about the Anglican Ordinariate

The Anglican Ordinariate is a structure in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, which functions much like a diocese, though without geographical boundaries.  Its intention is to preserve the distinctive elements of the Anglican heritage within the communion of the Catholic Church, thereby enriching both the Anglicans and the Latin Rite. 

The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was established on January 1, 2012 for the United States.  Fr Jeffrey Steenson was named the first Ordinary.  Details can be found on the Ordinariate web site: www.usordinariate.org.

The structure of the Ordinariate is established by Pope Benedict's 2009 Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus and its accompanying Norms.  One national Ordinariate has been set up to date -- in England and Wales.  The American one is expected to be erected by the Congregation for the Doctrne of the Faith in the fall of 2011.  The Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, is overseeing the preliminary work.  He recently presented a report on his work to a meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A provisional summary of the specific elements of the Anglican patrimony is given in an article by Fr Samuel Edwards, available here.  This is part of an on-going discussion about the particulars of the Anglican heritage.  Differences of opinion have contributed to the fragmentation of Anglican churches in recent years.  Anglicans interested in the Ordinariate are much closer to a common mind.  Fr Edwards' paper has no official status.

St Michael's looks to the Anglican Ordinariate as an opportunity to preserve all that is precious in the Anglican Way within the fullness of the communion of the Catholic Church.  Inquiries about St Michael's relation to the Ordinariate should be addressed to Fr Ousley.

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