De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Father Ed Tomlinson writes: One of the treasures of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is undoubtedly the scholarly figure of Father John Hunwicke. A most English of clerics who combines gentle demeanour and razor sharp mind with a twinkle in the eye and a clear delight for mischief. This is a man whose impressive intellect enables him to help people think things through. At present Father Hunwicke, a former chaplain of Lancing College, is at Silverstream Priory where he is the guest speaker. I am delighted that his speech on the Ordinariates has  been made available in public  and I wholeheartedly commend it to you. Make yourself a cuppa and settle down. It is worth it.

Following my reflection on The Walsingham Dimension , I was introduced to this piece by Edmund Adamus which was published last year by the Ordinariate. It affirms the important Christological insights that come from a devotion to Mary. Edmund explains how Marian devotion has a particular link to Christianity in this country which has shaped and fostered an attitude which is inherently Christian, and concerned with fairness and justice (it is reproduced here with his kind permission): In his address at Oscott College just before the end of his state visit in September 2010, Pope Benedict XV spoke of the establishment of the Ordinariate as a ‘prophetic gesture’ and one which will enable a ‘mutual exchange of gifts’ from the spiritual patrimonies of both the worldwide Catholic Church and the unique English expression of a Catholic faith preserved over many generations by those former members of the Church of England, now fully at home sacramentally in the Roman Catholic Church. fre...

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal William Levada (Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith), Mgr Keith Newton and Bishop Alan Hopes (Auxiliary for the Diocese of Westminster and Episcopal Delegate of the Bishops' Conference of England & Wales for the Ordinariate), presenting a copy of Fr Michael Rear's Walsingham, Pilgrims and Pilgrimages Photo (c) Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. New Bishop of East Anglia appointed! At last! Some movement on the episcopal scene! Pope Francis has today, 11th June 2013, appointed Bishop Alan Hopes, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, to become the fourth Bishop of East Anglia. He is a great friend of the Ordinariate and a valiant defender of the unborn having led a 40 Days for Life vigil last year at Bedford Square and consequently suffered quite a bit of vitriol & abuse  as was reported at the time by Caroline Farrow . Afterward the vigil, Bishop Hopes provided this...

On Monday we had wonderful celebration of our Parochial Feast. We were joined by our wonderful Ordinariate priests Fr. Jeff Woolnough, Fr. Lee Bennett, Fr. Bob White and their communications officer, Fr. James Bradley along with the Ordinary, Mgr. Keith Newton. What a pleasure it was to welcome them into our Parish. We had a beautiful Mass, and Mgr. Keith spoke brilliantly, mentioning the Pope's shock resignation, as well as preaching on the Gospel. There's a good explanation of the Ordinariate here along with an explanation of why it was created here . Fr. Kevin asked me to take some pictures of the occasion which you, beloved reader, are privileged to view before they are used anywhere else! Fr. Jeff from St. Peter's Eastwood who is a great friend and is much loved and respected. Fr. Lee from Benfleet. My two oldest sons, Michael and William. Fr. Kevin, our Parish Priest and Dean of Southend with Mgr. Keith Newton, the Ordinary. The Ordinary of t...

Although I have known that there was an Anglican Church since my history studies of the Tudor age in school, I wasn't ever hugely aware of the importance and value of an established church in our country until, probably, the first influx of Anglicans came home to Rome back in 1992. That was on the back of the ordination of women; if you want to understand what the Catholic position is regarding that I would suggest you have a look at this wonderful exposition by Megan Hodder . More recently (January 2011), the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a Decree which formally established a ‘Personal Ordinariate’ in England and Wales for groups of Anglican faithful and their clergy who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. The establishment of this Ordinariate was the first fruit of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus , issued by Pope Benedict XVI on 4 November 2009. The purpose of this was to respond to petitions received “repeate...

Fr. Jeff Woolnough at home. A year ago, Father Jeff Woolnough and Fr. Bob White were preparing to celebrate their first Christmas at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Eastwood. They had led about 80 Anglo-Catholic parishioners from Hockley on a spiritual journey from the Church of England to become fully a part of the Church in England. This year they are in the midst of their second Advent season in full communion with the Catholic Church. There is no doubt that this journey took extraordinary courage, leaving the security of a known quantity in terms of finance, living accommodation, a place of worship, etc., and trusting entirely to God's providence, that He would look after them. For me, this is putting your money where your mouth is in an unarguable fashion. This Sunday, Fr. Jeff was interviewed on BBC Essex. I think it's well worth listening to his story, there's perspective from parishioners Pat Salmon from Hockley and Sharon O'Ryan from Eastwood as well...

Ordination of priests by the Bishop of Brentwood — with Jeff Woolnough, David Waller and Lee Bennett. Thanks to the Hermeneutic of Continuity , I found this brilliant Ordinariate blog: Father Ed Tomlinson's Blog Well worth a read, much of what is written there is of an extremely high standard, very good indeed and has answers to many of the common questions and criticisms of the Ordinariate. For my part, I cannot state strongly enough how we are blessed to have these brave men and their families join us in the fullness of communion. They are directly and openly living out Jesus call that we might all be one (Jn 17:21) and a shining example of true faith and commitment to each one of us. I am truly humbled. What extraordinary courage it must take to walk away from a job and a home and follow Christ to such an extent that you expose yourself to all kinds of abuse and calumny (Mt 5:11) in order to be truly Catholic. Their journey has involved the difficult step of ack...

Bishop of Brentwood Thomas McMahon with my Son, William, behind. 9th Nov 2012, Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph Catholic Church Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. On Friday night we attended the wonderful celebration of one hundred years since the first post-Reformation Mass was said in Leigh-on-Sea. There was a Catholic Church in Leigh from earliest times. The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions Leigh or Legra as a small fishing village. By the sixteenth century it had developed into a prosperous port probably because of its excellent position on the busy shipping route to London. At the start of the twenty-first century Leigh is a wonderful, busy town, which though much expanded, retains a unique shopping character and much of its charm, thus it attracts many visitors throughout the year. The 1851 census reveals that there were a few Catholics among Leigh's population of 1,360. At the time Leigh would have been part of the Arch-diocese of Westminster. The priest at Sheerness in Kent...