September 22-29, 2007

Led by Archbishop John Myers of Newark, Ecclesiastical Delegate of the Pastoral Provision

Joined by  Bishop Kevin Vann of Ft. Worth, Monsignor Stetson, Secretary of the Pastoral Provision and newly relocated to Houston,
Fr. Bruce Noble from Houston, Deacon James Barnett of Houston, Fr. Eric Bergman of Scranton,  Fr. Jean Hart of Corpus Christi,
Fr. Jim Evans of Austin, Fr. Ed Scott of Scranton, Fr. Frank Skitzki of Scranton
with 40 other pilgrims traveling from Houston, Austin, Scranton, Boston, Washington, DC and Nova Scotia, Canada
( Fr. Phillips of San Antonio with 60 of his parishioners including members of his school choir joined us in the liturgies on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)

Sunday Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Myers at Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. Weekday Masses were celebrated by Fr. Bruce Noble at
The Venerable English College, Fr. Bergman at The Pontifical North American College, Bishop Vann at St. John Lateran,
Fr. Phillips at The Church of St. Susanna, the American Catholic Church of Rome,
Bishop Amato at The Basilica of St. Peter (Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament) with all priests concelebrating at  the Masses
We especially enjoyed Choral Evensong at The Papal Basilica St. Maria Maggiore with Cardinal Law officiating.

Special thanks to Fr. James Sheehan for making the necessary arrangements with the liturgies in Rome
and to Taylor Marshall who helped make the initial arrangements for the Pilgrimage from the Pastoral Provision Office.

In thanksgiving for the Pastoral Provision of the Servant of God Pope John Paul II 

In gratitude for the priestly vocations and the Common Identity congregations and personal parishes graciously occasioned by the Pastoral Provision

In celebration of the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite and the Book of Divine Worship

In loyalty to the Supreme Pontiff and the Apostolic See of Rome

In supplication of the graces of faithfulness and fruitfulness that the gift of the Pastoral Provision may continue to build up the Body of Christ
reconciling all the spiritual children of St. Augustine of Canterbury in One Fold and under One Shepherd

"To go in a spirit of prayer from one place to another, from one city to another, especially in pilgrimage to holy places and venerable shrines, helps us not only to live our life as a journey, but also gives us a vivid sense of a God who has gone before us and leads us on, who himself set out on man’s path, a God who does not look down on us from on high, but who became our traveling companion. I say it to everyone:  let us set out in the footsteps of Christ!

                                                                                                                                             --Pope John Paul II, Letter Concerning Pilgrimage, 29 June 1999

A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken from a religious motive to the honor and glory of God, in the supplication of particular graces, and to seek the special intercession of the saint or saints to whose sanctuary the visit is made.  It is not to be undertaken as a pious 'outing,' but as a definite religious act.  It is typical of our journey through life to the heavenly Jerusalem.  A pilgrimage may be offered for the intentions of penance, reparation, or thanksgiving, in fulfillment of a vow, or with intercession for some benefit, spiritual or temporal.  Insofar as they can, pilgrims should adopt for their journey a definite rule of prayer, discipline, and devotion, befitting their station and season of life.

As we visited the holy places and sanctuaries of Rome, we dedicated ourselves to prayer for our own personal intentions
 and also for the shared intentions that called us together and sent us forth as pilgrims:

§      For our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and his good governance of the Church.

§      For the Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark and the Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision.

§      For the Rev'd. Father William H. Stetson, Secretary to the Ecclesiastical Delegate. (since the Pilgrimage honored with the title of Monsignor)

§      For all priests and deacons ordained under the auspices of the Pastoral Provision.

§      For the parishes and congregations formed under the Pastoral Provision and for their pastors and chaplains.

§      For the growth of the Pastoral Provision and for the Anglican heritage in the Catholic Church.

§      For the conversion of Anglicans and their reconciliation with the Church

§      For vocations to the priesthood and religious life from those formed in the Anglican tradition.

§      For the establishment of Anglican Use parishes and religious communities and for the provision of juridical structures suited to their peace and prosperity

§      For the ongoing conversion and sanctification of the English-speaking peoples

§      For blessings on our diocesan communities, parishes, homes, schools, and families

O HOLY GHOST the Lord, who on Pentecost gavest the Church the gift of tongues that Christ might be known, loved and served by peoples of divers nations and customs: watch over the Anglican heritage within thy Church, we pray thee, that, led by thy guidance and strengthened by thy grace, that Use may find such favor in thy sight that its people may increase both in holiness and number, and so show forth thy glory; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Son, one God, world without end.  Amen.

REFLECTIONS FROM FR. BRUCE NOBLE,

Reflections on Rome

It is said that:
    A tourist comes to see what there is to see.
    A pilgrim comes to see what is there, and yet what will take him elsewhere.

This was certainly true of the Pastoral Provision Pilgrimage, organized for the Church of the Anglican Use, recently held in Rome.  The experience was a transcending one for each and every one of us.  To the leading question “What was the most significant thing about this pilgrimage? a first timer answered

          Why, St. Peter’s Basilica, of course --    
          the whole concept of the place.

We talked about its size and grandeur, the fine finish of marble and bronze, the proportion of the building, the tombs of the Popes, the many shrines and sacred spaces.  However, what the personal experience of such a place conveyed to a fellow pilgrim was that, despite its mammoth size, it was so accommodating as to make one feel personally at home.  It has been my experience, whether in the first circle of chairs under the dome, or maybe beside (or even behind) one of those huge pillars, you still feel part of what is going on.  It is a tribute to the universal character of the Roman Church that so many people can be included, in a genuine inclusivity.  The encircling arms of the Bernini colonnade reach out to the city and the world.

The Square of St. Peter’s (so called despite the fact that it is round and all- embracing) was the scene for the Papal Audience on Wednesday.  When it came to the time of presenting the groups of pilgrims from all over the world, the list went on and on, punctuated with loud cheers from the various segments of the crowd.  The whole of St. Peter’s Square was filled with people for the occasion. 

The Holy Father looked very well at close-up range, where our Pastoral Provision pilgrims were right alongside the dais, way up front.  As we waited, the blue sky became sufficiently overcast to be comfortable, and a light breeze and momentary sprinkle cooled things off a bit for a Roman summer. 

When the Pope had finished his teaching on St. John Chrysostom, the time came for him to visit with those standing on the same level.  He rose from his throne under the canopy and circulated to the right, where our group of Pastoral Provision people had been assigned the closest proximity to the Pope.  Our members can relate their experience of seeing and touching the Pope at close quarters.

For the priests of Anglican Use parishes there was reserved an additional privilege – to be placed within the papal enclosure itself, so that His Holiness could walk right up to us and greet us personally.  This is as close to a private audience as mere priests can get (unless you are a foreign diplomat or Head of State).  A formal presentation took place, led by Archbishop John Myers, our Apostolic Delegate, and Bishop Vann of Fort Worth.  The conversation between the Pastoral Provision and the Papacy was enunciated by Father Stetson, on behalf of Fr. Noble, Fr. Hawkins, and Fr. Philips (all of Texas).

Those of you who heard the announcement on the following Sunday of return, September 30, at both Masses will recall the kairos (kairos) moment, conveyed to the Holy Father that a certain Episcopal bishop had just “come across,” and that there were others in process.

Fr. Stetson, deliverer of that message, has since been made a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, involving the honorific title of Monsignor.  It so happens that the same good Monsignor will from this day when he first received the title, be present among us at Walsingham.  He is in process of moving into the office space which the Deacon is sharing with him on the upper level of the tower.  It’s all a matter of taking up the “title deeds” of the Pastoral Provision for which he functions as Secretary in our midst.

Pray that this place may facilitate the transition of many Anglican bishops, priests, and deacons, and Episcopalian laity into the safe haven and bastion of the Catholic Church. 

Plans are afoot for two conjoined events:

A Roman reunion for all pilgrims on the Saturday prior, and
A Show and Tell presentation for all parishioners after Sunday Solemn Mass on October 14, 2007.

-    Fr. Bruce Noble, 9 October, 2007