WALSINGHAM ON THE 16th JULY

Yesterday, 12 members of the Redbridge and Havering Ordinariate Group went to Walsingham to join the Pilgrimage of Reparation and Consecration organised by the Ordinariate and led by Monsignor Keith Newton. It rained and rained and raine and and when we arrived at Walsingham it was just pouring. We made our way to the Anglican Shrine Café for Coffee and some of us indulged in the wonderful Norfolk Shortbread they sell.

We had arranged to hold Mass at the Barn Chapel as, of course, we were not allowed to receive at the Mass at the RC National Shrine. It had been our intention to eat lunch, after Mass, in the Shrine Grounds and then to walk towards the Slipper Chapel to join the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament.We enjoyed our lunch in the Barn Chapel but then concluded that the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament would be cancelled although we were unable to actually find out any details,We decided to visit the Flower Festival taking place in the village this week-end

The flowers in the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and the Church of St. Mary were absolutely stunning. We returned to the Abbey Grounds but again were unable to get much information except, as we thought, Benediction had been cancelled. We decided to go to the Shrine Grounds and wait and see what would happen. Eventually the Procession arrived carrying a Statue of Our Lady of Walsingham and then there was a service of Sprinkling in the Shrine Church which we attended.

Although our plans for the day had to be changed with the weather ruining our plans and soaking us all, we had a really enjoyable day..

Ad Multos Annos!

Today the Holy Father celebrates the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. We thank God for Pope Benedict and offer our prayers on this wonderful occasion.

O God, the pastor and ruler of all the faithful,

mercifully look upon thy servant Benedict

whom thou hast been pleased to set as pastor over thy Church:

grant him, we beseech thee,

to be in word and conversation a wholesome example

to the people committed to his charge;

that he with them may attain unto everlasting life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Evening at The Church of the Assumption

On Tuesday the Redbridge & Havering Ordinariate Exploratory Group combined with the Harlow Ordinariate Group for Exposition, Prayer and Benediction followed by a meeting held at the Church of the Assumption, Manford Way, Hainault. The Parish Priest Father Salvini hosted the evening and acted as MC. Monsignor Keith Newton, the Ordinary presided at Benediction, Father Mervyn Jennings played the organ, Father Robert Page acted as Deacon and Father John Corbyn led the Litany of the Sacred Heart. After the service, we went to the Parish Hall for refreshments and a talk with questions and answers from Father Keith. Also present was Father John Corbyn’s curate. Father Robert Page who is now a Roman Catholic Deacon is due to be priested this Saturday; Father Page was Vicar of St. Margaret’s until earlier this year. Please keep him and all the others to be ordained as Roman Catholic priests this weekend in your prayers.

It was a very worthwhile evening and our grateful thanks to Father Salvini for organising it and members of his congregation for making us so welcome.

We are hoping to arrange a further meeting with the Harlow Group later in the year.

From the text of the address given to the Bishops of England and Wales by the new Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini

Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, let us therefore continue, with our Christian brothers and other believers, to be for the world what Cardinal Suenens called the “soul supplement”. I am happy to tell you that besides Catholic Bishops, I have been able to have brotherly meetings with Archbishop Rowan Williams and with some other non Catholic religious leaders; it is interesting to note they share this view. After my seven year mission in the Russian Federation, where I had the opportunity and privilege of meeting closely with two great Patriarchs and knowing the Russian Orthodox Church pretty well, I hope that my mission here will also enable me to know and share our concerns with the Church of England and other churches and religious denominations in this country.

As you know, following the proclamation made by the Holy Father, the Holy See is preparing the Ecumenical Meeting of Assisi. That meeting, as similar previous meetings, will certainly be an occasion to highlight what we can commonly offer to our society.

Dear brother Bishops, I have the honour to tell you that during my meeting with the Holy Father before I left Rome to come here to take up the function that he had entrusted to me, he asked me to bring his pastoral solicitude to all of you and to the clergy, religious, faithful and people of Great Britain. He recalled keenly the hospitality he had received from Her Majesty and Her Majesty’s Government, and also from the Church and the British people. He remains grateful to all of you. He also reminded me that he had asked you to be “generous in implementing the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus” (Address to the Bishops of England, Scotland and Wales, St Mary’s Oscott). In his name, I wish to thank all of you for the way you have meticulously carried out that mandate. At the same time, I wish to congratulate and encourage Monsignor Keith Newton who was appointed first Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, and pray for the continuous development of the relations between Anglicans and Catholics in this country.

MEETING AT THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION TUESDAY 7th JUNE

It has been confirmed that this will take place on Tuesday 7th June with a HOLY HOUR at 7.00 p.m. followed by a meeting with Monsignor Keith Newton. We will be joined by members of the Harlow Ordinaraite Group.

PILGRIMAGE OF REPARATION & CONSECRATION

The Pilgrimage on the 16th July is being led by Monsignor Keith Newton. Members of the Redbridge & Havering Exploratory Group have decided that they would like to take part in this. Of course, we are unable to take a full part in the Mass at the RC National Shrine so, instead, it has been arranged for us to hold a Mass at the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in the Barn Chapel at 12 noon and then to join in the Procession, Benediction and Sprinkling. There will be more details in due course.

MEETING 3rd May 2011

We met at St. Augustine’s, Rush Green for Mass and the continuation of the Evangelium Course on Tuesday At the next meeting on the 17th May the Rosary will be said. Father Mervyn will not be able to be there so Father Martin will be taking the service followed by a discussion group. ALL ARE WELCOME.

At the meeting at The Church of the Assumption, Manford Way, Hainault on the 7th June we will be joined by members of the Harlow Ordinariate Group. It will take the form of a HOLY HOUR & BENEDICTION followed by a meeting with Monsignor Keith Newton.