London (central) Group

Ordinariate Website and London Group:

An  interim website for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham has now been established. It is not the final form of the website but it contains, among other things, details of all the ordinariate groups, including our own Central London Group at the ordinariate website 

The London Group is now meeting at the Catholic Chaplaincy in Gower Street, thanks to the kindness and hospitality of Fr Peter Wilson and the students there. The 10.30am Mass is followed by catechesis and the group will be received into the Catholic Church during Holy Week.

You will find details of our meetings and contact details at this link:

http://www.ordinariate.org.uk/london_central.htm

The Rite of Election for the group will be at 3pm on Sunday March 13th at Westminster Cathedral

Fr Mark annouces his resignation

Fr Mark Elliott Smith (S.Paul's Tottentham) writes in the parish magazine:
Since the publication of the document Anglicanorum Coetibus, which is an invitation to groups of Anglicans to be received into full communion with Rome, I have been considering my position in the Church of England very carefully. You will know that I have been dismayed by recent developments in the Anglican Communion, particularly the Gerenal Synod’s decision to prepare legislation to allow women to be ordained as Bishops. My dismay has nothing to do with the status of women as I believe absolutely in the equality of the sexes. It has to do with the unity of the Church for which Christ prayed. That unity cannot now be achieved, at least not for generations. There may be friendship across the ecumenical divide, a realisation that our common baptism brings us together in some ways, but sacramental unity, no.

It is for this reason that I have decided that I cannot now, in good conscience, remain in the Church of England. It is my intention to be reconciled to the Catholic Church. There is great sadness in this decision, for I love S. Paul’s Tottenham, great parish that it undoubtedly is; it will always have a special place in my heart and in my prayers. It is, after all, the parish where I have served, man and boy you might say, for nearly ten years, on and off.

My last Sunday will be on 6 March and I hope that everyone will make an effort to be here on that day. The Ordinariate, the structure proposed by Anglicanorum Coetibus and similar to a diocese has now been established: Fr Keith Newton, the former Bishop of Richborough, is its first ordinary. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham and is under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman. Groups of Anglicans, along with clergy, will be enrolled as candidates for the Ordinariate at the start of Lent and be received into the Catholic Church in Holy Week.

At the time of writing I don’t know for sure where I will be living, though I believe it will be near Euston, so not very far away. God willing, I will be ordained as Deacon sometime just after Easter and Priest around Pentecost. As soon as I know these dates, I will let you all know.

In the meantime, please pray for Fr Christopher and Fr Luke, the Archdeacon, and all those who will be covering the interregnum. I know that Bishop Peter will be keen to make quite a swift appointment, so I do not believe the interval between incumbents will be a long one.

There may, of course, be people who are confused about the situation and who want to talk this through. Anyone in this position is most welcome to do so. Please have a word with me about this. It is very much a leap into the unknown, or almost unknown. It is a decision which has not been taken lightly or hastily and certainly not without anguish. But we all of us have to act on what we believe to be God’s will and to go where we believe he calls us. But please be assured of my prayers for you all, and I would be grateful if you would keep me in yours.

Fr Mark

So it continues....

Frs Ed Tomlison, Ivan Aquilena and his curate Dcn James Bradley have annouced their intention to join the Ordinariate.  The Anglo-Catholic blog has identified 18 Ordinariate groups in England - who would have thought there wous be such a growth in so short a time.  And to complete this - Daniel Lloyd and his wife have been received - I understand into the Ordinariate!

London Ordinariate Group

The group will be meeting weekly to study the Evangellium course.  Meetings are at Christ the King, Gordon Square at 2.30 and finishing at 4pm with Evening Prayer.

Congratulations!

And many years to Edwin Barnes on his ordination as a Deacon last week!


 See his blog for an account of what was obviously a very happy occasion!

http://bishedwins.blogspot.com/

A morning in Westminster

So many people have posted about the ordinations last week that it seemed perhaps we didn’t need any more said.  However, last Saturday was truly memorable.  Firstly, actually being present when history is made is an extraordinary experience.  When the Archbishop asked everyone to sit down at the beginning of Mass I (like I expect most other people) could feel the anticipation rising.  We were not disappointed.  The announcement of the ‘Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham’ was made and greeted quite quietly (the applause came later).  And what an amazing name!  The shrine at Walsingham is celebrating its 950^th anniversary this year.  The trajectory of history made visible.  It seems to me a direct link had been forged with England in those days when she was known as ‘Our Lady’s Dowry’.  Moving down time – Blessed John Henry Newman, the Oxford movement and of Fr Hope Patten who restored the shrine seem to have been linked together in a powerful way.

Once the Ordinariate had been officially launched we proceeded through Mass and the Ordinations of Fr John Broadhurst, Fr Andrew Burnham and Fr Keith Newton.  The thing which struck me forcibly was the complete calm surrounding these men.  The impression I received was they knew what they were doing and why.  So now the Ordinariate ahs three priests – in addition to two wives and three sisters, who themselves are a link to the shrine at Walsingham.  Then there was the music.  The choir was stunning and the congregation did pretty well too - despite the fact that the Cathedral ran out of orders of service!  And there was the amazing moment when (as the procession left the Cathedral) a wave of applause accompanied Frs John, Andrew and Keith.

Altogether what a day!

UPDATE: my apologies for getting the number of people who are members of the Ordinariate wrong.  I omitted David and Joyce Silk and Edwin and Jane Barnes who have all now been received! Sorry..

Ordinations!

Does anyone fancy meeting at the bookshop by the Cathedral - at about 9am ish?  I gather people are coming from far and wide!

Statement from Archbishop Vincent Nichols

The Ordination to the Priesthood of Three Former Anglican Bishops and the Establishment in England and Wales of a Personal Ordinariate

On Saturday 15th January, it will be my privilege to ordain John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton to priesthood in the Catholic Church. This ceremony will take place in Westminster Cathedral.

On or before this date, I expect the Holy See to announce the establishment of the first Ordinariate for groups of former Anglicans and their clergy who seek full communion in the Catholic Church. The three men ordained on Saturday will be the first priests of this Ordinariate.

This is a unique moment and the Catholic community in England and Wales is privileged to be playing its part in this historic development in the life of the Universal Church.

We offer a warm welcome to these three former bishops of the Church of England. We welcome those who wish to join them in full communion with the Pope in the visible unity of the Catholic Church. We recognise the journey they are making with its painful departures and its uncertainties. We salute their depth of searching prayer and the desire which leads them to seek to live within the community of the Catholic Church under the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. This is the faith we share.

We are deeply grateful for the depth of the relationship which exists here between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. This firm, positive and on-going relationship is the context for Saturday’s important initiative. We are grateful, too, for the sensitive leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He graciously acknowledges the integrity of those seeking to join the Ordinariate and has assured them of his prayers. This is the noble spirit of true ecumenism between the followers of Christ.

Pope Benedict has made clear his own intentions: that the Ordinariate can serve the wider cause of visible unity between our two churches by demonstrating in practice the extent to which we have so much to give to each other in our common service of the Lord. With this in mind he describes this step as ‘a prophetic gesture.’

With great trust in the Lord, we look forward to Saturday, to the new phase of Church life it brings and we ask God’s blessing on its future development.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols

President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

The London Group is on its way!

Our Ordinariate meeting on 9 January, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, has now happened.

Much was discussed, including what is now known of the timetable for the establishment of the Ordinariate, how it would operate and what it would look like. We looked at the Evangelium course, which will provide the material for the preparation of those who decide to take up the Holy Father’s offer.

Most importantly, it was decided that a Catechetical group will be established, meeting for the first time on Sunday 6 February at 2.30pm in Gordon Square to begin the preparation sessions.

Until the beginning of Lent, this will be open, not only to those who have now made up their minds to join, but to those who are still making up their minds.

In the meantime, please continue to pray as the establishment of the Ordinariate draws ever closer. Please pray, too, for John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton as they prepare for their Ordination to the Priesthood this coming Saturday. We are all encouraged to go to the Ordination Mass, which is being celebrated by Archbishop Vincent Nicholls at Westminster Cathedral at 10.30am.

Ordinariate Day on 9 January

A reminder that this is taking place at

Christ the King, Gordon Square on Sunday 9 January at 2.30pm.

What will we be doing?

First, we will be catching up on all the news. My betting is that the next few days are going to be very exciting. The Ordinariate may well have come into existence by the time we meet. Who knows, we may even know who the Ordinary is going to be. What is less clear at this stage is where some Ordinariate groups will be worshipping. However, a number of possibilities are taking shape which we will be able to talk through on the day.

Second, we will be discussing in more detail the preparation for those now willing to commit to the first wave and looking at the Evengelium, which will provide the source material.

So, we look forward to seeing you at Christ the King on 9 January.