Camels Rolling
It's all this talk about caravans that does it; now we have details about David Silk's progress. From 1994 until 2003 he was Bishop of Ballarat in Australia. Currently he is part of the first wave of the Ordinariate. My deaconing will precede his by a few days, but then the diocese of Plymouth will move with lightning speed. Already David and Joyce have been received into the Catholic Church. He is to be made Deacon by the Bishop of Plymouth at a private ceremony in Buckfast Abbey on February 15th, and three days later will be ordained priest.
Anyone able to get to Buckfast for 11am on Friday, February 18th, will be very welcome; but please let David know in advance so that he can tell the Abbot how many visitors to expect.
Equally, if you can be in Portsmouth for my Ordination on Saturday March 5th, please come. In this case I need to know about priests who might wish to concelebrate. To date I know of a priest from Texas, two from this parish of Lymington, a former Anglican now in Winchester, some former students – St Stephen's House will soon have more of its alumni in the Catholic Church than in the Church of England. Whoever you are, and wherever you come from, you will all be very welcome at 2.30pm in St John's Catholic Cathedral. The weather will be great by then so that we can all stick around for a while and catch up with old friends.
Meanwhile we have next Saturday to enjoy, in Westminster Cathedral. How good it is to be part of Pope Benedict's great initiative. Laus Deo!
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Wonderful news!
Perhaps Deacon Barnes could deacon the ordinations?
Still waiting eagerly to hear when any of our TAC clergy in Britain will be joining you. You don't need me to tell you yet again how we have a former Anglican Communion bishop in Worthing who's been a devoted advocate of Anglican-Roman Catholic unity for over fifty years.
I wonder whether that means that the TAC hierarchy is going to do something en bloc – if so, that would account for the relative silence from that quarter. Although, I suppose someone could just ring up Bishop Mercer and ask him…
Well, they couldn't have chosen a nice place. Buckfast Abbey is glorious. Wish I could be there but will try and get to Portsmouth.
Dear Bishop Barnes
How happy I am to hear of your forthcoming reception and ordination. I would love to be present on either or both occasions, and it would not be inappropriate as I myself am a former St Stephen's House man. It is gratifying to see so manyold boys of the house staggering home to Rome. However I live at the far end of the country from yourself, so I must content myself with assuring you of my prayers.
Sincerely, Fr Bill East.
Thank you and all those who are praying for us; as for Deaconing an Ordination, my memories of Fortescue and O'Connell are sadly dim; bishops have a much easier liturgical life than deacons….