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