Washington, 3.

A Pastoral Letter, the first, of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St
Peter in the territory of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, was
sent by the Ordinary, Fr Jeffrey Steenson, to Anglican ministers and faithful
who have decided to enter into full and visible communion with the Catholic
Church. The letter’s aim was to inform and accompany the faithful on this
important
journey.
“The Ordinariate”, it read, “is finally off and running, after much
anticipation, work, and prayer. We have just completed a wonderful Formation
Weekend in Houston for the priest candidates and their wives for the Ordinariate
of the Chair of St Peter. With deeply moving contributions from His Eminence
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, we have begun to take the first steps in preparing a
group of very dedicated men for ordination. As the Ordinariate was only
established this month, this was our first opportunity to come together in
mutual discernment and encouragement. There were many questions asked, and we
certainly don’t have all the answers, but we know where to look. The goal of
coming into full communion with the Catholic Church orients us in the right
direction, and we are joyfully confident of our future. I am deeply moved by the
courage and the faith of these men and their wives, who are going to be used by
God to contribute to the building up of the Body of Christ”.
On 12 February, Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, and
Cardinal DiNardo will take part in the inauguration of the Ordinariate at the
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. During the celebration, the
Ordinary stated in his letter, “I will be invested liturgically with the
responsibility of leading the Ordinariate”. Fr Steenson said he was “overwhelmed
with the prayers and good wishes of so many in the Catholic faith who have
opened their arms and their hearts to us”, and he thanked other Christians who
“rejoice to see God’s people listening to and following their consciences. We
are now working diligently”, he proceeded, “to lay proper foundations for the
Ordinariate, both canonical and civil, and once this has been completed, we
expect to be able to receive groups and congregations in the near future”.
To date, there are many questions from faithful who wish to enter the
Ordinariate. “There is an information form on the website
(www.usordinariate.org)”, concluded the Ordinary, “for those who may wish to
explore this further. We are expecting that the Ordinariate will include three
categories of corporate membership — parishes, quasi-parishes more commonly
known as missions, and smaller groups of people that could be designated public
associations of the faithful. All former Anglicans who are now in full communion
with the Catholic Church or who are preparing to be received are eligible to
belong to the Ordinariate. We will work carefully with the local Catholic bishop
to facilitate this process of discernment for those communities who approach
us”.
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