Another dear reader sent me a link to the Catholic Answers Forum where there are many pictures of the recent ordinations in Calgary. Enjoy!
Here are excerpts of a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about yesterday's ordination of six former Episcopalian priests as Catholic priests for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter:
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In what officials called a historic moment, Fort Worth Catholic Bishop Kevin Vann and other white-robed priests in the diocese laid hands on the priests at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller to welcome them.
-snip-.
The ordinariate is headed by a former Fort Worth Episcopal priest, Monsignor Jeffrey Steenson, who earlier converted to Catholicism.
"This is very moving for me today personally," Steenson said. "These men were all part of my generation, and we all served in Fort Worth."
-snip-
"We are Catholics now with an Anglican heritage," said one of the ordained priests, the Rev. Charles Hough III, a former high-ranking official in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. In what officials said was a rare happening, son Charles Hough IV was ordained with his father.
"My feeling is that I'm just overjoyed by the whole thing," the elder Hough said. "I'm blessed to say my son's a part of it, too. That's an added bonus. I am so proud of my son. He's such a fine young priest."
The younger Hough was recently named pastor of Our Lady of Walsingham Ordinariate Parish in Houston, which will be the principal church of the ordinariate under which the former Episcopal priests will serve.
"It's a great honor," the younger Hough said. "And I'm absolutely delighted and honored to be ordained with my dad."
The six are among 35 Episcopal priests to be ordained this summer, Steenson said.
Sixty former Episcopal priests are expected to be ordained by year's end, he said. "This is by far the largest class."
The new ordinariate has a decidedly Fort Worth flavor.
Steenson, a former rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Fort Worth and former bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, based in Albuquerque, heads the Houston-based ordinariate. The ordinariate is much like a diocese with a broader scope.
-snip-
Steenson and the six men ordained opposed many of the changes in the Episcopal Church, including the ordination of gay priests and bishops.
All emphasized, however, that those issues were not central in their decisions to convert.
"Hopefully we understand that this is not just about being opposed to something," Steenson said.
"If you were just opposed to something, you don't want to join the Catholic Church. It's a lot more than that."
There are many more pictures and links at the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter's Facebook page.
There is also a television item on the event here.
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And from Canada, I haven't been able to find pictures yet of the ordinations in Calgary, but here's some good news from the website of St. John the Evangelist.
FIRST MASSES
This news release popped into my mailbox this morning. To which I say, Alleluia!
Also this weekend, I believe our Vancouver and Edmonton Anglican Catholic Church of Canada groups will be received into the Catholic Church with their clergy.
Former Anglican Priests Make Catholic History in Canada
Two Calgary men become first ordained for Catholic Ordinariate in Canada
Former Anglican priests Lee Kenyon of Calgary and John Wright of Chestermere will make history when they are ordained Catholic priests by Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary:
Saturday, June 30, 2012, 11 a.m.
St. Mary’s Cathedral
219 – 18th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta
The men are members of the first ordination class for the new Catholic Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Equivalent to a diocese, but national in scope, the U.S.-based ordinariate was created earlier this year by Pope Benedict XVI for Anglican groups and clergy seeking to become Catholic while retaining elements of their Anglican heritage.
These will be the first men to be ordained priests for the Ordinariate in Canada. Three ordinariates exist in the world, in the United States, United Kingdom and, as of June 15, Australia. The U.S. ordinariate is led by a former Episcopal bishop, Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson of Houston, Texas.
In speaking about the ordinations across North America, Msgr. Steenson said, “These ordinations mark a significant moment in the history of Catholic unity. Our expedited formation program, approved by the Holy See, has been a wonderful testimony to the deep respect that the Catholic Church has for the former Anglican ministries of these men.”
Kenyon’s parish community, Church of St. John the Evangelist, was the second oldest Anglican parish in Calgary, until being received into the Catholic Church in December 2011. The parish community remained at its property through a lease/purchase agreement with the Anglican Diocese of Calgary.
Kenyon noted, “We are full of hope and joy that we will be able to enjoy this fullness of communion without losing that which has been so precious and nourishing to us as Anglicans.”
Profiles of the New Priests
Lee Kenyon, 34, born and raised in England, was ordained an Anglican priest in 2006 after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Lancaster, graduate studies at the University of Leeds, and seminary studies at The College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. He was assistant curate in the Diocese of Blackburn from 2005-2009, before becoming priest-in-charge of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Calgary. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three young children.
John Wright, 58, was ordained an Anglican priest in 1988. He received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame University in Nelson, British Columbia and a diploma in agricultural management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He attended seminary at Emmanuel and St. Chad’s in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Recently he has been working toward a doctorate in religious studies. Wright served parishes in Southern Alberta and in Calgary. He also was a member of the Naval Reserve for almost 41 years and a chaplain for 21 of those years. He was trained in the Canadian Forces Chaplaincy, taking numerous courses and serving on a number of bases. He was received into the Catholic Church in December 2011. He and his wife, Ruth, have been married for 26 years and have three children.
Special permission has been given for these former Anglican priests, who are married, to be ordained Catholic priests.
Online:
· Ordinariate (includes Q&A abou the ordinariate): usordinariate.org and facebook.com/CSPOrdinariate
· St. John the Evangelist Ordinariate Community: calgaryordinariate.com
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ORDINATIONS NEXT WEEK
Lee Kenyon and John Wright will be ordained Deacon on Thursday 28th June at 10.00 a.m. at St John the Evangelist, Calgary.
They will be ordained Priest on Saturday 30th June at 11.00 a.m. at St Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary.
The Bishop of Calgary, The Most Revd Frederick Henry will ordain Lee and John for service in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter.
Fr Kenyon’s First Mass will be on Dominion Day Sunday 1st July at 10.00 a.m.
Your presence and prayers are requested at all these Masses.
Every once in a while I come across an interesting but useless piece of information. For instance, I learned that as of January, 2009, there were approximately 133,000,000 blogs in existence. With a little research, I discovered that this number had increased by about 10,000,000 during each of the previous two years, so if that number holds true, there are probably about 150,000,000 blogs by now. I don’t know that for certain. I don’t intend to count them, nor am I suggesting you should. Of that number, however, there are some which actually are helpful. In fact, if not for blogs such as this one (which has had its darker moments, as we all know), we would not have had access to the tremendous amount of information about Anglicanorum coetibus, nor would so many of us have been able to connect with one another, giving each other encouragement, and laying the foundation for Ordinariates in far-flung corners of the world.
There’s a new blog (does that mean there are now 150,000,001 blogs in existence?) I'd like to recommend, simply because I think it gives an excellent picture of a parish being prepared by its priest for its move into an Ordinariate. Now, I know there are faithful clergy and laity getting prepared in any number of parishes, but I chose to feature this particular blog because I think (and hope) it is representative of what’s happening in lots of places. The blog is titled “Our Lady of Walsingham & St. John the Evangelist Ordinariate Group – Calgary.” It’s written by Fr. Lee Kenyon, a priest of deep faith and clear vision, and who (with members of his parish) plan to enter the Canadian Ordinariate when it is established. His latest entry on “Weekend Thoughts” is a simple but delightful reminder that parish life goes on, even when preparing for something momentous.