According to Fr. Z, the Holy Father has recently received Msgr. Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, in a personal audience. Considering the Holy Father's busy schedule and the general difficulty of seeing the Pontiff in person, even for relatively high-ranking diplomats or curial officials, this can only be seen as a very positive development.
From the Catholic Herald:
Pope makes former Anglican bishops monsignori
By Anna Arco on Thursday, 17 March 2011The Pope has honoured three former Anglican bishops, the first members of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, with the title of monsignor.
Fr Keith Newton, the leader of the Ordinariate who has most of the functions of a bishop, and Fr John Broadhurst, the former Bishop of Fulham, have been granted the papal award of Apostolic Pronotary, the highest ecclesial title for non-bishops. Fr Andrew Burnham, the former Bishop of Ebbsfleet, has been granted the papal award of Prelate of Honour, and is therefore also a monsignor.
The three men became the first clergy of the world’s first personal ordinariate set up for groups of former Anglicans as a result of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus in January.
Groups of former Anglicans will be received into the Church in Holy Week and the priests for the ordinariate will be ordained around Pentecost.
The ordinary expects that about 900 people will become members of the ordinariate in Holy Week, including 61 members of the clergy. A majority of the laity entering the ordinariate took part in Rite of Election ceremonies across the country last weekend.
Fr Newton said: “I am really delighted by the numbers of Anglican laity who have begun the journey into the full Communion with the Catholic Church in Holy Week. It has not been an easy journey for many but I know they will be greatly blessed. The Rites of Election (or Enrolment for ordinariate members) around the dioceses marked a very moving and important part of the journey so far.”
UPDATE: Here's the story as it appears on the website of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, and it corrects some misinformation in the Catholic Herald story:
Pope Benedict XVI honours Priests of the Ordinariate
17th March 2011It was announced today that the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham has been honoured by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, and has been elevated to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic.
Fr John Broadhurst and Fr Andrew Burnham have also been honoured by being elevated to the rank of Prelate of Honour.
As such, all three priests are now known as Monsignor.
Others will have pictures from the Ordination in Portsmouth: this is a more personal take on today's events. An Anglican friend just contacted me to say "How wonderful that Jane’s part in it all was recognised – our Anglican bishops could learn a great deal!" That is where I should like to begin: and here is a very rare picture, four wives of Catholic priests in conversation (unfortunately the fifth had disappeared by the time I made it to the bun-fight). It was great to have them (and their husbands) all present with us.
From left to right they are Joyce Silk, Gill Newton, Judi Broadhurst and Jane.
Bishop Crispian was immensely kind and pastoral to me, and what he said — about my former ministry as Deacon, Priest and Bishop in the Church of England — should reassure anyone who still thinks he might have to deny what he has been, on coming into communion with the See of Peter. He spoke about Jane's part in my ministry, and gave her and me a very special blessing as the service came to an end. I was pleased, too, that I was able to scramble to my feet after being prostrate throughout the Litany, without the aid of the fork-lift which some had predicted.
Former students were there, too, from our days together at St Stephen's House. Many of them are taking the step — a far braver one than I have taken in retirement — into the Catholic Church, leaving their livings, many of their people, their houses and churches. They are heading for a future which will take some time before it is clear just what being an Ordinariate Priest will entail.
Frs Robert Page and Mark Elliott-Smith, on the eve of resigning their livings
Friends and former colleagues came from near and far; none further than Fr Allan Hawkins and Josie, his wife, who are even now on their way home to Texas.
Fr Allan and Mrs Hawkins with our Ordinary, Fr Keith Newton
Robbie of Lostwithiel
It really was a very special bun-fight, and I am hugely grateful to the Dean and his staff for arranging such a spread for us. It gave me a chance to catch up with some (though alas not all) of the friends who had come for this occasion. There were former Anglican colleagues : Robbie Low had travelled up with Sara from his Cornish fastness. Then there was also an old friend from the Fatima pilgrimages, Paul Andrew, also of Plymouth Diocese and now a Seminarian at Wonersh. It was especially good that he was able to abandon his studies for a few minutes to be with us this afternoon.
Paul Andrew and Sara Low
A former colleague from St Stephen's House came to represent the old place, and I was glad to be able to persuade Ian Boxall to read the first lesson. He did a great job with Isaiah 6, which I seem to remember reading at my first (Anglican) Ordination in the other Portsmouth Cathedral… a little bit of Anglican Patrimony slipped in together with some of the Hymns. We began with "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation" — and that had also kicked us off in Westminster Abbey at my Consecration as Bishop of Richborough. Here is Ian in conversation with yet another Anglican Priest on the verge of joining the Ordinariate: Fr David Elliott, lately of Holy Trinity Reading.
Fr Elliott (l) and Ian Boxall
I cannot end without paying tribute, as Bishop Crispian did, to my wife Jane. She has been a tower of strength to me throughout my ministry as an Anglican, and now in our old age she is promising to give me the same support as a Catholic Priest. Our son Matthew travelled down from Lancaster University where he is labouring over his Doctorate. It was so good they could both be in Portsmouth today, and this evening it was great, too, to hear from grandson Huw (age 10 and 3/4) in Wales adding his good wishes with those of his mother, Nicola. What an amazing day this has been. Now to gird myself for my first Mass in Brockenhurst!
Jane and Matthew Barnes
Church House Inn, Holne
Devon is exceptionally beautiful in the early Spring; so we were glad to use the Ordination of David Silk as the occasion for a short break. The village of Holne is set above the River Dart as it flows off Dartmoor towards the sea. The Church House Inn is reputed to date from the mid-fourteenth century. It provided a very pleasant two-night stay, with good food and roaring log fires. Devon is especially rich in these ancient pubs in the shadow of churches; if you have read Eamon Duffy's "Voices of Morebath" (and if you have not, you should) you will easily imagine the carousings of our Mediaeval forebears during Festivals of Mother Church. A former Vicar of Holne was Charles Kingsley, author of "The Water Babies". The present Team Vicar (they await the appointment of a Rector) is contending with six or more parishes across the south of Dartmoor. Good that her church was open yesterday.
St Mary the Virgin, Holne, interior
The Ordination of former Anglican Bishop David Silk took place in the Abbey Church of Buckfast, just a few miles from Holne. It is a great surprise. You emerge from the wooded hillside to be faced with a great Monastic complex of buildings which look as though they must have been there for many centuries. In fact, they are relatively new, though standing on ancient foundations. The first Abbey was built in Saxon times, in the reign of Canute. In the twelfth century a great Cistercian Abbey replaced that original church. All was swept away during the wholesale destruction of the Monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. At the end of the 19th Century a handful of French Benedictines came to Buckfast, and began to plan a new foundation. By 1937 the Monks themselves had built the Monastic Church, on the Cistercian plan but with the addition of a bell-tower — a frippery which Cistercians had usually denied themselves; though they gave in to temptation at Fountains Abbey.
A view from the Stalls
It proved a lovely setting for David Silk's Ordination, and people came from great distances to join local clergy in the celebrations. Traditionally, the South West has always been a stronghold for Anglo-Catholicism. It suffered terribly in the purge of the 1990's, when the bishop of Truro, proclaiming himself a catholic, not only ordained women to the priesthood himself but encouraged his suffragan to do the same. There was a greater loss of Anglican Clergy in that diocese than any other, proportionate to its numbers; and the bishop seemed not to care. It was good to see Cornishmen in the congregation at Buckfast. The Catholic Diocese of Plymouth covers territory which has three Anglican diocesans (Truro, Exeter and Salisbury) and half a dozen Suffragans.
Bid, Father, a Blessing
Devon, Exeter Diocese in Anglican terms, appeared to suffer less; and its present bishop no longer ordains women to the priesthood (though his suffragans do). Perhaps because of this clergy in the diocese seem peculiarly reluctant to consider the offer of the Ordinariate, and some well-known Anglo-Catholic clergy were notable for their absence at David's Ordination. They are possibly suffering from the peculiar delusion which leads some clergy into thinking their bishop is immortal. Within five years, though, they will discover that immortal or not, the enforced retirement age will hit Bishop Langrish as it does every other Church of England cleric.
There was a very merry lunch-party after the Ordination.
David Silk among friends
On the way home, for old time's sake, we called in at Exeter. I thought I would be able to get something from Wippell's; but their former shop in the close has been taken over by a cheap multiple store. They have moved into the outskirts of the City, and time was too short to find them.
Exeter Cathedral South Tower
The Cathedral though, looks much the same as it ever did — from the outside. I was not prepared to pay to enter. A lad came away from the porch saying to his friend "Not much good looking for sanctuary here; it would cost you a fiver". O tempora, O mores!
[From experience I have learned that our transatlantic friends sometimes miss allusions which are plain to us in England. The title of this piece is taken from a children's book by Enid Blyton. Some wag has applied it to the first five C of E Bishops to join the Ordinariate.]
We already had an earlier post from our new resident deacon about some of the weekend's developments in the UK as priests in four Church of England parishes announced their intention to enter the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Here's what they had to say in their own words:
From Fr. Ivan Aquilina of St. John the Baptist, Sevenoaks:
Christ is the human face of God; the fullness of Revelation. He lives in his church and operates through the baptised who are his hands, his feet and his merciful face. What the Church believes across all nations, by everyone and down the centuries is his unmistakable voice.
Christ is the human face of God; the fullness of Revelation. He lives in his church and operates through the baptised who are his hands, his feet and his merciful face. What the Church believes across all nations, by everyone and down the centuries is his unmistakable voice.
With the recent developments in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion I have increasingly found myself in a situation where I cannot preach the Gospel of Christ and celebrate his sacraments with any integrity. It is the generous offer of Pope Benedict XVI in the form of the Ordinariate that gives me the joy of continuing this faithfulness to this Gospel. The move to the Ordinariate also gives me the opportunity to offer to you the greatest witness I can possibly give you.
For this reason I have written to the Bishop of Rochester notifying him that I intend to resign from this Parish in order to become a Roman Catholic in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Fr James has notified the same bishop that he intends to resign for the same noble reason.
Fr Ed Tomlinson of St. Barnabas, Tunbridge Wells writes:
After consultation with the Bishop of Rochester, and with his blessing, I can now publically announce that it is my intention to resign as vicar of Saint Barnabas in Tunbridge Wells on Palm Sunday and to cease public Anglican ministry from Ash Wednesday.
I will then undertake a period of preparation to enter the Roman Catholic Church as a member of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham alongside my family and the majority of my current parishioners.
My intention to resign is made public in the pastoral interests of all, both those remaining Anglican and those seeking a new life within the Catholic church.
Your prayers are encouraged at this time for both groups.
Follow future developments at the Tunbridge Wells Ordinariate Blog.>>>
In Derbyshire, Fr. Simon Ellis of St. Laurence, Long Eaton, and Holy Trinity, Ilkeston wrote in part:
Many have come to see, by contrast, that the Catholic Church in this country has become the main conscience of the nation, able to offer biblical truth and the gospel life of true freedom which people so desperately seek in this age of relativism, despair and fundamentalism. More importantly, the offer from the Catholic Church to Anglicans [Anglicanorum Coetibus, announced November, 2009] to move as groups in to the fullness of communion with Catholicism – whilst maintaining their spiritual patrimony – is something we have prayed for over many years and is, I believe, a prophetic moment for the wider church and the world.
As for the Church of England, I assure all those who continue to serve within it of my prayers and best wishes. Friendships will still remain and I shall continue to attempt to build positive ecumenical relations with all of God’s holy people. God (and you) forgive me for the times of failure which we pastors feel keenly. We are, indeed, earthen vessels.
I am so overwhelmed with thanks for so many blessings and hope that you will hold Kate, Rebecca and Anastasia and I in your prayers as we prepare for this new chapter in our lives and in the life of God’s Church.
Finally, The Northern Echo carries a story about the visits of Fr. Keith Newton to the parish of St. James the Great, Darlington and the announcement of its priest, Father Ian Grieves, that he intends to enter the Ordinariate:
In the 22 years he has been priest, Fr Grieves has increased the size of the followers from just 18 and helped fund hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of improvements to the church which was previously at risk of closure.
However a new Catholic congregation may have to find a new building for worship.
Fr Grieves added: "It is the most monumental decision of my life. We are not afraid because we have been here before. We started with nothing."
From site of the Reading Ordinariate Group:
As previously reported the RC dioceses are playing a prominent role in the genesis of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. It is hoped that by next year there will be a principal church and that there will be the human machinery in place to enable the Ordinariate and the Ordinary to stand on their own two feet. If all this happens, next year the Ordinariate will probably have its own Rite of Election. For the 'first wave' the dioceses have generously invited those entering into the full communion of the Catholic Church to join in with diocesan Rites of Election. The liturgy will probably vary slightly from place to place, but thanks to Fr Keith Newton, the Ordinary, and the Diocese of Westminster we can begin to see how the Rite of Election has taken shape and accommodated the Ordinariate innovation. Reproduced below is the 'use' of the diocese of Westminster as agreed with the Ordinary.
The Rite of Election was originally designed for catechumens (i.e. the unbaptised) but developed in modern times to include a rite for those who have been baptised but are entering into the full communion of the Catholic Chruch. Previously Anglicans and people from other denominations have gone through this route. Clearly the Ordinariate is a different route and this is recognised in this year's Rite of Election. The liturgy seems to be based on the US Combined Rite of Election and Calling of Candidates. This can be found along with the rest of the RCIA material in 'Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults' published by Catholic Book Publishing Co. with the relevant section being found on pp.69-83.
In order that there is a distinction made between the parochial candidates and the Ordinariate groups use has been made of the variant forms available. The Ordinariate groups are called with a text adapted from Option A, while parochial candidates have Option B with the series of questions for sponsors. It seems to be envisaged therefore that Ordinariate groups will not necessarily have sponsors. In addition it appears that they may be called as a group rather than by name.
In the adaptation of Option A there are significant references to words spoken by Pope Benedict XVI and his recent visit to Britain. This is both found in the bishop's introductory words, and significantly in the exhortation to the assembly to 'be generous in your welcome and offer them a place in your hearts and in your communities. Be ready, in turn, to be enriched by the gifts they may have to offer'. This echoes the Pope's words: 'It helps us set our sights on the ultimate goal of all ecumenical activity: the restoration of full ecclesial communion in the context of which the mutual exchange of gifts from our respective spiritual patrimonies serves as an enrichment to us all. Let us continue to pray and work unceasingly in order to hasten the joyful day when that goal can be accomplished.'
Here is the relevant text. I have chosen to follow the edition that uses 'bishop' though of course in Westminster and other places 'Archbishop' will be used:
CELEBRATION OF THE CALL TO CONTINUING CONVERSION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE PERSONAL ORDINARIATE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
Bishop: The Holy Father, Pope Benedict, when he spoke at the end of his visit to this country asked that we should be generous in our welcome of those who seek to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church within the Ordinariate.
Within our own diocese groups who seek this full communion have been preparing for admission to the Sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist at the end of Lent.
I now invite those who desire to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church, to stand. (or come forward).
The Candidates stand or come forward
Bishop: My dear friends, these candidates, our brothers and sisters, have asked to be able to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Those who know them have judged them to be sincere in their desire. During the period of their preparation they continue to reflect on the mystery of their baptism and have come to appreciate more deeply the presence of Christ in their lives. They have shared the company of their brothers and sisters, joined with them in prayer, and endeavoured to follow Christ's commands more perfectly.
And so I am pleased to recognise their desire to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church.
Recognition of the Candidates
Dear Candidates, the Church reognises your desire to be sealed with the Holy Spirit and to have a place at Christ's Eucharistic table. Join with us this Lent in a Spirit of repentance. Hear the Lord's call to conversion and be faithful to your baptismal covenant.
Candidates: Thanks be to God.
The Bishop addresses the whole community
Bishop: My dear friends, I ask you to support these candidates in faith, prayer and example as they prepare to participate more fully in the Church's Sacraments. Be generous in your welcome and offer them a place in your hearts and in your communities. Be ready, in turn, to be enriched by the gifts they may have to offer. May they see in you a love for the Church and a sincere desire for doing good. Lead them this Lent to the joys of the Easter mysteries.
There was a lot happening this week around the globe of direct interest to our readers.
Here's a quick rundown of some of the week's stories that we didn't get to:
The next phase of Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue gets underway in May. Msgr. Mark Langham, the Catholic co-secretary for this round of talks, had this to say to Vatican Radio on the subject of the Ordinariates:
We’ve always said the path of traditional ecumenical dialogue is different from that of individual or group conversion – Vatican Council makes that clear in its document on ecumenism, so we don't see our work lying within that framework of the ordinariate. Our work is to stress the traditional relationship between the two traditions that has been expressed over 40 years in ARCIC so although the ordinariate is an extremely important aspect of the landscape it won’t in itself be something that comes into our discussions.
Read the rest of the interview.>>>
In the UK, The Independent had a story on Fr. Keith Newton's thoughts on social justice, reporting him as saying, "you cannot be a Christian without working for Kingdom values while on earth." Bishop Weston, Fr. Mackonochie, and all the sisters who gave their lives for both the gospel and the poor would be proud. The interview also includes some good quotes about the importance of church schools and the future of Britain as a Christian country.
To update the map count, there's one pin yet to be added for the UK. When it's in, that will bring us up to 79 groups of Anglicans for the U.S., Canada, and the UK, a jump of three from last Saturday.
Finally, The Messenger, just put up a very upbeat report up on the recent Ordinariate gathering in Australia, including this summary of Bishop Elliott's comments on the future there:
Sharing our stories, listening to each other, and being there as the unfolding the Ordinariate takes place, was a central theme of the conference. Perhaps the most eloquent was Bp. Elliott who spoke, on day two, of the way that the Ordinariate may unfold in Australia. One of the major things that Bp. Elliott stressed was that Australia was not England, nor was it Canada nor was it the USA. The history of Australian Anglicanism is unique to itself, so the unfolding of the Ordinariate will be unique. The Bishop spoke of the two major divergent streams here in Australia, the ACCA, those who left, or were driven out, of the Anglican Church in Australia, and those who stayed within and tried to fight the heresies from there. It has been 23 years since the first ACCA parishes were formed, so it has developed its own way of doing things, its own distinctive Anglican flavour, while those within, have their ways, their norms, so there has been a divergence, not an insurmountable one, but a divergence none the less. Bp. Elliott emphasised that the coming together of these two streams of Anglicanism will mean that the Ordinariate will develop differently to that in England and Wales, though there may be some similarities.
In a later talk, Bp. Elliott outlined the process, as he sees it, in the erection of the Ordinariate. Firstly, each Anglican priest who goes into the Australian Ordinariate will need a Catholic priest sponsor, a former Anglican priest if possible, a person who he can be with, befriend, listen to, confide in, encourage, and just be there for the man as he prepares for Catholic ordination, both before and after. This makes a lot of sense to me, as we will need hand-holding as a lot of what we do will be new, especially Canon Law. Secondly, the laity, each person who joins the Ordinariate, as I understand it, will need a Catholic sponsor, one who will stand by them as they move into the Ordinariate especially at their Chrismation.
Read the rest of the report.>>>
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of the Atonement, San Antonio
Catholic.net is carrying this summary of Fr. Keith Newton's call for a Holy Hour on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, made in his column in the current issue of The Portal:
LONDON, FEB. 1, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The newly established Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is encouraging participation in a holy hour to reflect on the role of the Bishop of Rome. Father Keith Newton, ordinary of this new structure for former Anglicans wishing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church, made this invitation in his column published by The Portal, an independent review of the ordinariate. He encouraged the organization of holy hours in various local parishes on Feb. 22, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle, to pray about the Pontiff's role and to give thanks for the vision of Benedict XVI "which has brought us to this point." The priest suggested that those groups planning to become members of the ordinariate "join with their Catholic brothers and sisters" on this day "to ask God's blessing on what lies ahead." He underlined the "tremendous privilege and responsibility" of setting up this first ordinariate as stipulated in "Anglicanorum Coetibus." Father Newton acknowledged, "No doubt we will experience setbacks and difficulties over the next few weeks and months but we can be sure that many people are praying for us and that you will receive a warm welcome in the Catholic Church wherever you are."
The February issue of The Portal is online with coverage of the ordinations, a letter from the Ordinary, a call for a February 22 Holy Hour, and much more.
This issue's table of contents includes:
LEAD STORY – Historic Events
News – Westminster Cathedral
Snapdragon – Freshest Expression of Catholic Faith
Recusant Martyr – Saint Robert Southwell
Anglican Luminary – George Herbert
Ordinary’s Page – Fr Keith Newton: It has begun!
Aidan Nichols OP – What I think about the Ordinariate
Historic Events – Photo Gallery
Fr Peter’s Page – At the Heart of the Ordinariate
Sky News has posted the following piece with clips from Fr. Newton, our own Fr. Tomlinson, and several lay people considering the Ordinariate. The original story can be found here.
Hundreds of disillusioned Anglicans are expected to defect to the Roman Catholic Church in time for Lent.
It follows a campaign by Father Keith Newton to leave the Church of England in protest at its stance on the ordination of women and gay clergy.
Fr Newton has encouraged Anglicans to join the Ordinariate — a special branch of Catholicism established by the Pope — to welcome protestant defectors.
The Ordinariate is a special structure established by Pope Benedict to welcome the disillusioned Anglicans.
The efforts of the Archbishop of Canterbury have not been enough to stop hundreds of Anglo Catholics making the split that he had hoped to avoid.
In mid-January it got off the ground with the conversion of three Anglican bishops who are now bringing others on board.
The Church of England says that 1,000 of its 13,000 parishes are opposed to the ordination of women.
At St. Barnabas church in Tunbridge Wells, the parish priest says that a majority of his parishioners want to defect — and he's considering going too.
Father Ed Tomlinson believes that traditionalists who oppose the ordination of women have been badly let down by Church leaders.
Yet the priest has been told by the diocese of Rochester that if he and his followers leave they will no longer be allowed to hold services, even on a shared basis, at St Barnabas — a nineteenth-century red-brick church where First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon was baptised.
The firm stance has infuriated Fr Tomlinson, the vicar since 2006.
"The whole thing stinks to high heaven," he said.
"The Archdeacon made it abundantly clear that he does not want to entertain the notion of shared worship space and that he would resist my remaining here in any capacity."
The Ordinariate talks of recruiting members in waves with the first beginning training at Lent and they hope many more will follow.
"A little acorn it may have been at the moment, it could grow into a mighty oak," one local church-goer said.
"Was this the thing that started to undo the reformation?"