Bishop of Durham, Bishop
Justin Welby came to Saint James as
a student, we have been friends ever
since; so relations with the C of E are
very good indeed.”
“I am sure the G roup can keep
itself. We will develop and flourish.
We have dynamic and committed
people and excellent music and
One of those welcoming the
liturgy. Hospitality is our special gift,
Group to Saint Anne’s Catholic
we are growing all the time. Once
Church is Sister Evelyn C.P.” The Fr Ian Grieves
we are establish, we shall develop
Ordinariate Group is wonderful and
strategy for mission and evangelism.
so enthusiastic. They are also sensitive to the needs Our Course of Instruction was so good that we shall
of Saint Anne’s. Fr grieves is absolutely a gem. He has carry on with it. It come from the Diocese of Hexham
always consulted us and we feel very much at home and Newcastle and is excellent.”
with each other.”
“Our nearest Ordinariate Group is quite a way away,
Fr Ian Grieves (56) was ordained priest in the C of and we are large whilst they are quite small. We do not
E in 1985 after formation at Chichester Theological feel isolated at all and we are very much plugged into
College. He had been at Saint James Darlington since the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.”
1989. “The decision to join the Ordinariate was not a