The Orthodox confirm their Orthodox Worship - where now for the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church?

Over the past few years, whilst divisions have grown among members of the Anglican Communion, several parishes have looked to the Orthodox Church to find a home. Something I found unlikely given the difference in rites and there has been controversy among the Orthodox about this.
An answer seemed to be provided in the Orthodox Church providing an oversight which allowed a Western Rite, in this case an Anglican one. One tended to hear of the Anglican rituals being slowly eroded by local Orthodox bishops and now the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia have promulgated this decree:

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=17793

I am not sure how this effects those of the Western Rite overseen by the Antiochean and Romanian Orthodox but it has effects for all those of the ROCOR, which include the three Western Rite parishes here in the UK.

I am guessing that the now deposed Bishop Jerome, who had oversight of this Vicariate since 18th May, 2011, has been seen to be making things to easy for former Anglican priests to become priests of the ROCOR and lax in the implementation of Eastern Divine Liturgy.

Happy and Holy New Year...see you soon!

Dear All,

I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. On this, the last day in the Christmas Octave and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, may the blessing of the Christ child bring light hope and peace to you and all your loved ones.

After a self-imposed purdah, I will return to posting next week with a few reflections on the events that I have missed - the so-called hostage taking at my place of work (so much for the Levenson-era level of reportage by the 'Sun', 'Daily Mail', etc...), the absolute nightmare being visited upon those who are working full-time for low wages and trying to find a decent home on housing benefit, along with the continuing developments in the world of the Personal Ordinariates.

I might force myself to mention Manchester United's beginning the New Year at the top of the League (whatever the outcome of today's games).

I am also planning to concentrate on the County and Unitary Council Elections due in May of this year. Following the debacle for Labour in 2009, it is easy to predict big gains for them, so I will take a bit more of a risky strategy of making guesses (educated, I hope) about the outcome in the politically unusual unitary authority of Cornwall, the former Liberal redoubt of the Isle of Wight, my former home in Durham and the county of Suffolk.

For those in the know, the Cornish electoral world is a wonder to behold so wish me luck.

Anyway, take care and best wishes.

Former TAC clergy now in the Roman Catholic Church. This is a work in progress - assistance gratefully accepted.

Following my post on Parishes, I have decided to have a posting of the names of Traditional Anglican Communion clergy who are now members of the Ordinariates, whether lay or clerical. Please excuse the lack of titles, it is not meant in an offensive way, they are all Reverends to me.

Canada

Carl Reid              (former Bishop of the ACCC) of the Annunciation of the BVM, Ottawa
Gerard Trinque     Christ the King, Tyendinaga
Peter Wilkinson    (former Presiding Bishop of the ACCC) formerly of St John the Evangelist, Victoria, now of Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia
Michael Trolly      of the Annunciation of the BVM, Ottawa
James Tilly              of Good Shepherd, Oshawa
B. Kipling Cooper  of Holy Trinity, Barrhaven
Doug Hayman        of St Barnabas, Spencerville
David Garrett         of Good Shepherd, Oshawa
Colin O'Rourke   formerly of Christ the King parish, Calgary, Alberta
Tony Ward         formerly of Christ the King parish, Calgary, Alberta
Ernest Skulblics   formerly of Christ the King parish, Calgary, Alberta
Michael Shier      formerly of St Peter and St Paul parish, Vancouver.
David Skelton     formerly of Our Lady and St Michael parish, Edmonton, now Fellowship of                  Blessed John Henry Newman, Edmonton.
Michael Birch     formerly of St John the Evangelist, Victoria, now of Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia
Don Malins         formerly of St John the Evangelist, Victoria, now of Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia
Sean Henry         formerly of St John the Evangelist, Victoria, now of Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia
Ralph Braunstien  formerly of St John the Evangelist, Victoria, now of Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia
Peter Switzer      formerly of St John the Evangelist, Victoria, now of Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia
Edward Gale      formerly of Our Lady and St Martin, Mayne Island
Raymond Ball    formerly of St Edmund Parish, Waterloo, Ontario
Dr Charles Warner formerly of Holy Cross Parish, Sydney Forks, Nova Scotia
Chris LePage     formerly of St Thomas More, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Richard Harris   formerly of St Michael's, Fredericton, New Brunswick (joined with 11 others on June 24th, 2013)
I know that the list of Priests and Deacons in the final ACCC newsletter authored by Bishop Reid included other names but I am yet to discover if they have joined the Roman Catholic Church whilst en route to the Ordinariate.

UK

Robert Mercer  former Bishop of Matabeleland and Presiding Bishop of the ACCC
John Maunder   of St Agatha's, Landport
Brian Gill          former Vicar General of the TTAC
Philip Penfold   of St Agatha's, Landport

Australia

Harry Entwistle  (former Bishop in the ACCA) Ordinary. St Ninian and St Chad, Maylands, West Australia
Tony Iball         Patmos House Community, Brisbane, Queensland
Stephen Hill

Reception in process:

Gordon Barnier   (Vicar General of the Diocese of the Torres Strait) Parish of St Clare, Cairns, Queensland
Andrew Kinmont chapel of St Stephen, Protomartyr, Upper Coomera, Queensland.
Warren Wade     parish of St Mary the Virgin, North Turramura, Sydney, NSW
Owen Buckton   (former Administrator of the ACCA) Parish of Our Lady of Walsingham, Rockhampton, Queensland.
William P Hannigan, North Brisbane, Queensland

USA

Louis Campese        former Bishop of the Diocese of the Eastern United States in the ACA
William Holiday        of the Church (Cathedral) of the Incarnation, Florida
Scott Whitmore         of the Church (Cathedral) of the Incarnation, Florida
Lewis Berry formerly of the ACA in Houston, Texas.
Dennis Hewitt           of the Sacred Heart Mission, Mt Airy, Maryland
Dean Steward           of the Holy Cross Mission, Ocala, Florida
Lawrence Reinholt    of Christ the King Parish, Towson, Maryland.
Ray Strawser            of Christ the King Parish, Towson, Maryland.
Mark Bradley           of Christ the King Parish, Towson, Maryland.
Edward Meeks           of Christ the King Parish, Towson, Maryland.
Andrew Bartus            of Blessed John Henry Newman Mission Parish, Orange County, California
Luke Reese                 of St Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Use Society, Indiana, Indianapolis.
George Ortiz-Guzman  of St Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Oceania, California
William Ledbetter        of St Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Oceania, California
Dennie Eisele              of St Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Oceania, California
David Ousley               of St Michael the Archangel Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Melvin (Bud) Reick     of Christ the King Parish, Towson, Maryland.
Jonathin Chori Seraiah  formerly of St Aiden's Parish, Des Moines, Iowa
Nicholas Marziani       of St James, St Augustine, Florida
Lowell Andrews         of Holy Trinity, Payson, Arizona
William Waun             of Our Lady of Good Counsel Mission, Jacksonville, North Carolina. I believe he was previously in the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC).
John Worgul               Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary, Towson, Maryland.
Canon Tom Cairns       (former Canon to the Ordinary to Archbishop Falk) - not sure if he is joining the Ordinariate or not although he has been received.

Which Traditional Anglican Communion parishes have joined the Personal Ordinariates?

There have been several questions asked about which  former Traditional Anglican Communion Parishes, Missions and groups have joined the Catholic Church through the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Apostolicorum Coetibus so I have endeavoured to list them in as up to date a fashion as I am able.

I am aware that some named (specifically in Canada) are not yet formal parishes or missions of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, but they are due to be. Please feel free to point out any mistakes and send any updates and omissions.

USA - formerly the Anglican Church in America (ACA-TAC)

Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter

Church of the Incarnation, Orlando, Florida (formerly the Cathedral of the Incarnation for the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Church in America (ACA-TAC) and then the Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family for those en-route for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter).

Mission of Holy Cross, Ocala, Florida (received with the Church of the Incarnation)

Parish of Christ the King, Towson, Maryland.

Mission Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mount Airy, Maryland, subsequently added as a mission attached to Christ the King, Towson.

St Augustine of Canterbury, Oceanside, California (formerly the Church of the Resurrection Mission Parish in Oceanside).

Blessed John Henry Newman Mission Parish, Orange County, California (made up of former members of the ACA-TAC, TEC and others. Their Priest-in-Charge, Father Bartus, was formerly a priest of the ACA-TAC)

St Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Use Society, Indiana, Indianapolis.

St Michael the Archangel Church, Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.

Former Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family..parishes/missions:
Notre Dame du Mt. Carmel..Margate, Florida

Rye de Gloria Mission..Pinecrest, Florida

Our Lady of the Angels..New Smyrna Beach, Florida

St. Luke's Mission...The Villages, Florida

Our Lady of Good Counsel...Jacksonville, North Carolina

St. Edmund of Canterbury...Fredricksburg, Virginia

Holy Trinity, Payson, Arizona.

Canada - Formerly of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada  (ACCC-TAC) 

Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter

Sodality of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ottowa, Ontario.

Holy Nativity Sodality, Barrhaven, Ontario (a Mission of the Sodality of the Annunciation of the BVM )

St Barnabas Sodality, Spencerville, Ontario (a Mission of the Sodality of the Annunciation of the BVM)

Sodality of the Good Shepherd, Oshawa, Ontario.

Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia.

Sodality of St Edmund, King and Martyr, Cambridge, Ontario.

The Apostolate of the Holy Cross, Sydney, Nova Scotia

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory's Christ the King Parish, Ontario

St Michael's, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

I am aware other communities in Canada may have joined but can't get any details at the moment.

Australia - formerly  Anglican Catholic Church in Australia (ACCA-TAC)

Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross

St Ninian and St Chad, Maylands, West Australia

Melbourne Ordinariate Group, Victoria (some members formerly from St Mary the Virgin Parish (ACCA-TAC), South Caulfield)


Five ACCA-TAC priests are named as contacts on the website so I assume they will be coming with parish communities (though this could be wrong) but will wait for a formal announcement. Interestingly, Bishop Robarts, initially named as a contact for Tasmania, is no longer listed but it was probably considered 'bad politics' to be on the site whilst still in post in the ACCA.

United Kingdom - formerly The Traditional Anglican Church (TTAC-TAC)

Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

St Agatha's Church, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Presteigne Ordinariate Group, Powys, Wales, formerly the TTAC parish community led by Fr Gill.

I want to be equal to you but not, God forbid, the same (my sister, 25 years ago).

Whatever you think about the ongoing debate in the Church of England about the proposed Ordination of women as Bishops, whatever side you take theologically, you have to agree that Melanie McDonagh has a point in this comment:

http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/thats-enough-flannel-about-women-bishops-7932087.html

I cannot really see what the argument is about: once you have ordained a woman to the diaconate the road to the episcopacy is open, at this point the theological argument is done.

As it happens, I remain unconvinced about the ordination of women, not least given the arguments are often made from a particular view of equality which seems to equate the word with 'sameness', which is a bizarrely lazy philosophical proposition. I know I could give a much better case for the Ordination of women than some I have heard, and in that sense I am open to being convinced.  However, I back away whenever I hear the argument that suggests that Jesus did not choose women at the time due to the 'culture' - you see everybody, Jesus who sat at the well talking to the Samaritan woman, who spent time with Zacchaeus the tax-collector and saving a woman from being stoned. Jesus the one who was tortured and died for us was, apparently, scared of upsetting social norms.

Such tosh undermines our Saviour and leaves me cold and ever further from the 'greasy pole climbers pushing for episcopal ordination'. Not my words, but those of an Anglican priest friend of mine despairing of the present debate, and she is no knee-jerk Conservative.

Fr John Hunwicke

For those interested in such things, I am delighted to read on the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham website that Rev John Hunwicke will be Ordained to the Priesthood at 7pm on Wednesday, 27th June. It will take place at the Oxford Oratory.

He has shown great patience in trying times and he is an example to us all. I wish him all the very best and Ad Multos Annos.

"Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance."

One of the rather frustrating things about blogging and subsequent comments made to any posts is the not infrequent disagreements that blow up. I am no shrinking violet, but the ferocity of some of the commentary on a post is shocking and often quite personal.

I used to visit a site called The Continuum (a 'continuing Anglican' blog) to find out what was going on in their world and its comment section was so full of bile that I stupidly felt the need to suggest that what was being posted was unacceptable and, as the particular comment I was replying to made appalling suggestions about fatherless priests and their need for prayers, I suggested that as what was said was nasty and untrue then the commenter should keep their prayers for themselves. Amazingly, my comment was blocked by the 'moderator' as impolite whilst other appalling trash was allowed to be spewed. The interesting thing is that he commented on his forum that he had blocked me for bad manners but then allowed a mass of vitriol to be pored on my head because of my Blog title. The things I am apparently in favour of is not believable and, as anyone will have gathered from my posts, I am a traditionalist when it comes to the doctrine of the Church.

The terrier in me wanted to hit back, but I found ignoring the site easy and I have never been back since.

I suppose the anonymity that the internet affords a person can make one feel uninhibited but that cannot be an excuse for some of what is 'said' by those who post. I don't doubt that people have strong views about any issues and when a Post comes up that touched upon a person's deeply held convictions, a reaction can be expected; my own concern is that the response should be both proportional and reflects what has actually been posted, rather than be a repost to a perceived slight or opinion (actually, it would also delight me if accuracy was part of the response, but that's a personal preference).

I have been a victim of this myself (and even, accidentally, a perpetrator, hence my concern for care) where a person has attacked me for what I have said (when I haven't) and even constantly quoting back what was actually said makes no difference to the furore caused by the perceived offence caused. Also, just as misery likes a companion, others rush to express an opinion and things get wilder and less connected to the original point that the Blogger was trying to make.

Now, some people love this and find it entertaining and liberating - sadly, I am not one of these. Perhaps I am too uptight but my mother always encourages her children to be polite and correct. She also says we shouldn't butt into a conversation, but that is the point of the comment section in the blogosphere and, whilst my Mum is great at most things, she does like to butt in herself as my sisters will wearily testify.

It isn't that I believe that people shouldn't comment, they should as this is the way that conversations begin, opinions are shared and news passed. Also, it ensures that corrections to inaccuracies in the original post (or subsequent comments) can be made. Also, people do not have to agree but everything should be done with good heart and be a response to what has actually been said.

For the Blogger, there is a need to be careful in what is posted to be sure it is not gratuitously offensive and that it is not the dissemination of false information...not easy in the latter case so mistakes will be made. In the former, good manners are easy.

I hear tell of trolls (which still bring bridges and Billy Goats Gruff to my mind) and they are just sad people with nothing better to do than to post inflammatory and nasty things. They are what they are - for the rest of us, let us be better at how we respond to others and lets not play 'Chinese whispers' as we could end up in a storm not entirely of our own making.

"When you fast, do not put on a gloomy look.." I'll try Lord, I'll really try.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Season of Lent; for those of us who take these Seasons seriously, it is a time to take a look at how we live our lives as Christians and how much we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by our habits, our greed and our self-involvement. We are encouraged to give something up and pray more deeply.

The Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday always seems to stand in contradiction to what we, especially as Catholics, receive - the priest places ashes on our foreheads too remind us that we live a passing life in this world ("Remember man that thou are dust and to dust thou shall return") and to live it wisely ("Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel") and encourages us not to wipe them off.

Now, as I have heard mentioned many times, surely Jesus urges us not to be like the hypocrites who stand on street corners, looking gloomy and pulling long faces so people know we are fasting. Indeed, He tells us:"...when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no-one will know that you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret." So, why do we keep the ashes on our head?

The answer lies in the response of those who see us; in the time of Christ, the 'outwardly' religious would make a big show of their prayers and their fasting, knowing that it would invite compliments and sympathy. The word hypocrite here takes us back to its original meaning of 'actor': those acting in such a way were playing a role or a part and, like actors throughout time, seeking approbation and applause. It has now come to mean someone who is a liar

If we wear ashes on our heads in public, it draws comment of misunderstanding -"you've got something on your head, mate", "have you hurt yourself?" or abuse. Wearing ashes is a sign of contradiction to the world, as much a contradiction as in the times of Christ was that of praying and fasting privately.

More than that, it is an encouragement to others in their own faith - in a world where wearing a crucifix in a care home is considered a 'health and safety issue' or offering a prayer for someone is a reason for being disciplined, a quiet public witness is not a bad thing.

As for the fasting and (on Ash Wednesday and Fridays) abstaining from meat, that should be done in good humour and without drawing attention to ourselves - as far as possible, that is. I will be honest, I am a terrible faster: from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I am starving - it is ridiculous I know. I can go all day without eating normally but once it is required, it really bothers me. Weird hey? Why do we fast? That brings me back to the beginning of this post: it is a time to take a look at how we live our lives as Christians and how much we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by our habits, our greed and our self-involvement.


We follow the example of our Saviour who, before He began His mission, fasted for 40 days and nights to face all that the devil could throw at Him in His weakened state, and was thus strengthened. We fast and sacrifice so that we may be strengthened to face the trials and temptations of life.

However, we don't only 'give something up', we also use the time to strengthen our prayer lives and to, as Jesus reminds us in the Gospel, "go into your private room and, when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place..." We need a period of time to refuel, to spiritually reconnect with the deepest parts of our being where only we know ourselves and God knows who we truly are. This is what some call the 'inner tabernacle' which we need to spend time reflecting upon so we might assess our lives and turn to God for His Grace.

So - fasting and prayer are part of Lent. So is undertaking charitable acts - be it by donating what is saved by our fasting to a good cause or by giving of the time we have saved by not watching the telly as much or whatever. We do it quietly, as the gospel reminds us "when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing" - or, put as my grandma would have said, "giving has no bells."

Lent can seem very tough and without much light, but it needn't be...it has  the joy of Spring flowers growing, one using time more creatively, losing weight (depending on what we may have given up) and, most wonderfully of all, the knowledge that if we do it well, "your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."

Now, that's worth ash on the head.

Dawkins's Darwinistic dumb moment.

Amazing, I have just heard Richard Dawkins stumbling to answer Giles Fraser when he was asked for the full title of Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species. It wouldn't matter if Professor Dawkins hadn't just said "of course I do" to the question and, far more importantly, is claiming that the fact that a large number of self-identifying Christians in an Opinion Poll commissioned by the "Richard Dawkins Foundation" couldn't name the first book of the New Testament was one of the proofs they weren't really Christian. I suppose that means Professor Dawkins isn't really a Darwinist.
Such pompous nonsense.

Second Wave.

I thought those who have been wondering what is happening with the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham might be interested in this blogpost:http://www.tunbridgewells-ordinariate.com/blog/?p=2195#comments