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An Unexpected Joy by Sr Etheldreda
Srs Etheldreda (left) and Mary Bernadette
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An Unexpected Joy When the visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the British Isles was announced, my first thought was, ‘ I will not be able to go and celebrate with him as I am unable to walk long distances’. When His Holiness Pope John Paul II came here in 1982 I was in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire and we went by coach to Coventry Airport where he celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation. When we alighted from the coach on the motorway we had to walk at least two miles along the closed motorway to the airport. Early in July this year, I had a telephone call from Sr Mary Bernadette, who lives in Worksop , to tell me that Bishop John Rawsthorne had given her two tickets for the Pontifical High Mass in Westminster Cathedral on 18th September 2010. Sister did not know to whom she should give them. As the leader of the Hallam Religious I suggested she should have one and to put the Sister’s names in a ‘hat’ and draw one out. The other members of the core group agreed with this suggestion. Sr Catherine’s name (Chesterfield) was drawn out and when she was phoned she replied that she would be in Poland at their General Chapter at the time of the pope’s visit. Another name was drawn out, Sr Etheldreda (Goldthorpe). I received a telephone call asking me if I wished to attend this Mass. My immediate reply was ‘Yes!’, without any hesitation. Would I be able for the journey by Underground? Yes I travel on trains and underground when I am on holiday visiting my family. Sr Mary Bernadette said she would drive to their mother house in Chigwell and book rooms for us. All I had to do was go to Worksop. That night I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. When I suggested putting the names in a ‘hat’ I hoped that my name would come out but did not say anything.A few days later I received the official invitation from the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales to which I had to reply before 12th August. This I did with the assurance that an individual security entrance pass would be sent in September. The provision of two forms of identification, one with a photograph, would be necessary on the day. The entry card arrived as promised. There were a few stumbling blocks on the pilgrimage to Westminster Cathedral. On 1st September while coming downstairs I damaged a muscle in the lower part of my left leg. I was determined that this was not going to prevent me from attending the Pontifical Mass. At last 17th September arrived. We had an uneventful journey to Chigwell and were welcomed by the Sisters there. After a good night’s sleep I arose at 5.15 a m and had breakfast and packed my case. We planned to go to Woodford station and catch the Central Line to Mile End where we would change onto the District Line to Victoria. The train was crowded and just before we got to Mile End Station they announced that there were no District or Circle Line trains running because of engineering works. Sr Mary Bernadette and I looked at one another and wondered what we were going to do as we did not know how to get to Victoria. Sitting facing us there was a gentleman who said ‘Go to Oxford Circus and get the Jubilee Line to Victoria’. The Lord certainly put him there for us. He also got off the train at Oxford Circus and accompanied us as he was also going to Westminster Cathedral. He had worked there and his children had been educated in the Choir School. We arrived and went through the security checks and were directed to our numbered seats .At 9.30 a m Lauds was sung which created a prayerful atmosphere. Outside the cathedral there were two thousand children and suddenly we heard cheering. We knew that Pope Benedict was on his way! The singing of the Mass parts was heavenly. The atmosphere throughout the Mass was so silent and peaceful. In his homily the pope apologised for the abuse scandal and spoke about the Precious Blood and suffering. What struck me was that several times he mentioned that he was there as the Successor of St Peter and this has helped me to appreciate the Mass more fully since then. After Mass he proceeded to the young people outside and this was shown to us on internal screens. Then he returned by the side aisle to bless the new mosaic of St David before he spoke to the people of Wales. There is also a mosaic of Blessed John Henry Newman in the cathedral. About 12.30 we emerged from the cathedral, had some refreshments and made our return journey. It was the end of a wonderful day!
Photographs.
Westminster Cathedral Preparations inside the Cathedral
The Sanctuary Pope Benedict coming down the central aisle after Mass
after speaking to the young people The Mosaic of St David
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