THE P RTAL
May 2018 Page 13
the Ordinariate was taking over St Margaret Mary . I came and saw the Mass cards on the Altar , and I heard the Lenten Collect . I loved it . It is right up my street , and I was bowled over .
“ After three weeks , I changed to the customary from the breviary . I have the study edition of Divine Worship on order . Divine Worship takes us where we are supposed to be – at the foot of the cross . It is great for us as a parish . We now have Mass every day , and funerals and baptisms . The other week there was a queue of mums and dads with children seeking to book baptisms ! Some don ’ t like it , but by and large it is great and a great blessing .
“ I have lived here for thirty years , and it was only when Fr Andrew came that I went into the Presbytery . They had an ‘ Open Day ’ on Easter Monday . I spent hours drinking red wine ! All this means the congregation is now stable .”
Gerard McCarthy is a retired administrator at Manchester Prison , a civil servant , or – as he said – clerk to anyone ! He too is a cradle Catholic and has lived in St Margaret Mary Parish all his life . He enthused , “ The Ordinariate has saved us . It was this or being closed down . I thank God . I am knocked out by Fr Andrew and his family . It is brilliant . He is a great priest . His devotion to the sick is fantastic . Before he came if someone was ill or they died , we had to call in a priest from elsewhere . Now Fr Andrew is here , he does it all .
“ We have a choir some weeks . Jobs are shared out , we are looking for helpers , readers , counting money , Eucharistic Ministers . The invite is for all to be involved . It has given us a new lease of life and we are on the way . There are some who do not like change , but that always happens . Mass is Divine Worship except the Vigil mass on Saturday evening which is the Roman Missal .”
Shelagh Fanning spoke to us with her daughter Emily . Shelagh works at St Margaret Mary as a Teaching Assistant , while Emily is in the sixth
Gerard McCarthy
Mike Forbester
Shelagh and Emily Fanning
Steve O ’ Connor
Veronica , Bridget and Henry Starkie
form at Cardinal Langley doing Biology and Zoology . They are both cradle Catholics . They both thought Divine Worship took a bit of time to get used to . But now Shelagh quite enjoys it , but Emily “ loves it !
Because it is more holy , more reverend .”
Shelagh was brought up on the Extraordinary Rite with Holy Communion kneeling , and she prefers that posture to receive the sacrament . “ I feel have been to mass here . We are more connected ,” she said . Emily said , “ Having our own priest is wonderful .” For all those with whom we spoke , Fr Andrew being married is not an issue .
We moved to the Presbytery for a lovely lunch . Fr Andrew said , “ It is good here . The house is lovely . Built before the church , originally there was the house and a hall which was used as the church . That was in the 1930s . The church was built in 1957 and is just 1 ½ miles from my old CofE parish .
“ We have a choir that sings about twice a month . We have used Gregory Murray ’ s Mass adapted to Divine Worship , and the Missa de Angelis . There is a Communion motet and the Gradual .
“ We arrived here in February , at present it is about working out what is going on . Tea and Coffee after Mass has been well received , it is – after all – Anglican Patrimony ! Although the parish has had a difficult time pastorally , there are some real saints here . The Presentation Sisters have been great , really good . They want to be helpful and in many ways they have kept the parish going . They hosted the CTS “ Why ?” course for Lent . They were happy to do so . A sort of group has formed , come to Wednesday Mass and stay on !
“ I am really excited to be here . It is a privilege . The home of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in North Manchester .”
All too soon it was time for us to leave , but we did so with joy in our hearts , and prayers on our lips for this wonderful parish and its priest and people .