Priests and deacons ... possibly also Seminarians ... I'm pretty sure ... are entitled to be members of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a truly splendid organisation.
Readers who are Catholic clergy formerly in the Church of England will remember the dear old SSC ... Societas Sanctae Crucis ... which we all used to belong to. By the time the C of E fizzled out of meaningful existence a decade or so ago, the SSC had become in some places a rather tired old thing; a few elderly clerics meeting together to complain ...
... and the CCC is what the SSC was in its earlier and truer and vibrant days. There is a real desire to serve the priestly (or diaconal) spirituality of members; good lectures and papers; retreats, pilgrimages. Members are of all ages, with the younger and more orthodox strongly represented.
And, of course, it encompasses the various splendid constituencies of the English Catholic clergy. Cradle Catholic; secular and religious; Ordinariate former Anglican; "Diocesan" former Anglican; the various nationalities. I can only say how much I have gained from my own membership.
The English Confraternity is due to have its Autumn Colloquium at Walsingham, Wednesday-Thursday 15-16 November, with stellar lecturers including Fr John Saward; the Bishop of Paisley, and the Mgr Armitage the Administrator. All three forms of the Roman Rite catered for.
I don't know why anyone should take seriously anything I recommend, but I do recommend at least checking out on the website both Membership, and the Colloquium. Dare I say it, these strange days in the life of the Latin Church make it all the more appropriate that we should meet together to chew the, er, cud.
I'd be very surprised if you came to regret it.
Please give it a thought.
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Dear Father,
I was delighted with your mention of St Paul's Walton Street, with its marvellous statue of OL of Victories. I knew the church well in the early fifties, when I was at Jesus College. I served many a weekday (Latin) Mass there for the curate (later vicar) Fr A.E. Wood. I remember, too, the larger-then-life vicar, Fr Horton. It was all such fun, but it is long ago, and belonged to a C of E that seems to have vanished. I am one of very many who, in the end, climbed aboard the barque of Peter. I could go on about Pusey House, etc., but this is not the place to reminisce!
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