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 harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Matt 9:37-38)

The newly ordained priests of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in Texas

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine
providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church:
Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are
now called to any office and ministry for thy people; and
so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them
with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before
thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of
thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth
and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.

from the Book of Divine Worship

Letter from America: “Glory Be”

by Timothy Perkins
“Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, in full accord and of one mind.”
Philippians 2:2

THiS YEAR has already been filled with celebration. The erection of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, on January 1st, was an occasion of joy, not only for us in the United States, but for all who, having been nurtured in faith within Anglicanism, are now coming into the fullness of the Catholic Church.
This time of rejoicing transcends the present moment. It draws to mind the blessings of times past, is experienced in the here and now, inspires confidence for the future, and awakens hope that knows no end. It awakens the perception of a complete joy of the sort that St Paul recognised could be experienced only through unity.

A particular occasion of the past in which we rejoiced last month was the establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham on January 15th last year. The remembrance marks a momentous first step in the fulfilment of the Holy Father’s vision of incorporating our Anglican patrimony into the life of the Catholic Church.

In his remarks on the occasion, Monsignor Newton expressed what I believe all of us feel, “The sentiments of joy and thanksgiving, two great Christian words, are ones which should characterise our first anniversary celebration.”

Similar “sentiments of joy and thanksgiving” were apparent at the Epiphany gathering of the small community of St Peter the Rock with whom I serve in Arlington, Texas. The following day was the anniversary of our first offering of worship at the Chapel of the Catholic Centre in Fort Worth...

Read the rest of Mr. Perkins' column in the February issue of The Portal Magazine (page 14)