Saturday 15 January 2011

A Momentous Occasion . . . !

I couldn't let the day pass without a brief note on the historic events of this past week.

On Thursday three former Bishops of the Church of England were ordained Deacon at Allen Hall Seminary by Bishop Alan Hopes. This followed their reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church on New Year's Day at Westminster Cathedral.

The three newly ordained priests, ordained by Archbishop Vincent Nichols at Westminster Cathedral today, are the first members of the newly created Ordinariate for former Anglican priests. The new Ordinariate, established by papal decree, is to be known as the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, under the protection of Blessed John Henry Newman.

Fr Newton has been appointed Ordinary of the new Ordinariate.

You can read all about it (as they say!) here and here.

Let us pray for them all at this momentous time, not just the new priests and their families, but also for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and beyond.

O Mary,
recall the solemn moment when Jesus,
your divine Son,
dying on the cross confided us to your maternal care.
You are our Mother;
we desire ever to remain your devout children.
Let us therefore feel the effects
of your powerful intercession with Jesus Christ.
Make your name again glorious in this place,
once renowned throughout our land by your visits,
favours and many miracles.
Pray, O Holy Mother of God,
for the conversion of England,
restoration of the sick, consolation for the afflicted,
repentance of sinners, peace to the departed.
O Blessed Mary, Mother of God,
Our Lady of Walsingham intercede for us. Amen.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.

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