Anglican Use Conference: Day One Mid-day Report
This morning, in the reverberant crypt chapel beneath the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, more than a hundred Catholic and Anglican voices rang out in the words of the General Thanksgiving as the annual Anglican Use Conference began with Morning Prayer according to the Book of Divine Worship.
Following Morning Prayer, and before leaving the crypt chapel, the conferees were greeted by our host, the Most Reverend John Myers, Archbishop of Newark and Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision. Invoking the words of our Lord Jesus in John 17 “that they all may be one,” the Archbishop wished us well in our work. We will see our host again at 5:00 pm for the Solemn High Mass at the high altar of the magnificent basilica which the Archbishop quite rightly called a “great work of art.”
Morning sessions were held in the auditorium of the Archdiocesan offices across the street from the Cathedral, and conferees will shortly reconvene for a lunch program. A more detailed report will be posted as time permits, but so far the meeting is characterized by great good will and cheerful collaboration.
About Ralph Johnston
Mr. Johnston has been a member of the Anglican Use parish of Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio, TX since 2004. Formerly a museum director, he now serves as headmaster of The Atonement Academy, the PK-12 parish school of Our Lady of the Atonement, and, to date, the only school in the Pastoral Provision and future Ordinariate community. Like many other cradle Catholics worshiping in Pastoral Provision congregations, he has developed an attachment to the Anglican forms of devotion. He has attended Anglican Use Conferences in prior years and is a member of the Anglican Use Society.
In Rome with an Atonement pilgrimage group when Anglicanorum Coetibus was published, he was the first individual to file a petition with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to establish an Ordinariate for the United States under the Apostolic Constitution. He was a contributor at the Anglicanorum Coetibus Information Day in San Antonio on December 12 of last year, and he has followed recent events closely. Mr. Johnston holds an MPPM from Yale University and a Certificate in Catholic School Leadership from the University of Dallas.
Too bad there aren't some good live bloggers there who are handy with their thumbs.
I'm dying for more news of this as well as the Missouri Synod.
Deborah,
Steve Cavenaugh has some pictures on his site (http://anglicanusenews.blogspot.com/). I was somewhat surprised, and very pleased, to see that Archbishop Hepworth is there.
Cordially,
Chuck W.
I've spoken with Mr. Johnston, and he'll be posting a more complete report later this evening. He's having to serve as M.C. for the Conference, which keeps him pretty busy.
Meanwhile, there are a few pictures, although minimal text, over at the Anglican Use news blog: http://anglicanusenews.blogspot.com/
You'll see Archbishop Hepworth and Archbishop Falk in one of the pictures.
Bps. David Moyer and Carl Reid are there as well. Are any other TAC bishops about?
It's great to see Bishop Carl Reid and the other TAC bishops at the Anglican Use conference. “That they all may be one” indeed.
I've just put up a few more pictures on the AU News site referenced above, from todays solemn high Mass at the Basilica. There are lots more pictures to post, and Ralph has posted, of course, a much more in depth posting on this afternoon's talks.
We will also be posting the papers delivered at the conference, hopefully within a week or so of the conference.
But it's near 11 and morning cometh!