Ordinariate – Communio

Being a Catholic Priest–and Married, salient reflections….

A dear friend of mine, Father Richard Cipolla published an article today in the Wall Street Journal on what it means for a faithful Christian to belong to Christ faithfully, moving from an Episcopal Church to full communion with the Catholic Church and being a married Catholic priest. The life of sacrifice and joy is clear in Cipolla’s story. For me, it is a testament of grace to know Father Richard and his wife, Cathy, and to have met his children. Wouldn’t be good if all the clergy could say that with conviction and love. Last week Father Richard celebrated his anniversary of ordination to the Catholic priesthood on January 28 in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Let us pray for him and Holy Mother Church.

The WSJ article follows:

Being a Catholic Priest–and Married

The pope has created a new diocese for bringing Episcopalians into the church.

By Richard Cipolla

Last month, Pope Benedict announced the formation of an American “ordinariate,” or special diocese for Episcopal congregations that want to move to Roman Catholicism (driven largely by Episcopalianism’s liberal drift). These congregations, the pope ruled, could keep some of their Anglican liturgy. More significantly, a small but sizable number of married Episcopal priests will now become married Catholic priests.

As a married Catholic priest ordained in 1984 under a special provision set forth by Pope John Paul II (for individual priests, judged on an individual basis), I have closely followed Pope Benedict’s announcement. I rejoice in this catholic and generous gesture by the pope and am overjoyed that these priests and their families will be welcomed into the Catholic Church. But that is not to say it won’t bring its own share of challenges.

My experience as a married Catholic priest for 28 years brings to mind several thoughts, both practical and spiritual. First, the church must support new priests’ families financially. During my first years as a married Catholic priest, there were times when we could not pay the heating bill. When I was ordained, it was made quite clear to me that I should not look to the church as my main source of income but rather to a full-time job outside of the church. My parish duties have thus always been secondary.

Continue reading Being a Catholic Priest–and Married, salient reflections….

Anglican Ordinariate For U.S, To Be Established January 1; Bishop Kevin Vann, Delegate

At the general assembly of the US Bishops today, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, DC, announced the Vatican appointment of Bishop Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Fort Worth Texas, to be the Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision (in effect since 1981). Vann succeeds Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark. Vann will oversee the the formation and admittance of former Anglican clergy to the Roman Church. He will work closely with Cardinal Wuerl who has oversight of the temporary church structure of the Anglican Ordinariate in the USA.

Bishop Vann writes about the work on his blog.

January 1, 2012 is the date slated for the establishment of the new American, Personal Ordinariate for former Anglican Clergy and people coming into full communion with the Rome Church. The official name of the Ordinariate has not been announced.

You may be interested in “Anglicanorum Coetibus: Questions and Answers.” It is quite helpful in terms of defining meaning, significance and timeline of events.

I’ve known Bishop Vann for some time and he’s an excellent choice for the good shepherd who will help the former Anglican clergy.

Fr Keith Newton introduced as new head of Ordinariate

Saturday, January 15th not only saw the ordination of three former Anglican bishops as Roman Catholic Priests, but also one of them, Father Keith Newton, was appointed by the Holy See as the first Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Father Keith Newton’s press conference is heard here.

The Ordinariate on wiki

Vincent Nichols’ homily at the ordination of former Anglicans

Many ordinations
have taken place in this Cathedral during the 100 years of its history. But
none quite like this. Today is a unique occasion marking a new step in the life
and history of the Catholic Church. This morning the establishment of the first
Personal Ordinariate under the provision of the Apostolic Constitution
‘Anglicanorum Coetibus‘ has been announced in our hearing. So I too salute John
Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton who are to be the first priests of
the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. In particular I offer my prayers and
best wishes to Keith, chosen by the Holy Father to be its first Ordinary.

Continue reading Vincent Nichols’ homily at the ordination of former Anglicans

Cardinal Levada’s letter read at Westminster Cathedral

My Dear Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,

The Ordination to the Priesthood of our three friends,
Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton, is an occasion of great joy
both for them and for the wider Church. I had very much wished to be present
with you in Westminster Cathedral today in order to demonstrate my own personal
support for them as they make this important step. Unfortunately, however, a
long standing commitment of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to
meet with the Bishops and theologians of India in Bangalore has meant that I am
unable to be in London today. I am very happy, therefore, to have the
opportunity of sending this message and am grateful to Archbishop Nichols for
agreeing to represent me and for his willingness to deliver my best wishes.

Continue reading Cardinal Levada’s letter read at Westminster Cathedral

Keith Newton, priest, statement

I am humbled to
have been appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as the first
Ordinary for the Personal Ordinariate to be erected in Great Britain under the
provisions set out in the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus. This is
not an honour I have sought or expected but I pray that God will give me the
wisdom and grace to live up to the trust the Holy Father has placed in me.

My
wife and family have been a great support to me throughout my ministry and I
know they will continue to do so. I am delighted that Gill was received with me
into the full communion of the Catholic Church at Westminster Cathedral on 1
January 2011.

Continue reading Keith Newton, priest, statement

Benedict creates new Ordinariate for Anglicans in the UK

With the priestly ordination of John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton, the Pope has created the official structure to welcome Anglicans who want to be Catholic. The Mass and Rites of Ordination today in Westminster Cathedral was very well attended as the historic moment was formally announced by Archbishop Vincent Nichols reading the CDF letter inaugurating the Ordinariate was greeted with great enthusiasm. The whole work was placed under the patronage of the newly beatified Blessed John Henry Newman.

The newly ordained Father Keith Newton, 59, is the first Ordinary for Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales. Newton will be assisted by the Broadhurst and Burnham for catechetical matters. Others will be ordained to the Order of Deacon at Eastertide and then priested at Pentecost.

Faith matters; the true faith revealed by the Trinity and lived in the fullness of the Catholic Church. People point to the displeasure of some over the leadership of gay clergy and women’s ordination as the point of departure for these Anglicans but there are far more serious issues that would make me “jump ship” like the voting on theological facts, the objectivity of truth and faith, life issues, and principles of communion which are both vertical and horizontal.

Here is Anna Arco’s story in the Catholic Herald: “Priests ordained to the world’s first ordinariate.”

The Holy See’s statement on the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales

Possible parishes in a proposed Ordinariate for Anglicans in the US & Canada

You gotta love Google Maps … proposed parishes of the Anglican Ordinariate

Shane Schaetzel put together a map of proposed parishes that may be in a ecclesiastical jurisdiction for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church. A lot of work went into developing this fine resource and we’re grateful.

Cardinals to pray & discuss about Dominus Iesus, sex abuse, Ordinariate for Anglicans wishing to be Catholic

Anna Arco’s article online at the Catholic Herald (of the UK fame) reports that before the consistory of cardinals on November 20, during which the Pope will create 24 new cardinals there will be prayer, reflection and conversation about a number of things but three key topics will be the 10th anniversary of Dominus Iesus, sex abuse crisis and the Ordinariate for Anglicans who desire to enter into full communion the Catholic Church. Other issues to be discussed, but no less crucial to the life of the Church, are religious liberty and the sacred Liturgy.

Read Arco’s article, “Cardinals to discuss Church reactions to sexual abuse and the Ordinariate.” Don’t make the connection between the two issues. There’s no connection.

5 “distressed” bishops moving to full communion with Rome

The Boston Globe ran a story today, “UK Catholics say 5 Anglican bishops converting,” emphasing these 5 as disaffected, distressed, defectors for political reasons: homosexually inclined and female clergy. It could be, however, that these 5 desire to follow Christ in the true Church he founded, and the bishops acknowledge this fact. Of course, one never knows what the exact back story really is because the information is filtered through many layers before the print media goes to print. The statement of the five bishops can be read here and if you are interested in the Forward in Faith groups, see their website.

The bishops, and for any baptized Christian “moving” to become Catholic are said to be coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. They are not converting. This point is made briefly in the article but it seems to obscured by the author because of the particular situation. The Anglicans are Christian; they have converted to Christ; they pray the Lord’s Prayer; Anglicans have a spiritual life. What they are doing by becoming Catholic is following the promptings of the Holy Spirit to live in the truth of unity with the Bishop of Rome.

The 5 Anglican bishops are: Bishops Andrew Burnham, Keith Newton, John Broadhurst, Edwin Barnes and David Silk.

My hope is that the 5 bishops “pope” but that they do so for the right reason and not because of they truly are disgruntled with Anglicanism. Rome doesn’t need more disgruntled Catholics. Are they following Christ and the guided companionship of the Church or their own moral compass?