I thought I would do a brief article on this recent precedent to our future Ordinariates. Obviously, Anglicanorum Coetibus is an entirely new canonical and juridical framework, but certain parallels are to be seen.

The Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney was officially founded the 18th January 2002 by Pope John Paul II for traditionalist Catholic clergy and laity within the Diocese of Campos in Brazil. No other  Personal Apostolic Administration exists. Its current Apostolic Administrator is Bishop Fernando Arêas Rifan. The Society of Saint Pius X is naturally highly critical, simply because the Administration accepted a practical solution from Rome. For us, this Administration is an admirable example of what can really work.

I refer the reader to this Wikipedia article for historical and background information.

Their statistics are: 28,325 Catholics, 28 priests, 9 seminarians, 75 religious sisters and 24 schools.

In a 2005 interview, Cardinal Castrillón stated that there were cordial relations between the Personal Apostolic Administration and the Diocese of Campos at all levels, and that priests of the Apostolic Administration were celebrating Mass in the older form for the traditionalist faithful in another dozen dioceses in Brazil in accordance with signed agreements that they had with the diocesan bishops.

• The Administration's Website (in Portuguese)

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