The Anglican Ordinariate which aims to be established in Australia by
Pentecost is about evangelising, not preserving some pure form of
Anglicanism, one of its leading figures said.
Bishop Harry Entwistle of Perth, one of 50 disaffected Anglicans who met
on the Gold Coast this week to gauge “how many and who” will join the
Ordinariate, said the Ordinariate’s aim will be that of the universal
Church – to bring people into relationship with God.
Bishop Entwistle, who will address a Festival at Holy Family Catholic
Parish in Como to “introduce the Anglican Ordinariate for Australia” on
26 February, said it has always been believed that the Ordinarate will
begin “with smallish numbers who will then try to grow and evangelise”.
“We’ve got to get rid of the idea that all we’re interested in is
preserving some ideal form of Anglicanism. We’re there to bring others
to know and love the Lord and be united to the Church. That’s what it’s
about,” Bishop Entwistle told The Record.
“We will be a part of the full Catholic Church, and like the rest of the
Catholic Church our mission is to bring others into the Church, into a
relationship with God.
“We’ll just have a different form of worship, but still be part of the
Church, rather like having the Eastern Catholics – which, though not an
exact parallel, is similar.”
The prelate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, which claims a global
membership of over 400,000, is expected to be ordained a Catholic
priest with three others, including one from the Torres Strait, to lead
the western, eastern, southern and northern regions in Australia.
Japan’s TAC community, led by a retired Anglican Bishop, is expected to
decide later this month to join the Australian Ordinariate.
The Festival, which Como parish priest Fr Aloysius Leong told his packed
congregation last Sunday is “very important” for the Catholic Church,
will also be held in Melbourne and Adelaide as an “information sharing
session to see what the level of interest might be”.
Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Peter Elliott, a former Anglican and Delegate
for the Holy See for the Australian Ordinariate, will address the
Festival in Perth, as will TAC Primate Archbishop John Hepworth of
Adelaide.
Lay speakers will also address the Festival on what importance and
interest the Ordinariate would hold for ‘cradle Catholics’ and former
Anglicans who have already been received into the Catholic Church.