It was hot, it was humid, and it was wonderful. The new Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston was blessed and the outdoor altar was dedicated by His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.
The Anglican Use Parish of Our Lady of Walsingham was founded in 1984, with very humble beginnings. Co-founded by Fr. James Moore and Fr. James Ramsey along with a handful of converts, it has grown steadily over the years, and today's ceremony fulfilled a parish goal of providing a worthy shrine to honor Our Lady of Walsingham. That goal has been most definitely achieved!
During his homily, Cardinal DiNardo made a direct reference to the coming Ordinariate, which the parish will join. He described himself as the "temporary Ordinary," stating that although it was his privilege to dedicate the shrine, it would soon be under another jurisdiction. The Cardinal obviously has great affection for the parish, as do the parishioners for him.
You can follow the progress of the building of the shrine through the pictures on the parish website.
Related posts:
Thanks for sharing the great news! I am sad I wasn't there, but I was in spirit.
Thanks be to God ! This is a truly magnificent achievement.
Let us hope that this new shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham will prove to be as potent a force for Christian Unity as the orginal and that links between the two Shrines will develop.
Welcomers at the English Walsingham Shrine should perhaps start to prepare for the advent of increasing numbers of pilgrims from the New World and a few copies of "The Illustrated Texas Dictionary of the English Language" might be useful while the New World shrine might acquire a few copies of "Larn Yerself Norfolk".
More seriously, the significance of the continuing devotion to the Blessed Virgin under the name of Our Lady of Walsingham is a potent reminder that this England was placed under her protection all those years ago.
Father Faber's hymn "Faith of our Fathers" has in the original text the verse:
"Faith of our Fathers, Mary's prayers, shall win our country back to thee, and with the truth that comes from God, England shall then indeed be free!".
I venture to hope that at this New World shrine, the faithful will from time to time pray for the conversion of England. We need all the help we can get.
An absolutely stunning neo-Gothic outdoor altar under such beautiful blue – it is, without doubt, pleasing to our Lady.
It seems to me that its free structure, while recognizing the past, resolutely points to the future. I would not be surprised at all, if the future generations kept adding to it in an equally worthy manner.
How often will the Mass be celebrated at this outdoor altar?
That is a sweet looking shrine. If I ever go there I will definitely check it out. Congratulations.
Beautiful. The Virgin's prophecies [under her title of Our Lady of All Nations] concerning the 'drawing near of the Anglican church to Rome" is being fulfilled in our seeing as we view this Shrine.
Hope to come visit one day. Unfortunate a representative of the English Ordinariate was not able to be a part of this wonderful moment in Catholic Anglican Use history!
That is just beautiful! Congratulations and blessings!
I discovered a little known RC shrine of OLW in Colonial Williamsburg, VA
Check it