New Anglican Ordinariate in the USA!

The Ordinariate Portal has several links to the news announced yesterday that the U.S. Personal Ordinariate for Anglican/Episcopalian clergy and Anglican/Episcopalian laity to become members of what Blessed John Henry Newman called "the one true fold of Christ" has been formed. It is called the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter and its ordinary is Fr. Jeffrey Steenson, 59, the former Episcopal bishop of Rio Grande ordained a priest of the archdiocese of Santa Fe in 2009. Here is the new website for the new Ordinariate! Note that the new group is under the protection of Our Lady of Walsingham!

Here are Cardinal Wuerl's comments about the new Ordinariate (which evidently will include groups of Anglcians from Canada!): Note that Cardinal Wuerl was the Vatican’s representative for the implementation of Anglicanorum coetibus in the United States:

It is with great joy that I welcome the establishment of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, and the announcement that Reverend Jeffrey N. Steenson, DPhil, has been appointed its first Ordinary.

Today’s events are the fulfillment of the hopes of many Anglicans in the United States who have longed and prayed for reconciliation with the Catholic Church while retaining cherished elements of the Anglican patrimony.

The establishment of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter is the culmination of careful preparation and much consultation with Vatican officials and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. I am especially grateful for the generous assistance and fraternal welcome that many local bishops have extended to those Anglican clergy and groups seeking to join the Ordinariate.

As the former Episcopal Bishop of the Rio Grande, Father Steenson brings to the position of Ordinary great pastoral and administrative experience, along with his gifts as a theologian. Under his leadership, and through the intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter will both flourish and be a rich blessing to the Catholic Church in the United States.


(Thanks to Matthew M for commenting on this news yesterday).

Happy New Year!!