The Portal November 2016 | Page 7

THE P RTAL November 2016 Page 7 A Wonderful Weekend Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane were at the final Ordinariate Pilgrimage for the Year of Mercy W hatever one may say, the Personal Ordinarate of Our Lady of Walsingham has certainly kept the Year of Mercy to the full. Seven Pilgrimages to places of great significance to British Christians. Everything began in Wales, at the shrine of St Winifrede. In Scotland we visited the beautiful town of St Andrews. St Boniface was remembered in Devon at Crediton. St Philip Howard drew a large crowd at Arundel. Our usual Pilgrimage to Walsingham was held in June. In addition to these, we went to Rome and Loreto, where a wonderful and holy time was had by all. We ended with a memorable Pilgrimage to Birmingham over the weekend on 7th and 8th October. a deep and prayerful atmosphere in the Cathedral that night which those of us who were present will long remember. Grimshaw Room Reception We all repaired to the Grimshaw Room afterwards for a Reception and awaited the arrival of the speaker. Unfortunately, he did not arrive. A combination of small disasters ended with him getting lost in the Birmingham suburbs. Fr Peter Conley stepped into the breech and gave us a funny and illuminating talk about Birmingham’s own Blessed One, Blessed John Henry Newman. Carol then told us about the Friends of Cardinal Newman and their publication Newsetter. Solemn Evensong and Benediction On the Friday evening we made history. Solemn Evensong and Benediction was sung in St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham. The first time ever, as far as we can tell, that this has happened in that wonderful and beautiful building designed by the still youthful Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. The Dean, The Revd Gerry Breen, had kindly invited us. Although Fr Gerry was not able to be present, he sent his welcome and good wishes. the Oratory On Saturday we all gathered in the Oratory on the Hagley Road. Confessions were the first order of the day. The mass was celebrated according to Divine Worship. The Chapel was full, and some twenty priests concelebrated. Mgr Keith Newton spoke about taking one step at a time in his homily. He echoed Blessed John Henry Newman in encouraging us not to demand to know the future. As Newman wrote in the famous hymn, “One step enough for me”. Solemn Evensong was sung by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Professor David Saint, with John Pryor playing the organ. We had music by Stamford, Ernest Bullock and the famous William The Propers at mass were beautifully sung by Mrs Smith of Durham. It was a memorable occasion for Alex Lloyd, and her husband was the priest MC. If the one hundred and thirty people present. There was Friday evening had been memorable, this was even