Deaconings

Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop to the Forces, ordained four men as Deacons on Saturday - the first Ordinariate Ordination in the Ordinariate Church in Soho. Among them was our own Darryl Jordan, formerly an Anglican Cleric in Texas, and more recently an assistant at the Priory Church in Christchurch. Here he is supported by two clergy wives - his own on the left, and Mrs Hawthorne on the right. Her husband and their daughter are to be received and confirmed in mid-August. Ceri herself became a Catholic eighteen months ago.

 

 

On Sunday Fr Darryl  preached for our Ordinariate Mission for the first time, then stayed on to Deacon the Parish Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace for Fr Gerry. Meanwhile we had a short study in the Hall before I had to leave for Central  Bournemouth. There I had the unusual experience of saying Mass in an Anglican Church. The Vicar of St Peter's is kindly allowing Fr Bruce Barnes and his people to use his church while their own church building, the Sacred Heart on Richmond Hill, is undergoing major restoration.

 

 

St Peter's Bournemouth, archt. G E Street

 

 



The Winter's Sleep was Long and Deep...

If you recognise the title you will recall that jolliest of hymns written by Percy Dearmer for the Feast of Ss Philip and James - which the Church of England always used to keep on May Day -

"So God doth bring the world to spring; and on their holy day,
doth the Church proclaim her Apostles' fame to welcome the first of May".

Even jollier than the words was the tune - English Traditional, "King's Langley" it is called, but it's always been "Do ye ken John Peel?" in my memory. I wonder if our Ordinariate liturgists will have any success in persuading Holy Church that this is part of the Anglican Patrimony? After all "St Joseph the Worker" was only invented as a riposte to the Red Peril, which seems to have dissolved by now. What's more, it is only a Memorial, whereas Pip and Jim (being Apostles) have a Feast Day. Perhaps the Reform of the Reform will give us back the two Saints of God on this day, rather than May 3rd?
This has developed into a wonderful sun-filled May Day here on the South Coast, (the view of the sea below is from Barton Cliff, looking towards Hengistbury Head and Bournemouth) after constant heavy rain throughout the past week and more.



We welcomed priests of the Avon/Stour Pastoral Area at our home today for their regular meeting and lunch. Our Ordinariate Group worships at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Southbourne, and we are always included in events in the Pastoral Area. It was good to be able to repay a little hospitality. In our distinguished company (below) you will see, from left to right, Fr John Lee our Co-ordinating Pastor and parish priest of St Joseph's Christchurch; Fr Gerry Onyejuluwa MSP, of Southbourne; Fr Vitalis Kondo MSP of Iford; Fr Tony Pennicott of Ringwood and Fordingbridge, and Fr David Quarmby of Highcliffe. The next event to involve the whole area is a three-day time of renewal to be based in Christchurch and running from Wednesday May 23rd. I hope very much that some of the Ordinariate will want to join in these evening sessions in preparation for Pentecost.




There was some talk over lunch (Chicken Chorizo, and two Puddings) about the advantage of being a married priest .. I could not possibly comment.