THE
P RTAL
November 2015
Page 3
Portal Comment
Will Burton considers doctrine and practice
and the Synod on the Family
A
t the time of writing, the Synod on the Family is still in progress. But I have to say that Will Burton
is worried about the outcome. Will doctrine and practice be separated? Oh dear, I do hope not. That
would be a step down the same road taken by the Anglican Communion. We wait and we pray.
Woolly Hats
Remember back in March, that we asked you all to
knit woolly hats for the seafarers? We hear that many
of you have done just that. Bravo! Now is the time
to send them in so that the seafarers may have their
Christmas presents.
Just send them to: Tilbury Seafarers’ Centre, Tenants
Row, Tilbury Docks, Tilbury, Essex RM18 7EH –
making sure to mention The Portal, or send them to
The Portal at 56 Woodlands Farm Road, Pype Hayes,
Birmingham B24 0PG and we shall make sure they
arrive on time. They do need to be with us as soon
after the 1st November 2015 as possible and certainly
before the 11th November 2015.
Encouraging News
We often read in the newspapers, and hear on Radio
and TV, that churches in the UK are empty and very
few people attend mass. We read of mass attendances
being down and rows of pews unfilled. There was even
a suggestion that some CofE churches would have
worship only at Christmas, as less than ten people go
each Sunday!
Bye the bye, you might care to know, one of the places
where the Holy Door devotions may be carried out and
the plenary indulgence gained is at Walsingham where
the rarely-opened west door of the Slipper Chapel will
be the “Holy Door”. Also, it is hoped that there will be
a “Door” at Warwick Street as well.
Pilgrimage to Rome,
Loreto and Ravenna
As part of our celebrations for the Year of Mercy,
there will be a number of local pilgrimages and three
national ones. The one at Birmingham, of course; but
also the Pilgrimage to Rome, Loreto and Ravenna
from 21st to 28th May 2016. There are still some places
left, so make sure you book your place now to avoid
disappointment. Just go to www.portalmag.co.uk for
full details and a Booking Form.
Pilgrimage to
Our Lady of Walsingham
Saturday 25th June 2016 is the date. The programme
will be published shortly, but once more – make sure
you book the date in your diary now.
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady
of Walsingham Year Of Mercy
So it is encouraging to hear of a church where they
need more space for the Children’s Liturgy. At Precious
Blood, London Bridge they are in just that position:
more children then space! That means, of course, that
there are more adults as well.
What a wonderful story that is! You can read about it
in the Group News on page eighteen of this issue.
2016 The Year of Mercy
Next year the Ordinariate Festival will be with a
Pilgrimage to Birmingham Oratory in October. This
will coincide with the Feast of Blessed John Henry
Newman. However, as this is on a Sunday next year, it
cannot be kept. Not to be outdone, we shall all be going
to Birmingham Oratory on Saturday 8th October 2016
with some other events on Friday 7th. It is hoped to
book hotel rooms for people who wish to stay over.
There will be more of this in due course, but for now
make sure you book the dates.
contents page
8th December 2015
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
to 20th November 2016
The Feast of Christ the King
Local Pilgrimages
There will also be a number of local pilgrimages
throughout 2016. The full list is:
PILGRIMAGE PROGRAMME
7th May
21-28 May
11th June
18th June
25th June
9th July
8th Oct
Holywell
St Winifred
Rome and Loreto
Ss Peter & Paul and Our Lady
Crediton
St Boniface
St Andrews St Andrew
Walsingham Our Lady of Walsingham
Arundel
St Philip Howard
Birmingham Bl John Henry Newman