Here's some wonderful news of developments in Australia, reported in Christian Today:
At a recent meeting in Melbourne convened by Catholic Bishop Peter Elliott, Episcopal Delegate for the Ordinariate, and Traditional Anglican Archbishop and Primate John Hepworth, the Australian Ordinariate Implementation Committee was formed.
This ground breaking and historic initiative was unanimously agreed to by a working party including clergy of the Anglican Church of Australia and official representatives of the Traditional Anglican Communion in Australia. They resolved to work closely together to bring to fruition their shared desire to be in full communion with the Catholic Church through the Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus of Pope Benedict XVI.
“I was heartened and moved by the spirit of good will and cooperation at the meeting which represented the major Anglican groups.” said Bishop Elliott. “This convergence of heart and mind opens the way for establishing an Ordinariate in Australia next year. There is every reason to be optimistic that our goal for unity will soon be achieved.”
Archbishop Hepworth said, ”The long years in which we have had conversations with the Holy See and with other Anglican groups, which the Holy Father recognized in creating Anglican Ordinariates, will now become a reality. The Australian Ordinariate will exist in a matter of months. I urge Anglican clergy and people to consider with seriousness this unique offer of the Holy Father.”
A national gathering open to interested Anglicans and Catholics will be held in St Stephen’s College, Coomera, Queensland, 1-3 February next year. Details of the gathering may be found at www.friendsoftheanglicanordinariate.com and www.themessenger.com.au.
I received confirmation from Bishop Peter Elliott that this is information is accurate, and he asks for prayers from all of us for the successful implementation of Anglicanorum coetibus in Australia.
Related posts:
This is the best news in months! In months! Can Canada be far behind?
Deborah
On the Melbourne Archdiocese's website the headline is:
Australian Ordinariate: Giant Step Forward
http://www.cam.org.au/news/australian-ordinariate-giant-step-forward.html
Your prayers are asked for Archbishop Collins this weekend as the Canadian ordinariate is considered and a way forward discerned.
Blessed John H. Newman, ora pro nobis.
Our Lady of Walsingham, Our Lady of Hope, ora pro nobis.
This is a quotation of Archbishop Hepworth from "The Australian":
"Priests in Australia’s new Anglican Ordinariate will celebrate mass facing east, away from their congregations, using 500-year old liturgies."
Well, he's certainly not referring to the Novus Ordo, thank God and all things good. He is also not referring to the T.L.M. Under current law, that leaves the 1983 Book of Divine Worship, with its N.O. Offertory in non-liturgical English. He could mean that on the grounds that it is based on "500 year old liturgies". But if you take his words more literally, he might mean the English Missal (essentially the T.L.M. in sacral English). However, that would not preserve an Anglican patrimony where it counts the most.
But there are two other possibilties. One is that he is referring to an agreement to use the present TAC liturgy that its Australian church uses. The other possibility is that Rome is about to approve the proposed text submitted by the TAC bishops at Pentecost. Let's pray that it's one of these two. Everything depends on the Mass text. Nothing else matters.
P.K.T.P.
Dear P.K.T.P.,
Can we please not mention Offetory Prayers?
~RA
[sic]
Don't get him started.
Here's a link to a story in the Australia, which leads off with this tantalizing information.
"PRIESTS in Australia's new Anglican Ordinariate will celebrate mass facing east, away from their congregations, using 500-year old liturgies.
Archbishop John Hepworth, Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, said the traditional sacred liturgies — more in the language of Shakespeare than modern vernacular — would be held in parishes in all capital cities, the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Rockhampton and Torres Strait.
The process took a major step forward yesterday when Archbishop Hepworth and Catholic Bishop Peter Elliott announced the establishment of an Australian Ordinariate implementation committee comprising senior Catholic, Anglican and TAC clergy. The committee will finalise details of the Ordinariate at a two-day meeting at St Stephen's College, Coomera, on the Gold Coast, in early February. The Ordinariate will be established by Easter or Pentecost, in accordance with the invitation Anglicanorum Coetibus (on groups of Anglicans) issued by Pope Benedict."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/anglican-priests-follow-ritual-from-500-year-old-liturgy/story-e6frg6nf-1225972390481
I saw the question asked but not answered elsewhere about one single North American Ordinariate instead of separate Canadian and US ordinariates. Is there any point in preserving the unnecessary separatism of nationalism? Isn't nationalism and inter-national distrust contrary to becoming one? Am I missing a particular point somewhere? Could anyone enlighten me?
Fr. Sutter:
Article 1 of A.C. restricts each ordinariate to the territory of a single episcopal conference. Of course, exceptions can be made but that is to be the norm. I'm sure that most Canadians do not want to share a structure with Americans. I see nothing wrong with a healthy nationalism. There are differences which people would rather have preserved.
Anyway, I'm sure that exceptions could be made if some tiny Anglican presence were isolated in a country. There may need to be an exception for the TAC body in Central America. It has four parishes spread over four episcopal conferences.
P.K.T.P.
Canada
There would need to be a separate legal organization in any case, since Canadian charities cannot routinely transfer money to non-Canadian charities. The Canadian government has very tight requirements for financial arrangements, that result from new anti-terrorism laws. At least, that's my understanding of it.
Certainly it would be ideal if the Ordinariate parishes in Canada and the United States worked together very closely. But generally, in the case of pan-American church jurisdictions (such as the Orthodox Church in America, or the Anglican Church in North America), there is a separate Canadian diocese or dioceses.
There are also rather significant differences between the ecclesial situations in Canada and the United States. First of all, there are (from the Anglican perspective) different liturgical traditions. There are also many differences between the Catholic Church in Canada, and the United States – differences in culture, language, percentage of the population, political profile, etc. As mentioned before, there are separate conferences of bishops, and both the Ordinary, and also any former Anglican bishops who join, would be members of the episcopal conference (the retired bishops as non-voting members). It would be ideal if the parishes could interface closely with the rest of the church in their respective countries. Having one Ordinariate might do something to unify Anglican Ordinariate Catholics in North America, but it might work against the ideal of close unity between the Ordinariates and the Catholic Church in each country.
I must emphasise that I love the United States dearly – I'm soon to be married to an American lady – but there are enough cultural differences between Canadians and Americans that I think it would be more effective to have one Ordinariate for each country. If we look at the Ordinariates as being akin to a diocese, we need to realize that these are huge groupings. It will be a massive undertaking for an Ordinary to provide pastoral care for one country, let alone two.
Meaning no offence to Americans may I just add that we in Canada regard them as friends but also as foreigners? Canada is a part of the British Commonwealth of Nations and her entire existence is owing to a refusal of Canadians to belong to the American Republic. Some of us here have Loyalist ancestors, those who fought against the American Revolution, on the side of the Crown, and we are proud of the position they took. During the War of 1812, the American General Hull was expecting his troops to be treated as liberators from the British Empire. Apparently, he was surprised to find implacable resistance to the U.S. invasion of Ontario among the civil population. The civilians didn't fight his troops but they just refused to co-operate with them and made the invasion unpractical. Many of us, myself included, are also staunch royalists. I've been a member of the Monarchist League since adolesencce. Really, the Americans have a distinct culture of their own but we've got our own culture here, English and French, and it is different. Anyway, why do Americans spell words like counsellor with one l sticking up like a sore thumb? Preposterous!
It is true that the Armenian Ordinariate covers both the U.S.A. and Canada but those tend to be huge for practical reasons. The Armenians have another one covering about thirty countries. I would not oppose union with an American structrue were it needed for practical reasons. For example, if there were only one or two TAC parishes in all of Canada, the situation would be different.
P.K.T.P.
Fr. Sutter, please recognise my joking tone when I say this, but only an American could muse in any seriousness about "the unnecessary separatism of nationalism" between Canada and the United States! You have the liberty of the elephant in the bed, to borrow Trudeau's dictum.
My friends, collagues, and fellow Canadians Messrs Trolly and Perkins answer you at useful length, but please do recall the lengthy and passionate debates on this blog about English, Scottish, and pan-"British" Ordinariates. If the Ordinariates are, in part, cultural institutions (whither Anglican patrimony), then certainly one must recognize the importance of culture in their natures.
*"colleagues," of course.
One curious aspect of the reportis the numbers.
Six bishops (4 TAC). 24 priests and several thousand lay people are mentioned. This contrasts with England where five bishops, 50 priests and 500 lay people have been mentioned. I know that these are only preliminary figures, but it seems that there are relatively few priests converting in Australia. Is there an explanation for this?
I would guess that TAC parishes in Australia are somewhat larger than in England…
The number of priests mentioned for Australia is primarily those from the TAC, I think. The number for England is primarily Forward in Faith, a larger body. But whereas with the TAC, they know approximately how many lay people will come on board, since they're talking about bringing in parishes, in England, the parishes are part of the Established Church…
So, in England we know there are lots of priests, but don't know how many will follow. In Australia it isn't as many priests, but they have their flocks – or much of them – coming along.
Another Question
Is there any news on the Ordinariate front coming from Africa or Asia?
Dear Mr. Waddington:
Archbishop Hepworth did comment on this some time ago. I believe that the TAC churches in India and Southern Africa are presently preparing for the ordinariates. I imagine that logistical considerations (e.g. distances, languages) might hold them back somewhat.
The news so far today has been very good but Advent is the perfect time to continue praying on this.
P.K.T.P.
Dare we hope it will be pre-Reformation Sarum?!
Has the "Missale Anglicanum" aka "Knott Missal" been considered?
What exciting times!
My understanding is that not only has it "been considered," but that it is perhaps the favourite.
When, oh when, we will get the North American, or at least US, Ordinariate?
The question of a single North American Ordinariate could be put to the USCCB, the CCCB, the CDF and the Holy Father, but I would imagine that the matter is settled.
Because Anglicanorum Coetibus states:
I. §1 Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church are erected by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith within the confines of the territorial boundaries of a particular Conference of Bishops in consultation with that same Conference.
I would think that is why the American Pastoral Delegate is Cardinal Donald Wuerl and the Canadian Pastoral Delegate is Archbishop Thomas Collins.
As far as when we will get the North American Ordinariates; it now appears to be coming sooner than later. Deo volente!
The numbers in Australia do not at this time include priests of the Church of Torres Strait (a separate Province of the TAC) which is also seeking an Ordinariate. There are sensitive issues of Islander autonomy to be considered there. Nor does it yet include FIF and Anglican Communion clergy seeking membership of the Ordinariate in Australia. The Anglican wars are played hard in some Australian dioceses, and the timing of announcements is important for the protection of these clergy and parishes. In the new Implementation Committee, there are three places for the TAC, and three for FIF/Anglican Church of Australia.
Dear Archbishop Hepworth:
It is a great relief to hear that the TAC is an integral part of the process and is very well represented in the implementation committee.
You have commented recently on the liturgy to be used but in very general terms. I wonder if you would tell us what Mass text will be used by the former TAC priests in Australia once the ordinariate there is established.
I have asked our entire Latin Mass community is Victoria to pray for the success of this endeavour. The news today looks very hopeful.
P.K.T.P.
Your Grace, I want to thank you for your tirelessness, fidelity and dedication to the Church in Australia. May we all benefit from your example.
My prayers are with you,
Jules
Sydney.
Archbishop Hepworth,
Thank you for all of your dignified efforts on behalf of unity. You have carried on in spite of personal attacks on your character, etc. These efforts are now bearing fruit.
I am glad to see that thought has been given to protecting clergy who intend to transition. I take note of your phrase, "Anglican wars are played hard in some Australian dioceses.
God bless and keep your Grace!
It is indeed full of hope, and the prayers of people like yourselves have sustained us. There is a process underway to determine the Anglican rites that will need to be authorised for use when the Ordinariates are proclaimed by the Holy Father, in addition to the longer process of the official publication of the "Liturgical Books of the Anglicans". As with all things concerning the Ordinariates, this is under the guidance of the CDF. As centuries of history doubtless indicate, it is much safer to pray for the CDF than to mess with it! I trust this process, and having read much of Mr Perkin's supportive debating, am sure the result will fail to cause apoplexy. You will appreciate that this is a matter for prayerful support, and that when the matter can be made public, it will be.
Your Grace:
Thank you for your very kind assurance. It is not every day that someone of my standing receives a direct address from a Primate! What you have written gives me great cause for hope, and I will ask our community here to pray assiduously for your efforts and those of the Traditional Anglican Communion. But what you have written is assurance enough for this closing week of Advent, a time of prayer, mortification, and hope.
Peter Karl T. Perkins
Victoria, B.C., Canada
Looking at the text of the Knott Missal, it seems to just be a translation of the Traditional Latin Mass without any of the beautiful Anglican prayers. I would agree to using it as long as our Patrimony, i.e. the Prayer of Humble Access, a choice of the confession used in Anglican liturgies and the Prayer of Thanksgiving are included. If there is nothing of our Anglican Patrimony we will be another parish using the Traditional Latin Mass, except said in English. If I missed something while reading the text please correct me.
"Looking at the text of the Knott Missal, it seems to just be a translation of the Traditional Latin Mass without any of the beautiful Anglican prayers."
This is true of the first edition, but not of later ones.
As you are aware Latin Rite Catholics, appart from the rites of the religious orders and the Primatial Sees, predominantly, at least at a parish level have the possiblity of two rites known as the EF – Usus Antiquior celebrated in Latin and the OF – Usus Recentior generally celebrated in the vernacular.
Undoubtedly those in the Ordinariates will have access to both of these – What ever the vernacular renderings, I pray for the ancient Use of Sarum to be the basis of any Ordinariate Missal it is both truly Catholic and truly English.
Dear Sibyl:
It is arguable in law that the Sarum Use, having never been abrogated, remains lawful.. If so, under Article III of S.P., it may be used by ordinariate priests, as may the Traditional Latin Mass. It remains to be seen if the T.L.M. can be offered entirely in the vernacular in the approved translations of the late 1960s. Arguably, however, a right to their use has lapsed by desuetude, thirty continuous years having passed since they were used.. Moreoever, I'm not sure anyone wants the 1960s translations in non-sacral English.
Whether or not Sarum has lapsed by desuetude is an interesting canonical question best left to the experts, but there are no approved translations of it, so it may only be offered in Latin.
P.K.T.P.