Bishop's Appeal 2020

Dear Friends in Christ,

This year, the Ordinariate is celebrating the 10th anniversary of our founding document, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus. In it, Pope Benedict XVI articulated a bold ecumenical vision and created the Ordinariate, a new missionary venture contributing to the vitality of the Catholic Church. This is therefore a Jubilee year, a diocesan-wide celebration in which we give thanks to God by proclaiming this year of the Lord’s favor.

We have much for which to be grateful! The mission of the Ordinariate is embodied in 43 parishes spread across North America. Each proclaims the Gospel in its integrity, celebrates the Sacraments with fidelity and beauty, and equips a new generation of Catholics for the adventure of discipleship. And the Ordinariate is proclaiming a year of the Lord’s favor in other ways too:

• Seven seminarians are preparing for ordination to the priesthood at our own Benedict XVI House of Formation and at several seminaries;
• Our first “class” of permanent deacons will be completing their formation this year and ordained for service to their local parishes;
• Our Chancery staff provides counsel and support to our clergy and parishes on a wide range of matters including liturgical and sacramental guidelines and best financial & personnel practices;
• The Parish of Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio is celebrating the 25th anniversary of excellence in Catholic education through Atonement Academy;
• Several new communities in formation have begun to form and are seeking entrance into the Ordinariate, and I have the distinct pleasure of visiting these and our existing parishes to see first-hand the great work of catechesis and evangelization.

Jubilee celebrates what God has already done so that we can look forward with hope and courage to the task yet ahead. I would like to invite you to be an important part of this growth and development. The Bishop’s Appeal supports these and other initiatives, and is a mission-critical support for our evangelization efforts to our brothers and sisters. This Lent, I ask you to join me in making a sacrificial commitment to the Bishop’s Appeal.

It is humbling to see what has been accomplished in the 10 years since the publication of Anglicanorum coetibus. Together, there is no telling what we can accomplish for the glory of God and the salvation of souls! In this spirit of Jubilee, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes
Bishop of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter

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