Yesterday, the noon hour was spent in a luncheon meeting with Cardinal Wuerl, Fr. Scott Hurd, Bishop McManus, and Fr. Jeffrey Steenson in preparation for our presentation to the Conference of the progress on the implementation of Anglicanorum Coetibus here in the United States. Cardinal Wuerl gave a thorough report to the Bishops gathered on the work done so far in receiving the inquiries from around the United States from Anglican clergy and communities who have expressed interest in belonging to an Ordinariate when it would be established in the United States. The process that would be undertaken for the priests was explained, and also the generous offer by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo for the use of St. Mary's Seminary in Houston was mentioned. Dioceses and Bishops were encouraged to offer worship space to various groups who might be interested and who have been in correspondence with Fr. Hurd. In Fort Worth, thanks to Lucas Pollice, our Director of Catechesis and Formation, and RCIA team members from one of our parishes, one community has been in the process of catechesis for nearly a year, with two sessions a month on various topics. In a memo to me of June 3, 2011, Lucas stated that,
"In June, Lucas Pollice, the Director of Catechesis for the Catholic Diocese of
Fort Worth, met with the group [of interested individuals] and with the help of
Bert and Rosary Guidrey [of St.Michael's parish RCIA Team in Bedford, Texas]
developed a plan for a series of catechetical and faith sharing sessions to meet
twice a month through April of 2011. The group agreed to this plan and beginning in
July met twice a month on from 9 AM to 1 PM. Below are the dates and the topics
that were presented.
24 July: Overview and annulment process
14 Aug: Bible Old and New Testaments
28 Aug: Divine Revelation
11 Sept: Faith and Prayer
25 Sept: Creation and the Fall of Man
9 Oct: Who is Jesus?
23 Oct: Trinity
13 Nov: The Church
11 Dec: Mary and the Communion of Saints
8 Jan: Redemption and Salvation
22 Jan: Sacraments of Initiation
12 Feb: Mass
26 Feb: Morality
12 Mar: Sacraments of Service
26 Mar: Sacraments of Healing
9 April: Life Issues
14 Aug: Bible Old and New Testaments
28 Aug: Divine Revelation
11 Sept: Faith and Prayer
25 Sept: Creation and the Fall of Man
9 Oct: Who is Jesus?
23 Oct: Trinity
13 Nov: The Church
11 Dec: Mary and the Communion of Saints
8 Jan: Redemption and Salvation
22 Jan: Sacraments of Initiation
12 Feb: Mass
26 Feb: Morality
12 Mar: Sacraments of Service
26 Mar: Sacraments of Healing
9 April: Life Issues
These presentations were given by a group of DRE's, RCIA Catechists, and clergy from the Diocese of Fort Worth. These sessions were well attended and grew to about 40 persons and those attended the classes found them to be very enlightening. The books used in the sessions were the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" and the adult Catholic Catechism for the United States, and "Open Wide the Doors to Christ: Discovering Catholicism" by Lucas Pollice. The online course "Faith Foundations" by "My Catholic Faith Delivered" was also suggested to the members, and was also used as make up sessions for those who occasionally missed a class. The first group now, of more than 40 people, who now worship weekly at the Catholic Center of the Diocese of Fort Worth, will continue to meet monthly and will begin a five part study on the Biblical Roots of the Mass as they continue to await the announcement of the Ordinariate. [In a more recent development, another group has recently formed and is beginning a similar catechetical process.]
There continues to be a growing interest in the greater Fort Worth area among those of Anglican heritage to join Ordinariate and the catechetical formation process outlined above has proven to be very effective in the continuing formation of those pursuing entrance into the Ordinariate. The full text of Cardinal Wuerl's remarks on the implementation of Anglicanorum Coetibus in the United States can be found at: http://bit.ly/lpRnmB. In these early days of Ordinary Time, right after Pentecost, and with the great feasts of the Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart coming soon, let us pray for the Holy Spirit's continued guidance on this important time in the life of the Church: a time that is certainly the continuation of what was begun by Cardinal John Henry Newman, the Oxford Movement, and continued through the Second Vatican Council and afterward into the current day, all of course leading back to the Lord's words in St. John's Gospel that "all may be one." Reflecting on Newman and the report today on the development of the Anglican Ordinariate, one cannot but reflect on the journey of Faith that is found in Newman's hymn, "Lead Kindly Light", and that certainly mirrors the above journey of Faith for so many over the years, looking always toward the light of Christ:
There continues to be a growing interest in the greater Fort Worth area among those of Anglican heritage to join Ordinariate and the catechetical formation process outlined above has proven to be very effective in the continuing formation of those pursuing entrance into the Ordinariate. The full text of Cardinal Wuerl's remarks on the implementation of Anglicanorum Coetibus in the United States can be found at: http://bit.ly/lpRnmB. In these early days of Ordinary Time, right after Pentecost, and with the great feasts of the Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart coming soon, let us pray for the Holy Spirit's continued guidance on this important time in the life of the Church: a time that is certainly the continuation of what was begun by Cardinal John Henry Newman, the Oxford Movement, and continued through the Second Vatican Council and afterward into the current day, all of course leading back to the Lord's words in St. John's Gospel that "all may be one." Reflecting on Newman and the report today on the development of the Anglican Ordinariate, one cannot but reflect on the journey of Faith that is found in Newman's hymn, "Lead Kindly Light", and that certainly mirrors the above journey of Faith for so many over the years, looking always toward the light of Christ:
"Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home--
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene--one step enough for me."
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Blessed John Henry Newman |