Sacramento’s first married priest Former Lutheran minister ordained Saturday

[Pax_et_Bonum]

Sacramento’s first married priest
Former Lutheran minister ordained Saturday

A Protestant convert to Catholicism has become the first married priest in the Diocese of Sacramento. He was among three men ordained by Bishop Jaime Soto on Saturday, June 4, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Jeff Henry – now Fr. Jeff Henry – is a 51-year-old former Lutheran pastor and a convert to Catholicism. He has been married to his wife, Peg, for 26 years and has one adult daughter.

In a December 2010 letter to priests and religious of the Sacramento diocese, Bishop Soto announced that the Vatican had been given permission from the Vatican to ordain Fr. Henry.

“After prayerful discernment following his reception in the Catholic Church, Mr. Henry petitioned my predecessor, the Most Reverend William Weigand, for ordination to the priesthood,” said Bishop Soto in the 2010 letter. “Bishop Weigand, in accord with the special provisions provided for such by the Holy See, requested permission to ordain Mr. Henry after proper preparation. This decision was granted last month.”
calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=44365c04-b48f-447f-a60e-72b498c5485a

 

[Young_Thinker]

Congratulations to Fr. Henry! I am sure that with all of his experience, he will be an excellent priest.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

This is my diocese

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

This is my diocese

Correction this is my church, he has been assigned to St. Vincent Ferrer I just got back from this welcome event after a Mass by him. I have high hopes for him

 

[m134e5]

I am glad Sacramento has a new priest (that’s always a good thing), but I don’t see the need to focus on the fact that he’s married. It is important to rejoice in the celebration of a Sacrament rather than in an exception to a rule being made.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

From the article:

“Most are former Episcopalians, but there are a few Lutherans and one Baptist that I know of,” Gautier told the Bee.

I have always wondered, does a converting married Protestant minister have to come from certain denominations or a particular kind of denomination in order to be considered for ordination?

 

[otjm]

From the article:

I have always wondered, does a converting married Protestant minister have to come from certain denominations or a particular kind of denomination in order to be considered for ordination?

The primary denomination has been Anglican/Episcopal, with others from the Lutheran denominations, Methodists, and at least one Presbyterian - Father
Slider Stuernol, in my Archdiocese (now deceased). In other words, they are coming from the mainline Protestant denominations - which is not to say there are not others, but the vast majority seem to be from the mainline groups.

 

[Pax_et_Bonum]

I am glad Sacramento has a new priest (that’s always a good thing), but I don’t see the need to focus on the fact that he’s married. It is important to rejoice in the celebration of a Sacrament rather than in an exception to a rule being made.

Why not?It is obviously an exception to the rule and is educational to Catholics and lurkers who did not know that was possible and perhaps to other married ministers who would love to convert and with preparation be ordained but had no idea it was possible for a married man.

 

[m134e5]

Why not?It is obviously an exception to the rule and is educational to Catholics and lurkers who did not know that was possible and perhaps to other married ministers who would love to convert and with preparation be ordained but had no idea it was possible for a married man.

I suspect that many of these stories are not sensationalized simply because people are fascinated by the rules and why exceptions are made to them. If this were just one isolated story, I would expect that to be the case- but it seems some want to brand the Catholic Church (Latin Rite, of course- but few Catholics in this country know that married priests are a part of the eastern Tradition) as one that break its own rules. People in this society want to “have it all” and they celebrate when an institution they see as oppressive seems to relax the rules and give in to secular society.

 

[mulayeuxbleu]

My parish in Oregon is getting a newly ordained priest who converted from the Episcopal Church in 2008. He’s been in ministry since 1978 and, as far as I know, is married. It’s good to know that particular info before you see them together. Then there is context and understanding for the particular relationship and no scandal.