Celebrating Walsingham

This weekend the Bournemouth Ordinariate Mission once again celebrated Evensong and Benediction. On previous occasions we have had maybe forty of us in church; this time we were more than double that number, thanks to a good deal of local publicity in both Catholic and Anglican churches. It was especially good to have the Priest in Charge of  Holy Trinity Winchester with us - he robed, and read a lesson. Peter Cook, our Organist, had rounded up a number of volunteers to augment our choir, and the music was exceptionally good.

The weather stayed dry, so we were able to process outside church, with the Image of  Our Lady of Walsingham on a newly-constructed bier beautifully decorated with flowers.

Then, a final piece of  the Patrimony, we enjoyed a very good  tea together - with a cake decorated with the arms of the Ordinariate. Now we are planning a spectacular for Advent.

Newcomers

Just a brief unillustrated blog today to announce the Reception & Confirmation of two more members of our Ordinariate Mission. Andrew Hawthorne was an Anglican clergyman - most recently serving as an assistant priest in charge of St George's, Christchurch. Very good that three of his former congregation joined us to welcome him into the Ordinariate. With him was his fourteen year old daughter Emilia - who has taken the confirmation name Jane, remembering St Jane Frances de Chantal.

We had a jolly little party after Mass - somehow most of the forty-five at Church today squeezed into the small Hall at Our Lady Queen of Peace where we drank a toast to Andrew and Emilia Jane - then my Jane and I said farewell for a while. We are off to Iberia on Tuesday, going on the overnight boat from Portsmouth to Santander then driving down into Portugal where we hope to meet up with our daughter and family for a week of their holiday. So, despite having a new Tablet - no, not that dire publication, but an electronic wizard which combines phone and pad - called, imaginatively, an Asus Fonepad - I shall hope to maintain blog silence until our return. Your prayers would be welcome; we read of wild fires in Spain and Portugal, and temperatures currently around 37C (and reckoned to get hotter).

When we return plans will be well underway for Evensong, Procession, Benediction and a bunfight [ 3pm on Saturday 21st September]. This was the nearest available date we could get to the Feast of  Our Lady of Walsingham. We are inviting friends from local churches, Anglican as well as Catholic. If you are in the vicinity of Southbourne (BH6 3ER) come and join us - you will be very welcome.