THE P
RTAL
Semper orantes ; semper opus
July 2017 Page 12
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane have been to Darlington
emper orantes ; semper opus ” Always praying ; always working : it is a familiar and well
“ Sused saying , also an ideal that many strive towards . The weekend we spent in Darlington was an example of that saying being put into practice .
Over supper we chatted with Nicola Reeves and Fr Ian Grieves . Nicola is a member of the Ordinariate Pastoral Council and involved with the music at the local Ordinariate Group that is at St Osmund ’ s , Gainford .
“ The choir goes from strength to strength ,” she told us . “ We have some fantastic youngsters from York and Durham Universities . In fact the co-operation with the Universities is very good . One of our number , Chris Murphy , is to be a Choral Scholar at York Minster next term . We have had people go to sing at Hereford , Worcester and Peterborough Cathedrals , Christ Church Oxford , St John ’ s Cambridge and to St Paul ’ s in London .
Grotto at Gainsford
“ It is not just music . Thank God for the Ordinariate . The Churches in Gainford , and Barnard Castle would probably not be open were it not for the Ordinariate . All we do is done in the name of the Ordinariate . Fr Ian visits the Primary School every Friday ; the children are very responsive .
“ In general the 9.30am Parish Mass with the Diocesan Congregation has grown to about seventy , including youngsters . The 11.30am Ordinariate Mass varies . Overall it is up in numbers . We are not a huge homogenous congregation . We come from various Catholic congregations as well as the Ordinariate members .”
Fr Ian joined in , “ There were sixty five at Barnard Castle this evening ( Saturday ), but they come to social events as well . I am Parish Priest at Gainford and Barnard Castle , and look after St Aidan ’ s , Middletonin-Teesdale . That is twenty miles from the Presbytery .
The Barnard Castle people are lovely . Here at Gainford seven children make their first Holy Communion at the 0930 parish mass tomorrow .
“ I help out at the Carmel Secondary School as well as the school Nicola spoke of . The people here are lovely , and they need to be well served and loved . Pastoral Care is vital . I am on Hospital Call twenty-four hours a day for a week , every three weeks .
“ Of course it is not all liturgy . Social events are also vital in terms of bringing people together and relaxing with each other . Recently we held a Gilbert and Sullivan evening , a St Patrick ’ s night and a St George ’ s gourmet evening ; they were all a great success . In addition we spent a wonderful day on the North York Moors Steam Railway . We took fifty people for lunch .
“ Excellent practice is important to us in pastoral care , administration , care of the building , liturgy and music as well as social events . After five years now , we have the basis for consolidation . Mass is said three times every weekend , and at least once every day . In all this we are ably supported by a team led by Alan Gerard and Nicola and many others .
“ Our aim is to bring the community together , playing our part with the local Diocese , the Ordinariate and the local community , playing a full part in the life of the Catholic Church .
“ We are having a new organ . It is our first capital project and the money has been raised locally . It is
... continued after Supplement ‣‣‣