A building plot not a building

Yesterday, with brother priests of the Ordinariate, I was in London for a plenary session being held at St. Patrick’s Soho Square. The day began with an excellent report from Fr. Lashbroook on how the Ordinariate is developing four years into the project. This report, put together by a team of experienced clergy,  will soon be made public. It is crammed full of insights and helpful suggestions on how we continue to move forward into the future. A kind of “where we are now/where we need to go” document.

As the report was discussed one of the compilers, Fr. Waller, made a most sensible comment to keep feet on the ground. In his experience people too often look at the Ordinariate, from within and without, naively expecting to find a finished product. This can lead to false expectation or harsh judgement because we are not the finished article. Far from it- we are only now beginning to create what the Ordinariare is to become and it will take a life time to achieve. The analogy he used being that Pope Benedict handed us -not a “building to move into”- but “a plot of land with permission to build.”

This chimes with what I often say to people. Nobody looks at a baby and demands to know what they do for a living! Why then do we look at the Ordinariate, just four years old, and expect it to be as vibrant and vigorous as established dioceses that are centuries old? Rather we should look at it as a movement in its infancy whose true potential and power is yet to be fully realised. And, like all young things, what it needs in our day is protection, support and nurture. The things we can all do to help it continue on its way.

That has certainly been the story here in Pembury where, from truly humble beginnings, we are now seeing the fruit of our labours. Exciting things are happening within the Ordinariate. There are wonderful signs of hope for the future. But we also have many hurdles yet to overcome and things to accomplish. Please continue to pray for us. That we might fulfil our mandate.