A wonderful evening...

...launching the "Newman week" at the Ordinariate church at London Bridge. I think Pope Emeritus Benedict would be pleased and moved to see how things have developed here: a new shrine of Blessed John Henry Newman is being established at this church and a copy of the beautiful Millais portrait arrived and was unpacked today. The week of celebrations was launched with a lecture by Dr Andrew Nash...and he did a superb job. I am allowed to say that even though he is my brother: he really was simply terrific, a magnificent lecture giving the great sweep of Newman's life and work, beautifully illustrated with sketches and photographs on a screen set up in the church.  The lecture was accompanied by an excellent display about Newman, produced by the Communion and Liberation Movement from Oxford. This welcomed people as they arrived at the church, and they were also greeted with a glass of champagne...it really was a splendid evening.  After the lecture, refreshments were served in the Rectory. It was a grand day, and a success for the Ladies Ordinariate Group, members of which worked hard with the parish priest Fr Christopher Pearson, to make it all happen...