Friday, 21 January 2011

Thanks!


Jane and I would like to thank everyone who has remembered us in prayer for our Reception today into the Catholic Church. It was a lovely occasion; a beautiful, cold morning, and a very good number of the faithful in church. Anglican friends had turned up (one couple having set off very early indeed from Caversham), another couple who are preparing to be received came from Bournemouth. To my amazement there was a choir, augmented with singers from the Catholic Church in Brockenhurst. Fr Danny, the parish priest, generously stood aside to let Mgr Peter Ryan celebrate the Mass and Confirmation. Peter was an Anglican priest himself, but became a Catholic many years ago and served in Liverpool. Now, like us, he is retired in Lymington. He kindly undertook the task of preparing us in a 'crash course'. He spoke to us this morning with great warmth, and with affection for the Church of England.
I had asked Norah, one of the regular congregation at Our Lady of Mercy, to act as my sponsor; Jane had an old friend, yet another fomer Anglican now a Catholic Priest, to sponsor her, so Fr John Catlin drove over from Winchester to support us. After Mass we had a great reception in the parish room, with tea and coffee and home-made cakes and biscuits; a bun-fight to remember!
It is so good to be in Communion with the Catholic Church, to be part of it. We were so warmly welcomed, not least by two Dominican Sisters from their House in Sway - the picture above is of their Chapel. Thanks to everyone; but above all, Thanks be to God for his loving care for us and for all his children.
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30 comments:

  1. Fr Ivan D Aquilina21 January 2011 at 16:32

    Congratulations!

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  2. worcester fragment21 January 2011 at 17:47

    Congratulations and welcome!

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  3. Col. Hugo Thrumpington-Mange21 January 2011 at 18:41

    Well done Padre! Many congratulations to you and the good lady!!

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  4. Edwin21 January 2011 at 18:47

    Colonel, delighted to know you're happy that we've joined the left-footers. Have a snifter on my mess bill, will you?

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  5. Col. Hugo Thrumpington-Mange21 January 2011 at 19:02

    Already on the fifth Rum Pansy!! Your good health drunk at each round. Thought about organising a twenty-one gun salute in your honour on the Cathedral Green, at 0600 hours tomorrow - that should put His Darkness in a good mood for the day!!!

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  6. Robert21 January 2011 at 19:38

    Congratulations! I'm glad it went well. Good wishes and prayers as you prepare for 5th March. I shall be in Bournemouth in the May half term. Robert T

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  7. Unknown21 January 2011 at 19:46

    Welcome home, Edwin & Jane!! Pam and I have drunk a toast to you both with a rather nice glass of Sangiovese di Romagna

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  8. A Catholic Comes Home21 January 2011 at 19:59

    Congratulations to you both!Looking forward to your ordination day!

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  9. Antonio21 January 2011 at 20:45

    Thanks be to God!

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  10. supple_doctor21 January 2011 at 22:24

    Vexilla Regis prodeunt

    - Fr Bill East

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  11. Mother Julian22 January 2011 at 00:43

    Congratulations! It's also good to hear news of Mgr Ryan - he was parish priest here in Woolton when I used to attend the C of E church next door

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  12. Joshua22 January 2011 at 03:02

    Sincerest congratulations!

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  13. Unknown22 January 2011 at 05:21

    At last. Welcome home! Deo Gratias!

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  14. Col. Hugo Thrumpington-Mange22 January 2011 at 10:17

    Twenty-one gun salute duly executed this morning. Shouldn’t have done that after a heavy night in the mess in your honour. The chaps got confused and loaded live rounds instead of blanks. Afraid not much left of the His Darkness’ palace: he’ll have to move in and share the Assistant-Bishops new £650k gaff. Took a bit of explaining with the local Constabulary. Might need you as a character reference for the court appearance!

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  15. Edwin22 January 2011 at 10:21

    No sweat, Colonel; always stand by a chum. When my father was a gunnery officer during the last shindig, some clot cleaning a gun on board his destroyer sent a live round over Greenock; the golf club never worked out how they had a new bunker on the 17th. Easy mistake to make.

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  16. Tom Montgomery22 January 2011 at 12:52

    Congratulations, you are in my prayers as you prepare for the future.

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  17. Mick22 January 2011 at 16:47

    I've been page hopping from Fr. Ray Blakes blog ! Welcome, hope you're made to feel welcome too.

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  18. AncientBriton22 January 2011 at 18:25

    Our loss is your gain, maybe ours again in the future. A pre-dinner Sherry for me rather than a Rum Pansy but Cheers! Thank you for your constant support. God bless.

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  19. David F22 January 2011 at 22:47

    Your sensible comments will be sadly missed. Best wishes & regards to Jane. Nunc Dimittis et lux creator.

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  20. John23 January 2011 at 00:24

    Welcome! May God grant you every grace to sustain you!

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  21. Pastor in Monte23 January 2011 at 10:52

    Welcome, welcome. May God reward you both for your courage and faith, and fill you with his blessings.
    Fr Seán Finnegan

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  22. Ben Vallejo24 January 2011 at 07:19

    Welcome home Reverend Father Barnes!

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  23. Anonymous24 January 2011 at 08:52

    Welcome! It's a disaster area, but better the wotsits of the Lord ekcetra. :)

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  24. Unknown24 January 2011 at 13:47

    Congratulations to you and Deo gratias! It is a happy day for the Church.

    Bruno Moreno

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  25. Anonymous24 January 2011 at 17:32

    Welcome home

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  26. St Wilfrid's, Coalville24 January 2011 at 17:32

    welcome home

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  27. Edwin24 January 2011 at 17:39

    Thanks to all for your good wishes: and, btw, is there a St Hilda's Coalville, too, besides Saint Wilfrid's? It would make a good double.

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  28. Mick24 January 2011 at 18:26

    Can't help with Coalville, but our Parish is St. Hildas in Stevenage.

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  29. Col. Hugo Thrumpington-Mange24 January 2011 at 23:08

    Padre, here’s an update on our court appearance following the twenty-one gun salute fired in your honour after a heavy mess session went wrong. You will recall that the chaps (whilst severely hung over) got confused when loading the artillery piece. At 0600 hours twenty-one live rounds, fired from the Green, landed in quick succession on His Darkness’ palace. When up before the Beak, old Harrington, he reminded our defence team about some ancient lord of the manor law in South Glamorgan that says if a squire spies a heretic it is his duty (and privilege) to shoot him with bow and arrow. Now old Harrington is a retired Royal Artillery Officer, and he reckons that a field gun is the modern equivalent of bow and arrow. He continued his argument by saying that His Darkness is quite clearly “an ‘eretic” and as I’m obviously the squire in charge the fine group of lads from the mess, it was clearly our duty to shell the palace. With a loud strike of the gavel he declared, “Case dismissed!” and set us on our way (back to the mess!) with hearty congratulations on such accurate shelling!! We must think of something to do to celebrate your forthcoming ordination!

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  30. Edwin24 January 2011 at 23:51

    Hugo, Old Chap; While you're pondering, be sure to get the mainbrace well and truly spliced. Heartiest congratters to your fellows; and your good self, of course. I must remember to send Harrington a magnum of Bolly next Christmas.

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