The Glory of These Days

Newly priested Fr. Timothy Perkins writes in July's Portal Magazine:

Letter from America
The Glory of These Days
by the Revd Timothy Perkins

News concerning the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter here in the United States has been coming at a rapid pace of late. Indeed, reflecting on the six-month history of this new Ordinariate, the developments have been breathtaking.
Within this short time, an ordinary has been installed; the first offering of clergy formation was not only begun, but completed; first deacons were ordained, a first priest was incardinated, and a pastor for the principal church was named; and before another month will have passed, some thirty men will be priests. “My heart is indicting of a good matter...”

Not Slow as Some Count Slowness

Swept along by all these things, I have tried to find moments of recollection, not wanting to become so involved in these matters that I miss the experience of wonder over the marvellous works of God being accomplished in our time. So doing, I have called to remembrance that the months leading up to these quickly passing days often felt excruciatingly slow.
The release of Anglicanorum coetibus in November of 2009 was followed by a year of uncertain efforts to convince others to embrace the Spirit-inspired offering contained therein. After my resignation from ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth the following October, a community of people came together and continued formation in the faith.
At that time, we entered what felt like a very long period of waiting, a time of walking “by faith, not by sight” as we prayed with longing for the work of an Ordinariate in this country to commence. A little over a year later, that holy desire was realised, and the hurried pace began.

Taken Up by a Whirlwind

Just over two weeks ago, I and five close friends and colleagues were ordained deacons by Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth for the Ordinariate. On the evening of the Liturgy it felt as if we had arrived at our destination. Beginning the next morning, life has been in the fast lane.
The days have passed in a glorious swirl of ministerial activity; and I may have caught a glimpse of the experience of Elijah when the LORD rushed him up to heaven! Opportunities to serve at Masses have combined with extra occasions of preaching and necessary preparation, not only for the upcoming ordination to priesthood on June 30, but also for the liturgical life of my community starting the very next day, to put me into a time-bending swirl. It is an exhilarating experience of rejoicing in the Lord.

Rush of Mighty Wind

Perhaps one of the additional graces that will be conferred along with priesthood will be a calming, a relaxing of this frenetic stirring, but I suspect not. The sound of the coming Holy Spirit at Pentecost was powerful and enkindled flame in those chosen to minister and lead.
My expectation is that all of the newly ordained will rush into their sacred ministries, carried on their way on the wings of a holy Wind. I pray that I and they will be driven along the paths of righteousness, sweeping up all whom we serve, lead, and encounter in our ministries into the glory of the Catholic faith.

The Vocation of the Laity

In a post that is principally concerned with the Anglican Church in England and Wales, Fr. Michael Gollop, SSC, in his post "An age of disarray and shifting allegiances" writes a warning that it is important for all of us to keep in mind about the proper role of the laity (for fuller teaching on the same topic, read Vatican II's Apostolicam actuositatem and Blessed Pope John Paul II's Christifideles laici).

...

I do take issue, however, with those in authority who now maintain that the lay people who are not now in some way involved in running parishes, those who 'merely' come to church to receive the Sacraments, should somehow all be shamed into becoming, again if you forgive the term, 'religious activists.' If Christians are to act as a leaven in the world, does everyone need to hold down an ecclesial 'job' of some kind merely to keep a failing system on the road? 

Being present at mass and receiving the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament on a Sunday and spending the rest of the week in employment and / or with one's family is a valid and valuable Christian vocation, too - perhaps the most valuable of all in a secularised, faith-averse culture where the 'professional' voices of the Church are less and less heeded. 

No one has to be 'dignified' with the title of one active lay 'ministry' or another to be fulfilling his or her baptismal vocation and faithfully following Christ, yet that is what we seem to have come to expect...

Read the full post on Fr. Gollop's blog Let Nothing You Dismay.

What only parish can teach

Jaymie Stuart Wolfe is a regular columnist in the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, The Pilot. She was raised in the Episcopal Church and entered the communion of the Catholic Church in 1983. Her most recent column, while having no direct relationship with the Anglican Use, Pastoral Provision or Anglicanorum Coetibus, nevertheless seems to fit well with some of the discussions going on about parish communities as they will exist in the Ordinariate and as they already exist in the various Anglican Use parishes.

Posted: 6/25/2010
Jaymie Stuart Wolfe


I never really wanted a parish job. But now that my work at St. Maria Goretti has come to a close, I’m so glad I spent six years in ministry at the parish level. There are many good memories and friendships I’ll take with me -- and just as many lessons learned. I’m grateful to have been part of a parish pastoral team because doing so has convinced me that there are things about ministry that can be learned only in a parish. Here are just a few of the operating principles I’ve been privileged to observe at St. Maria’s.

First, one spirituality does not fit all. Souls come in all shapes, sizes, and dispositions. While there may be only one Good Shepherd, there are as many leading graces as there are sheep to be led. That’s why it is important to offer a broad variety of opportunities for spiritual growth. No matter how good a program or idea is, not everyone will be served by an hour of adoration, or a Christmas concert, a Lenten mission, or family stations of the cross.

Second, increased activity is not the same as an increase in sanctity. Filling the parish calendar with all kinds of events doesn’t actually indicate that the people of the parish have a more active faith. On the contrary, it may be a sign that the staff lacks cohesive vision. Following Jesus, after all, isn’t just another extracurricular.

Third, there is no substitute for good liturgy. No religious education, service, or faith formation program can replace good worship in calling people into the presence of God...

Read the rest of Jaymie's column at The Boston Pilot.

The danger of married priesthood

On his blog "The Maccabean", Fr. Seraiah writes in part:

"The debate regarding "married versus celibate" clergy misses many of these points. It is not "married vs. celibate" as much as it is "faithful vs. unfaithful". A faithful married priest is a great asset to a church and his family can be a wonderful example. An unfaithful married priest (and that means more than sexually) is a plague on the church.

Read the rest of his reflection on his blog.