Ordinations to the Sacred Priesthood

Please pray for Rev David Lashbrooke , Rev John Greatbatch , Rev Ian Hellyer , Rev Simon Chinery , Rev Robin Ellis , Rev Mike Cain , Rev Colin Furness to be ordained priest in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Also pray for Rev Win Fish to be ordained priest on the same occasion to serve in the Diocese of Plymouth.

We are very grateful to Bishop Christopher Budd who graciously consented to ordain us during what was already a very busy period in his diary. We are also very grateful for his generosity towards us in providing housing, and offering us appointments in the diocese.

We thank Monsignor Keith Newton for his example and fatherly care.

We give thanks to the Holy Father for the trust he has placed in us through the provision of the Apostolic Constitution. God give him strength and protection.

We also give thanks to our wives, families and parishioners who have shown much forebearance in the last few months especially.

Above all we give thanks to our Saviour Jesus Christ for His grace poured upon us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Mike's Diaconal Ordination

Last Monday, we rejoiced together as we gathered for the ordination of our beloved brother, Mike Cain, at the parish church of St Gregory, Salisbury. Bishop Declan welcomed us very warmly. Mike's ordination had been delayed due to the paperwork so he hadn't been able to be ordained with the rest of us back in May. God willing we shall all be ordained together on Friday 17th June at Plymouth Cathedral. We pray for God's blessing on Mike in his ministry and his wife, Wendy.

We also had the chance of a photo of the southwest ordinariate clergy with the Ordinary, Monsignor Newton. The retired clergy were not able to be present.

Hail the day that sees Him rise, alleluia!

In the homily today Fr Gabriel reminded us that while it might seem that the Ascension is the reverse feast of Christmas, this in fact is not the case. This seems to supported by the spatial symbolism we often use; that Christ came down to us in His Incarnation, and in His Ascension He returned whence He had come. Fr Gabriel said that this was not the case at all - in fact it was more complicated, but we should not be put off by the complication. Christianity reveals things to us that requires us to stretch our minds. He said that if it does not stretch us it is very likely not Christianity. The first thing to grasp is that Christ did not return as He came. The second thing is that the incarnation was not undone by the ascension. The crucial thing for us to appreciate as we celebrate the Ascension was that Jesus Christ, God made man, was at the right hand of the Father. Christ brings His humanity to God's right hand. He is God's right hand man, if you like. Thus the Ascension is a time for joy not sorrow, because otherwise we would be mourning our loss of Christ. Instead we celebrate the elevation of our humanity to the very godhead, and because of this Christ is present to us through the Holy Spirit. He is really, truly, personally present to each and every one of us. Alleluia!

Following our mass today there was so much female veneration of our newborn, Rose, that I forgot to check the developments in the pond - please forgive.

I ask you to especially remember seven of us in your prayers who are to be ordained priest by the Bishop of Plymouth, on Friday 17th June at 7pm, at Plymouth Cathedral.
David Lashbrooke, Ian Hellyer, John Greatbatch, Colin Furness, Robin Ellis, Simon Chinery, and Michael Cain.