Now is the time to progress to a Servers National Pilgimage say once every 3 years either to Walsingham, Egmanton, or Westminster Abbey.

This may be brought up at the AGM any comments from the bretheren?

Kind regards
Terry Delaney
Server RTD Suffolk

REPLIES

9/2/04 from Eddie Bestwick

Could the Pilgrimages be organised to include servers of the Roman and Orthodox traditions?

Eddie Bestwick  

21/2/04 from Eddie Bestwick

The Archconfraternity of St Stephen, the Roman Catholic servers guild, celebrates its Centenary in 2005 with events nationally including a pilgrimage to Walsingham in May of that year. What an opportunity for all servers to join in celebration! Will our Guild take it up with the Archconfraternity? There were 1400 servers in Westminster Cathedral recently .. what a witness it would be to have say 2000 servers in pilgrimage at Walsingham!

Eddie Bestwick   

25/2/04 from Richard Hawker

There is a slight problem with all this ecumenicism, particularly with Rome. Those who know me will tell you that I am as about a Rome-wards facing as you can get, but I still have my reservations about joint server's events with Rome. If, for example, we were to attend The Guild of St. Stephen's (also abbreviated to GSS, hmm...), we would not be able to receive at the Mass, due to Rome's very strict ruling on the matter (we are Protestants to them, after all!), also, I find that RC servers can be very hostile towards us Anglicans. I will illustrate: A little while ago, I was at an old Rite (i.e. pre- 1960's rite) Mass, I knew the Celebrant reasonably well, and, seeing that there was to be no server, I offered my services, which he accepted, and I apparently did a very fine job. However, I got to hear through various sources, that the Congregation was none to happy about Mass being served by a Protestant, although that Protestant has served the RC Diocesan Bishop, him knowing full well that I was Anglican, and he did not complain (in fact he was very impressed, but then, Anglican servers have always been slightly better trained, I think!), and I can also find nothing in RC Canon Law saying that I may not serve. But the RC has never had much time for Anglicans. 
I would always encourage any attempt towards unity, but although the Vatican is starting to ease up on the matter of us Anglicans, the Irish Catholic mentality of hostility towards non-Romans is still very strong. 
PAX 
Richard Hawker            

25/9/04 

Why should there be a problem? I have attend services in the catholic church with non Catholics from other churches in my area, we prayer together and sing together. We don't have communion together but we are still together in one place. 

29/9/04 Jeremy Wood

Yes I think the time has come to have a Servers national pilgrimage, I think it is an excellent idea, perhaps we could join in with our Roman friends sometime.in the future

I would like this to be put forward as a proposal at next years AGM.

Jeremy Wood
Chapter Secretary: St Werburgh,Stockport & District