A MESSAGE FROM FR MICHAEL RUFF

 November  2009

My dear friends,

At the end of October most of us were surprised by Pope Benedict XV1’s offer to traditionalists in our Church to be received into the Roman Catholic Church under some kind of special arrangement whereby Anglican forms of liturgy and spirituality would be respected and maintained.  In spite of some misgivings about the way in which this was done most people saw this as a generous offer by the Pope towards those who for many years have been seeking reconciliation with the Holy See in a way that does not require them to completely abandon their Anglican heritage.  It is interesting to note that both Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor have pointed out that this particular offer does not affect the longer term aim of unity between our two Churches.

How has the initiative been received?  The Traditional Anglican Communion has already responded favourably and is seeking to move forward.  In the Church of England most traditionalists are pondering the details of the Apostolic Constitution that has now been published.  I found myself agreeing with some words of the Bishop of Beverley, the Rt Revd Martyn Jarrett, who spoke of the three main groups for whom he has to care, “those who felt no choice but to enter into communion with the Holy Father; those for whom such a move would create theological difficulties perhaps as large as those they had with the prospect of women bishops; and those who still believed that there could be some theological integrity in remaining members of the Church of England.”  It is clear from Bishop Martyn’s words that not all Anglo Catholics will want to take up this offer.

There will be traditionalists of all shades of opinion in our two congregations together with those who are much more relaxed about present developments in our Church and throughout the Anglican Communion.  It remains my hope that the Bishops and General Synod will find a way forward that enables us all to stay together.

All best wishes

Michael Ruff  

NEWS

In the summer a small group from the Diocesan Advisory Committee visited St Mary’s to view our new Stations of the Cross.  The view expressed then, which later appeared in a written report, was that the Stations were not appropriate for our Church.  The PCC considered this Report at the end of September and decided to start looking for another set of Stations in consultation with the DAC.

On Monday 1^st June we celebrated our Patronal Festival with a High Mass in the evening at which the Parish Priest of St Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, Fr Stephen Dye, preached.  We were very pleased to welcome him to St Mary’s.

The third Schools’ Day, organised by Churches Together in Stamford, took place on Wednesday 24^th June.  Groups of Primary School children visited St Mary’s for various workshops during the course of the day and our thanks go to Margaret Gobbett, Georgie Goldsmith and Bernadette Robb for supervising their activities.

Another Chant workshop was held in Church on Saturday 26^th September organised by Stephen Johnston and Helen Drake. Some of those who participated formed part of the choir that sung at the High Mass on All Souls’ Day, Monday 2^nd November.

Tuesday 29 th September was the Feast of St Michael and All Angels and at the evening High Mass we were pleased to welcome as our preacher the Revd Bob Mackrill, the new Rural Dean of Stamford.

Sunday 4 th October saw another very successful Harvest Lunch at Tinwell Village Hall.  Our thanks go to Jill and Sarah Dickson for organising everything and to all those who provided the delicious food.

The final fundraising event of the year will be the Opera Gala on Saturday 28^th November.  You may wish to note that on Saturday 2^nd January there will be a concert , organised by Fergus Black, to celebrate the tercentenary of Pergolesi’s birth.

Occasional Offices:

Baptisms: Lucy Sue Kendik was baptised during High Mass on Sunday 26^th April and George Owen Davies on Sunday 6^th September.

Weddings: Paschal McGuire and Rosie Alabaster were married on Saturday 12^th September and Andrew Walshaw and Aimee Ambrose on Friday 6^th November.