Ordinariate bound!

After much prayer, thought and consultation I have offered myself for ordination as a Catholic Priest within the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsinham. To this end I have resigned from my ministry within the Church of England from Sunday 6th March and expect to begin a course of formation with a view to ordination as a Catholic Priest at Pentecost. This will bring me into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

Although I live in Shrewsbury the Ordinariate Group with to which I belong is based in the Black Country area of the Midlands. I hope to be able, in the fullness of time, to form the nucleus for a new Group in Shropshire, Mid-Wales and across the Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury.

In November 2009 Pope Benedict XVI issued an Apostolic Constitution called Anglicanorum coetibus (“By groups of Anglicans”) which set out the structure whereby ex-Anglicans could be received into full communion with the Catholic Church while retaining some of their identity as Anglicans.

It would not be true to say that this decision is motivated by any particular issues. It is rather the culmination of nearly half a century of spiritual journeying which has led me to this point. The offer of Pope Benedict is one which I know I must accept. His vision of the unity of the Church is what has inspired this initiative.

The move, like all moves and partings, is full of a mixture of sadness but excitement. I have no regrets about moving on after over thirty years as an ordained Anglican, nor do I see it as a negation of what has gone before. It is a whole new chapter in the spiritual adventure. Please pray for me and those taking the steps with me!