....of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was chief celebrant at a Mass at Westminster Cathedral this morning - and made history. This was the first time that an Archbishop has concelebrated Mass in the Ordinariate Form in the great Cathedral of our capital city, with Ordinariate priests from across Britain, and a great gathering of the faithful And it was glorious. We heard and saw and sang the much discussed "Anglican patrimony", now brought into the Catholic Church, and there was a sense of joy and rightness about it.
This was a full day - in the morning Ordinariate groups gathered in conference in the Cathedral Hall, with speakers tackling a range of subjects...mission, finance, World Youth Day....while children were given a special tour of the Cathedral led by Father Paul Burch from Coventry, and we at the LOGS group were kept busy serving freshly-brewed coffee and tea....
After Mass and lunch Archbishop DiNoia spoke - extremely well - about the whole concept of Anglican patrimony, unity and communion within the Church, and the future. He noted how - as always happens - things evolve and happen in different ways from those planned or expected, and how all this occurs within the scope of the Church...
We were given an opportunity to see the development of the Ordinariate in the context of the vision for unity given at the Second Vatican Council, and to recognise its importance in a new way.
Yesterday evening the conference began with an inspiring talk by Fr Gerald Sheehan, of Opus Dei, at Precious Blood Church at London Bridge, followed by a reception. The numbers were far too large for the Parish room, so we were in the church itself, with wine and (delicious) food served in the narthex. Fr Sheehan's talk set the tone for the whole conference weekend - seeing the Church as a communion, and what this should mean for all its members and the way we work with and for one another...
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2 comments:
I happened to be in London yesterday and visited the Cathedral where I found this Mass being celebrated. I was astonished and delighted to see that the Mass was being celebrated ad orientem (I was only present towards the end so do not know about the orientation of the entire Mass) and did not know at first that this was an Ordinariate Mass. I wondered at first if this was going to be a permanent orientation in the Cathedral as of old. It is quite disconcerting to see the disembodied heads at the other side of the altar there when Mass is said facing the people. From a distance it can look even comical.
I understand that nowhere in the Vatican II documents was it stated that Mass must henceforth be celebrated towards the people. I rarely attend Mass now facing the people as my parish now has all celebrations ad orientem whether in the EF or the NO. It makes so much more sense for the Priest to pray with his people towards God than to face us.
I do hope the Ordinariate Priests influence the rest of the Church in returning to ad orientem.
I didn't attend the conference but was at Mass and found the Archbishop's homily extremely powerful. I continue to keep the Ordinariate and its mission in my prayers.
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