What is the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter? ABOUT WHY THE ORDINARIATE WAS CREATED IN THE UNITED The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is The establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of STATES AND equivalent to a diocese for Roman Catholics who were St. Peter was the Vatican’s pastoral response to repeated and CANADA nurtured in the Anglican tradition. The Ordinariate persistent inquiries made by Anglican individuals and groups was created by the Vatican on Jan. 1, 2012. in the United States and Canada who, over time, have come to Based in Houston, identify the Catholic Church as their home. Texas, the Personal Members of the Ordinariate are fully Roman Catholic, Ordinariate of the while retaining elements of Anglican heritage in Those joining the Ordinariate have discerned they are truly Chair of St. Peter has their celebration of Mass and in the hospitality and Catholic in what they believe and desire full membership in the more than 40 Roman ministries of their Catholic parishes. Catholic Church. Catholic parishes and communities across the U.S. and Canada. MISSION INSTRUMENTS OF CHRISTIAN UNITY • 1 Bishop-elect • 1 Ordinary The Ordinariate exists for those who are and who will be In the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism Emeritus coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. (Unitatis redintegatio), the Catholic Church specified what • 62 Priests Through the reverence and beauty of our worship, the it would look like to bring all Christians together into • 6 Deacons study of Sacred Scripture and charity for those in need, we communion. The Council said Christian groups would • 4 Candidates for desire to share the joy of being Roman Catholic! bring their own distinctive traditions to the Catholic Priesthood or the Church; they would not be suppressed or absorbed. The Diaconate We wish to build bridges with all our brothers and sisters who are Vatican’s generous expression of care in establishing the Ordinariates • 1 Seminarian drawn to the Catholic Church, so that we might build up the one Body affirms the Catholic Church’s vision for Christian unity, in which diverse • 42 Parishes & of Christ. expressions of one faith are joined together in the Church. Communities OUR LEADER AROUND THE GLOBE Members of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter are There are three united with the entire Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Personal Ordinariates Francis. in the world: Our Lady As of Nov. 24, 2015, the Ordinariate is particularly led by Bishop-elect It is the Holy Spirit, the of Walsingham in the Steven J. Lopes. principle of unity, which United Kingdom; the Chair of Saint Peter in Like other bishops in the United States and Canada, Bishop-elect Lopes establishes the Church as the United States and serves under the direct authority of the Holy Father to build up the a communion.“ Canada; and Our Lady Catholic Church through mutual mission and ministry. Bishop-elect of the Southern Cross Lopes will be a full member of the United States Conference of Catholic The apostolic constitution, Anglicanorum in Australia. Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. coetibus authorized the creation of Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson was the first Ordinary (or Personal Ordinariates: communities head) of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint that are fully Roman Catholic yet retain Peter; he led the Ordinariate until his retirement in elements of Anglican heritage and liturgical practice. November 2015. Bishop-elect Steven J. Lopes OUR CLERGY OUR MEMBERS BEST KNOWN COMMON QUESTIONS The Ordinariate’s Those who join the Beloved sources of inspiration ARE MEMBERS OF THE ORDINARIATE ALSO PART OF A LOCAL DIOCESE? priests and deacons Ordinariate desire full for the Ordinariate include: No, they are part of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. However, are clergy who communion with the Catholic Ordinariate communities and clergy are encouraged to have close were ordained Church because of their Blessed John Henry relationships with the dioceses in which they are located and many of the after an belief in Her teachings and Newman, the renown priests receive faculties to assist in diocesan parishes. extensive formation process in authority. theologian who converted to Catholicism after coming to CAN LIFELONG CATHOLICS JOIN AN ORDINARIATE PARISH? the Catholic Church. Lay people who are not yet believe the Roman Catholic Any Catholic may attend Ordinariate liturgies and functions, just as This process requires: a Catholic and Church was in closest background check; the who wish to members of the Ordinariate can attend liturgies and functions at any continuity to the church Catholic parish. While lifelong Catholics are welcome to attend Masses in approval of the Ordinariate join the established by Jesus. an Ordinariate parish, they would be members of a regular diocese (unless a and the Vatican; the Ordinariate close family member is eligible to join the Ordinariate). completion of an approved are required to undergo Father Paul Watson, formation program; and an a period of preparation; If a Catholic has left the Church but is reconciled to it through an founder of the Society of Ordinariate parish and completes his or her sacraments of initiation in an examination. apply in writing to join Atonement, the first religious Ordinariate parish, they are eligible for membership in the Ordinariate. the Ordinariate; and to be community of Christians to Celibacy is the norm for Lifelong Catholics who worship with an Ordinariate community are clergy. Permission has been confirmed as Catholics — just be received corporately into as others entering the Church welcome to become formal “affiliates” of the Ordinariate, and should given on a case-by-case the Roman Catholic Church consult with their local Ordinariate pastor about how to do so. basis by the Pope for former do. The formation process since the Reformation. Anglican priests who are currently includes study of IS THE ORDINARIATE A SEPARATE RITE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? Our Lady of Walsingham, married to be ordained the United States Catholic who instructed a noble widow No. The Ordinariate exists entirely within the context of the Roman Catholic priests for the Catechism for Adults. Catholic Church. Its worship, while distinctive, is a form of the Roman to build a replica of Nazareth Ordinariate. Former Anglicans and Rite. Ordinariate parishes celebrate Mass using Divine Worship: The Missal, in Walsingham, England to Methodists who have already a definitive book of liturgical texts promulgated by the Vatican in Advent If widowed, they may not commemorate Mary’s joy become Catholic and wish 2015. This missal uses Prayer Book English — language derived from the remarry. at the announcement of the to join the Ordinariate may classic books of the Anglican liturgical tradition — that is fully Catholic in Incarnation. The apparition content and expression. submit an application form to of Mary continues to inspire the Ordinariate. new generations to encounter the joy of the Incarnation. CONTACT MASSES IN THE ORDINARIATE Your local Ordinariate priest The mission of the Ordinariate is particularly ordinariate.net/communities experienced in the reverence and beauty of our worship, which features Anglican traditions of The Chancery of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter worship while conforming to Catholic doctrinal, sacramental and liturgical standards. ordinariate.net/contact-us Through Divine Worship: The Missal — the liturgy that unites the Ordinariates throughout the English-speaking world 713.609.9292 — we share our distinctive commitment to praising God in the eloquence of the Anglican liturgical patrimony and Prayer Book [email protected] English. /CSPOrdinariate.