About 900 prospective members of the new ordinariate, including 61
former Anglican clergy, prepared for their reception into the Catholic
Church in England and Wales over the weekend.
They were among the more than 4,700 others who gathered for the Rite
of Election in cathedrals across England and Wales over the weekend of
March 12-13 to prepare to be received into the Church during Holy Week.
“I am greatly encouraged that these people will be received into the
Catholic Church at Easter as members of the ordinariate,” said Fr. Keith
Newton, the ordinary heading Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
“During the next few weeks they will continue their prayerful
preparation for this significant step.”
Pope Benedict XVI established the ordinariate, a special church
structure, to allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while
retaining some of their customs and liturgy.
Figures from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
indicate that former Anglicans will have a significant presence among
new converts.
In the Archdiocese of Westminster, a reported 62 of the 829
participants in the Rite of Election will join the Ordinariate of Our
Lady of Walsingham.
In the Archdiocese of Birmingham 100 of the 302
prospective Catholics will join the ordinariate, as will 167 of the 512
participants in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
In the Diocese of Brentwood, which includes Essex and East London, 240 of the 362 participants were bound for the ordinariate.
In southwest England’s Diocese of Plymouth, those joining the
ordinariate also made up the majority undergoing the Rite of Election:
60 out of 80.
They will join five former Anglican bishops who have already become Catholic, including Fr. Newton.
“The witness of so many people taking this life-changing step is so very encouraging,” said Bishop Kieran Conry, chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis for the bishops’ conference. “Each year people freely choose to come forward from all walks of life, bringing with them unique experiences and talents. The Catholic Community welcomes them with love, friendship and the assurance of prayer.”
“The witness of so many people taking this life-changing step is so very encouraging,” said Bishop Kieran Conry, chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis for the bishops’ conference. “Each year people freely choose to come forward from all walks of life, bringing with them unique experiences and talents. The Catholic Community welcomes them with love, friendship and the assurance of prayer.”
The bishop encouraged anyone considering entering the Catholic Church
or exploring it further to contact their local Catholic church or to
ask a Catholic friend for help.