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Personal of the Chair of St. Peter usordinariate.org

Media Backgrounder | February 2013

he Ordinariate of the Chair of St. privileges of a , with one major QUICK FACTS Peter is a national structure, similar to exception: he cannot ordain . „ T „ Established by the Vatican a , that was created by the „„ Similar to a diocese, but Vatican in 2012 for former Anglican He grew up on a farm in North Dakota. national in scope communities and seeking to be- He attended Harvard Divinity School „„ For former Anglican clergy come . Once Catholic, the comu- and received a doctorate from Oxford and groups seeking to nities retain many aspects of their Angli- University in 1983. He was ordained become Catholic can heritage, and . Priests an Anglican in 1980, and was an „„ Communities are fully Episcopal bishop from 2004-2007, when Catholic, but retain aspects apply for as Catholic priests and first complete an approved he resigned to become Catholic. In 2009, of their Anglican heritage, he was ordained a Catholic priest for the including in liturgy formation program. Archdiocese of Santa Fe. and Canada NORTH AMERICA History „„ Established Jan. 1, 2012 Based in , Texas, the Ordinari- In November 2009, in response to „„ U.S. and Canada ate includes communities throughout the United States and Canada. repeated and persistent inquiries from „„ 1,600 members Anglican groups worldwide who were „„ 36 communities in Houston is seeking to become Catholic, Bene- „„ 30 priests the principal . Other large commu- dict XVI issued an „„ Led by Msgr. Jeffrey nities include St. Luke, Bladensburg, MD; called Anglicanorum coetibus (pronounced Steenson Christ the King, Towson, MD; Church Anglican-orum chay-tee-boose). This of the Incarnation, Orlando, FL; and St. document authorized the creation of “or- UNITED KINGDOM Thomas More, Scranton, PA. Ordinari- dinariates.” The communities are Catholic „„ Established Jan. 15, 2011 ate groups and clergy are located in areas yet retain elements of Anglican heritage „„ 1,350 members such as California, Iowa, Alabama, New and liturgical practice. also „„ 40 communities York and South Carolina; Edmonton, have been established by the Vatican in „„ 81 priests , Ottawa and Calgary. the United Kingdom (2011) and Australia „„ 2 communities of (2012). Leadership „„ Led by Msgr. Jeffrey N. Steenson is the In Feb. 2012, the Ordinariate of the AUSTRALIA . A Catholic priest since 2009, Chair of St. Peter sponsored a sympo- „„ Established June 15, 2012 he is the former Episcopal Bishop of Rio sium, The Mission of the Ordinaiate, featur- ing Gerhard Müller, prefect „„ 210 members Grande; is based in Houston, Texas; and of the Congregation for the Doctrine of „„ 7 communities/3 in process is a full member of the United States Conference of Catholic and the the Faith on his first visit to the „„ 9 priests Canadian Conference of Catholic Bish- United States. The talk is online at usor- „„ Led by Very Rev Harry ops. He is not a bishop (he is married), dinariate.org/symposium. Entwistle but as Ordinary, Msgr. Steenson has the As of February 18, 2013

Media: Susan Gibbs | 202-525-9554 | [email protected] or [email protected] 9845 Memorial Drive • Houston, TX 77024-3498 • usordinariate.org • Facebook: CSPOrdinariate of the Chair of St. Peter usordinariate.org

Frequently Asked Questions | February 2013

Is there precedent for this? What liturgy is used? The ordinariates are new in that they provide a way for The liturgy looks very similar to a traditional Anglican Anglicans to enter the Church in a corporate manner; liturgy. At this time, typically use the Book of that is, as a group or community, while also retaining , a liturgical text that incorporates Anglican some of their Anglican heritage and traditions. However, prayers and material. The Roman also is authorized there are other Catholic ordinariates, such as military for use. ordinariates that are responsible for Catholics serving in How do become members of the Ordinariate? the armed services and that work in collaboration with local bishops. Anglican laity are required to undergo a period of prepa- ration, to apply in writing to join the Ordinariate, and to Are Ordinariate communities part of local be confirmed as Catholics, as others entering the Church ? do. The approved formation process currently includes No, they are part of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. study of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Peter. However, Ordinariate communities and clergy are encouraged to have close relationships with the dioceses Can lifelong Catholics join the Ordinariate? in which they are located and many of the priests receive The Ordinariate was formed in response to repeated faculties to assist in diocesan parishes. and persistent inquiries from Anglican groups who were seeking to become Catholic. While lifelong Catholics are Is the Ordinariate a separate Rite within the welcome to attend Masses in an Ordinariate , they ? would be members of a regular diocese and diocesan No. The Ordinariate is a separate use within the Latin parish unless a close family member is eligible to join the Rite. Ordinariate communities celebrate a liturgy based Ordinariate. on the traditional Anglican liturgy, though they may also use the . Does an Anglican who wants to become Catholic have to join the ordinariate? What is the process for an Anglican priest to No. An individual may seek to join the Ordinariate, with become a Catholic priest? the Anglican-use heritage, or a diocesan parish. In either Anglican clergy seeking to be ordained as Catholic priests case, the person must follow all of the usual require- must first complete an extensive process that includes ments to become Catholic. background checks; an endorsement by the local Ordi- nary; approval by the head of the Ordinariate and by the A priest in the United States may also apply to be a dioc- Vatican; completion of an approved Ordinariate forma- esan priest under the . tion program; and an examination. How many Ordinariates are there? is the norm for the clergy. Permission has been There are three Ordinariates: Our Lady of Walsingham given on a case-by-case basis by the Pope for former in the United Kingdom; Chair of St. Peter in the United Anglican priests who are married to be ordained Catho- States and Canada; and Our Lady of the Southern Cross lic priests for the Ordinariate. If widowed, they may not in Australia. remarry.

Media: Susan Gibbs | 202-525-9554 | [email protected] or [email protected] 9845 Memorial Drive • Houston, TX 77024-3498 • usordinariate.org • Facebook: CSPOrdinariate