Pope names first Catholic bishop to oversee Anglican ordinariate [CNA]

[twf]

Perhaps the election of presbyters was always seen as temporary, a stopgap measure to serve the fledgling movement until it could grow to the proper maturity. I am sure that in a generation or two, the Ordinariates will be populated not by converts but by Cradle Ordinarians. I presume that non-convert priests will be observing the discipline of celibacy and therefore eligible for election as bishop.

Monsignor Steenson’s comments seemed to indicate that the Ordinariate was mature enough to be in need of a true bishop already, and he seemed prepared and willing to accept that it happened sooner rather than later. It’s a gracious move on his part. I am sure that he will have a fruitful future career, even if it isn’t quite so visible or prestigious as what he’s leaving behind.

Reading the statement by the Monsignor, I think you may be right. It does also sound like the governing council of the Ordinariate was involved in selecting the new bishop-elect. I wonder what role the Ordinary emeritus will hold now. Pastor of a parish? Vicar general? He’s pretty young still. I also wonder if he will continue to wear pontificals when celebrating mass? I believe in the UK Ordinariate all 5 of the C of E bishops who were received into the Ordinariate and ordained presbyters have the right to wear pontificals.

 

[ProVobis]

Priests of the pastoral provision do, on occasions, celebrate Mass in Latin just as other priests may. The liturgy of the Book of Divine Worship, as such, is not a Latin language liturgy though since it is drawn from the Book of Common Prayer.

I understand much of it is of Cranmer’s doing. Didn’t the Council of Trent have a major problem with it?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Reading the statement by the Monsignor, I think you may be right. It does also sound like the governing council of the Ordinariate was involved in selecting the new bishop-elect. I wonder what role the Ordinary emeritus will hold now. Pastor of a parish? Vicar general? He’s pretty young still. I also wonder if he will continue to wear pontificals when celebrating mass? I believe in the UK Ordinariate all 5 of the C of E bishops who were received into the Ordinariate and ordained presbyters have the right to wear pontificals.

This was dealt with in the Complementary Norms issued at the time of the promulgation of Anglicanorum coetibus:

§4. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate and who has not been ordained as a bishop in the Catholic Church, may request permission from the Holy See to use the insignia of the episcopal office.

There is provision also for Monsignor to remain engaged with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

§3. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate may be invited to participate in the meetings of the Bishops’ Conference of the respective territory, with the equivalent status of a retired bishop.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20091104_norme-anglicanorum-coetibus_en.html

In addition to being the Ordinary, Monsignor Steenson has also been a professor of patristics at a Catholic university and a seminary that is located near the Ordinariate’s curia.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Interesting, so the Ordinate (Anglican) use with the Book of Divine Worship only uses an analogue to the Anglican/Episcopal Rite I service in the Elizabethan English? No analogue to the contemporary English Rite II any longer?

No, the Rite II that was in the BDW was eliminated. If the congregation desires to have Mass in contemporary English, they would need to use the current edition of the Roman Missal, in English.

 

[twf]

No, the Rite II that was in the BDW was eliminated. If the congregation desires to have Mass in contemporary English, they would need to use the current edition of the Roman Missal, in English.

If the Ordinariate parish I am familiar with is an indication, I can’t see this being a popular option. It is a very traditional parish that celebrates mass in a way I describe as “the EF in English.”

 

[twf]

This was dealt with in the Complementary Norms issued at the time of the promulgation of Anglicanorum coetibus:

§4. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate and who has not been ordained as a bishop in the Catholic Church, may request permission from the Holy See to use the insignia of the episcopal office.

There is provision also for Monsignor to remain engaged with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

§3. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate may be invited to participate in the meetings of the Bishops’ Conference of the respective territory, with the equivalent status of a retired bishop.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20091104_norme-anglicanorum-coetibus_en.html

In addition to being the Ordinary, Monsignor Steenson has also been a professor of patristics at a Catholic university and a seminary that is located near the Ordinariate’s curia.

Thanks Father. Perhaps the Monsignor will focus on his teaching role then without the burden of pastoring the Ordinariate.

 

[hwriggles4]

I follow the Anglican Ordinariate myself, because there are a few parishes in Texas attached to the Ordinariate. I read Msgr. Steenson’s statement (which can be found on the Our Lady of Walsingham website and on the blog Ordinariate Expats) that Msgr. Steenson had been asking for a bishop for at least a year, and Bishop-elect Lopes worked with the Ordinariate in it’s early stages. Lopes’s experience was a big help.

I think Msgr. Steenson will stay in an administrative position, since he is only 63 years old and based in Houston. Lopes will move to Houston, and live in the rectory at Our Lady of Walsingham. I’ve had the priviledge to attend Mass in Houston were he was the celebrant at Our Lady of Walsingham. It’s a reverent liturgy.

I can’t help wondering that with a bishop appointed to the Anglican Ordinariate (Msgr. Steenson cannot be a bishop - he was married years prior to his ordination as a Catholic priest), if the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) will get a bishop within the next few years. The FSSP is growing too.

I also can’t help wondering why bishop appointments in the United States are going a little slow. Auxiliary bishops and a couple of vacant sees. I know this takes time.

I also want to thank the poster who posted the informative links from Rocco Palmo and Fr. Z.