"It's Actually Happening!" is how Fr. Christopher Phillips, Our Lady of Atonement Anglican Use parish, titled his blog post on The Anglo-Catholic about the reception into the Catholic Church of three former Church of England bishops, two of their wives, and three Anglican nuns. You can read about it here, here, here, and here. The lede from The Telegraph of London was: "Priests and worshippers from around 20 Church of England parishes converted to Catholicism on Saturday at a ceremony in Westminster Cathedral."
A Reluctant Sinner was there (the photograph above is his): "As ever, my photographic skills let me down today, but I did manage to take these three discreet images of the event. They show the rite of reception and the sacrament of Confirmation being administered by Bishop Alan Hopes - himself a former Anglican priest, and de facto spiritual guide for those wishing to join the Ordinariate." Another eyewitness account, by Fr. Seán Finnegan, can be found on The Anglo-Catholic.
This is the first step towards creating an Ordinariate in England and Wales (Scotland is in a different Catholic Bishops Conference). The second step happens January 13th and 15th when the former bishops will be ordained to the deaconate and then to the priesthood respectively. The latter will be at Westminster Cathedral in London and is open to anyone to attend. Go, if you are in London. See Friends of the Ordinariate for more information (h/t The Anglo Catholic).
Succeeding steps will happen in rapid order before Easter and Pentacost. The BBC reports, "Catholic Bishop Alan Hopes said up to 50 Anglican clergy could convert before Easter."
The photograph is from a personal report on A Reluctant Sinner blog which can be found here.
Laus Deo! The Saints, the English Martyrs in heaven are probably singing praises to God!
ReplyDeleteAnglican Orders are Null and Invalid.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, the validity and invalidity of an individual Anglican cleric's orders is up to the Holy See to determine if the Anglican cleric decides to exercise ministry in the Catholic Church. However based on the circumstances of each Anglican clergy, the Holy See will examine each and every case. The Anglican bishops who were received in the Catholic Church are now priests and have been honoured with the title of Monsignor.
ReplyDelete