Church of England rector becomes Catholic (expecting #9 child)

[PennyinCanada]

Ex-Anglican priest, father of eight, gives up job to become Catholic

By Simon Caldwell
Catholic News Service

LONDON (CNS) – It’s a brave decision for Ian Hellyer to give up his job when he has to provide for eight children and his wife is pregnant with the couple’s ninth child.

But Hellyer is losing no sleep over his decision. He believes he is answering God’s call to become a Catholic priest in the newly created Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

On Palm Sunday, he formally gave up his 20,000-pound ($33,000) yearly salary as rector of four Church of England parishes in the Dartmoor area of southwest England.

On Holy Thursday, during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Benedictine Buckfast Abbey in Devon, he was to be confirmed by Abbot David Charlesworth. His wife, Margaret, and children, who are already Catholic, were his sponsors.

Hellyer then will make his first Communion as a Catholic, joined by 12 members of the ordinariate group he will lead after his ordination to the Catholic priesthood June 17. The small faith community will be based at the abbey.

“I truly feel that this is God’s call, and there has been nothing to make me think that it isn’t,” he told Catholic News Service April 20.

“It has been a wonderful, wonderful journey,” he said. “There are some practical issues that haven’t been resolved, but I don’t worry that they are not going to be resolved.”

With two of his oldest children preparing for final high school and college entrance exams and a baby due at the end of May, the first issue to address might be finding a home.

More: catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101589.htm

 

[thirddec]

Well he really took God at his word when he said “Go forth and multiply”

 

[Barbkw]

Prayers for him and his large family. And for all clergy converts to Catholicism.

Their faith is to be admired and desired by we who have come so freely to Catholicism.

Many clergy converts & their families suffer through enormous difficulties to be received into the Church.

 

[BernadetteM]

There are many more Anglicans coming into the Catholic Church through the Ordinariates. Hopefully it will be announced soon that the US Ordinariate will be established.

I know of several former Anglican priests joining the Church through the Ordinariate that have between 5-7 children and are leaving behind the security of their former church to become Catholic priests.

They all need our prayers on their journey as they are sacrificing greatly for the faith and a unknown future.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[poor_sinner_1]

Its good that like Newman these former anglican ministers have converted but why are they being ordained only 50 days after being recieved into the Church? I converted 3 years ago as a laymen as have had to wait the obligatory 3 years before people will even talk to me.

 

[BernadetteM]

Its good that like Newman these former anglican ministers have converted but why are they being ordained only 50 days after being recieved into the Church? I converted 3 years ago as a laymen as have had to wait the obligatory 3 years before people will even talk to me.

The ones being ordained have been in seminary for years and served either as a Bishop or priest. They are getting formation in Canon Law and anything important as far as doctrine or teaching that some might be lacking.

You might be surprised at the knowledge of Anglo Catholic priests. Many are better educated in theology than some of our own priests.

I can understand that there are Catholics who might feel cheated in some way and feel that they are getting special treatment, however, I believe that they all have been scrutinized by Rome and the Holy Father and have met the conditions to be ordained.

We must remember that this is a move of the Holy Spirit and not is equal in some people’s eyes. I have read posts that say why didn’t they just convert as individuals, well the honest truth is that they are. Although they are joining with those in their communities that also have made the choice.

The Ordinariate is a broader use of the Anglican Use/Pastoral Provision that has been in place for the past 30 years. The difference is that they are protected by Canon Law and they can always keep their patrimony, which the Pastoral Provision didn’t provide. They can also establish parishes without the consent of the more progressive Bishops who are against the EF and a more traditional practice of the Catholic faith.

There will be clergy who will not be allowed to become ordained per the Complementary Norms and Apostolic Constitution. This will be a very difficult pill to swallow, but these Anglican priests are willing to step down if necessary to be part of the Catholic Church.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette