The Portal - Australia edition January 2014 | Page 13

THE P RTAL January 2014 God was doing some pruning “Sister Wendy has said it’s as if God was doing some pruning and pruning can hurt, but it puts you where God wants you. We came back to Walsingham on 1st February 2013. Sister Wendy is training to be Chief Sacristan at the National Shrine of Our Lady, and sings in the choir. She has a ministry to the staff as well as to the pilgrims. I am the Youth Missionary for the Shrine. There is a vision for the National Shrine of Walsingham and we are very much part of that“. Youth 2000 Sister Wendy told me about Youth 2000. “It is not the Anglican Youth Pilgrimage. There is a lot more spirituality about it. These young people know why they are there. They know their Rosary. The Blessed Sacrament gets 24 hour adoration. It’s amazing.” taster days Sister Jane Louise continued, “We will be providing taster days, so schools and parishes who have never been to Walsingham can find out what being on pilgrimage is like, and making it youth friendly. Also spiritual weekends for older teenagers where they actually get in touch with their faith, being amongst fellow Catholics, being able take time out from the chaos of their lives and the temptations that they face. We do some things with the Anglican Shrine and are hoping to put Sprinkling in as part of the programme. Page 9 reconciliation and bringing people together under Our Lady’s name.” Sr Wendy said, “I get on very well with the staff around here. We have the ministry of mirth! The shop likes me to go in because I’m not averse to appearing a complete idiot!” thinking of joining the Sisters I asked about those women who might think of joining the Sisters. Sister Jane Louise responded: “At the moment, we cannot provide accommodation, but if there are any ‘enquirers’ we will find them somewhere to stay and they can come and pray with us, eat with us and learn about our ethos. Ecclesia Projects Youth “I also work with Ecclesia Projects Youth - an ecumenical Christian based outreach to young people who are unchurched. We provide a safe environment where they can meet with their friends and find help with problems such as family life, drugs and alcohol. out on a limb I asked them about the fuss when they joined the Ordinariate Sr Wendy Renate and their life now. Sister Jane Louise said, “When we first made the decision to join the Ordinariate, the media went crazy. We were glad when it died down, but the negative side is that we then felt very much out on a limb. a bridge We do feel on the margins as there is no local “We see ourselves as a bridge between the Catholic Ordinariate group. We have never been attached to and Anglican Churches, and any other denomination. an Ordinariate group, though we have been warmly When we launch the second draft of our constitution embraced by Catholic parishes. As far as Ordinariate it will be under the title of ‘Our Lady of Reconciliation’ is concerned, it’s as if we disappeared over the horizon. – that is our ethos. If we can have a process of healing Being able to talk to you today brings that horizon a in reparation for what’s happened in the past, we can bit closer again. be reconciled to one another, and then we can be reconciled to God and to Christ because we are part made yourself known of his body. Perhaps Sister Wendy and I can create that Both Sisters agreed that it would be good if people understanding within our little part of the world in made themselves known when visiting Walsingham. Walsingham. Sister Jane Louise said, “Yes, we would like people to realise that we are still here and still in need of prayers.” reconciliation I thanked them both. I had had a lovely time with “Our Lady is the one who unites. One day this country will again know the importance of Walsingham these old friends. We shall certainly all pray for them, and then crowds will come back. That is our ethos - and when we go to Walsingham, seek them out.