It all sounds credible – coming from Fr Scott Hurd. I quote the essential part without any commentary from me.

* * *

Some major points that were learned today concerning the process as to where we are in possibly establishing a U.S. Anglican Ordinariate. Please note that none of this official:

1. At this point the ad hoc committee is waiting for the Vatican’s formal decision on establishing an Anglican Ordinariate. A definitive decision by the Vatican is expected to occur.

2. The level of interest in the United States is high in establishing an Anglican Ordinariate. There is a “sun-belt” phenomenon as far as the level of interest and organization that is involved. For example the southern states have shown tremendous interest in the establishment of an Anglican Ordinariate in enthusiasm and numbers which is in contrast to lower levels of interest in such parts as the Midwest and New England.

3. If an Anglican Ordinariate is established then an announcement of an ordinary would logically follow. This ordinary would more than likely have a very strong Anglican heritage to lead this new Ordinariate. Father Scott Hurd has humbly denied that he is a candidate for this position if it were to occur.

4. Outside of the United States, the possibility of establishing an Anglican Ordinariate in other regions of the world may occur in Canada and in Australia (potentially in that order). In addition there are “rumblings’ in Africa but nothing substantive of note.

5. Rumors of the Anglo-Lutherans are just that rumors. At best there are informal talks between Anglo-Lutherans and unofficial elements in Washington D.C. Please note there are no formal talks, no official standing, no official communication between the Vatican, any diocese/bishop, or national bishop’s conference.

That’s it.

Anything else that you may hear from this talk in Houston, especially concerning time-lines, is pure speculation.

What we all can do at this moment for the possible establishment of an Anglican Ordinariate in the United States is to pray fervently for the best possible outcome.

The meeting was about being introduced to Bishop Alan Hopes and the Ordinary Fr Keith Newton. Bishop Alan warmly welcomed each of the English priests individually, and as a group saying that they had had not been overlooked in the process of application, just that everything had happened so fast and that had been dealt with in due process. He did say however, that he had met with Bishop Robert Mercer CR on two previous occasions in preparation for the meeting on Saturday. He also went through the procedure in providing the correct form of dossier to be presented to the CDF in Rome.

The Ordinary Fr Keith Newton talked about his role and responsibilities, and he and Bishop Hopes outlined the importance of the Holy Father’s prophetic gift in the implementation of Anglicanorum Coetibus in bringing the English clergy together in Christ. One thing they were all encouraged to do, was to start building bridges with the local Catholic Priest and community.

The rest of the meeting was given to questions and answers. Bishop Hopes suggested another meeting in a couple of months for an update on developments. My source believes very firmly that the TTAC clergy are in the loop.

I have no more information than this.

My Dear Friends

On Monday 21st February I met, at his invitation, at Archbishops House, Westminster Bishop Alan Hopes. We had a private interview that lasted for 90 minutes at which we discussed a whole host or related topics concerning the Church and the Christian faith in particular.

What struck me most about our meeting was that we agreed on most issues that affect Christians in this country today and both have shared aspirations for the Church. We also agreed that great care and sensitivity would be required if we were to achieve the unity which Christ Himself expressed as His desire for all Christian nations and peoples.

In this country the Catholic faith has been expressed in an Anglican way that has its cherished language, music and traditions, it is no less Catholic because of it, it is simply the Anglican expression of the Catholic Faith.

It is very true to say that the state Anglican Church has moved alarmingly away from its historic foundations and is now little more than a reflection of what it once was. Granted it has taken this course in what many of us would argue is a mistaken belief that somehow, it has it right and the rest of the Catholic church has it wrong.

It is an absurd position indeed, and great harm and damage has been caused as a direct result. However, I am still very conscious of the fact that for many people, it is still their choice to worship God within the Church of England.

For many others, the Continuing Church has provided the sanctuary and safety of the Catholic and Apostolic faith as expressed within Anglicanism as a means to continue in maintaining our Anglican Heritage and Traditions.

But we must not think that the words Heritage and Traditional mean that we are trying to preserve something in aspic for its own sake. The “continuing” Church is a true part of the living embodiment of Christ here on earth and it remains faithful to serving His people by preaching the Gospel message and using the prayer books and music that form part of our Anglican Patrimony.

The Continuum is littered with personal tragedies and errors but it remains as a reality within the Christian nations of the world. It has a vital role to play in future years but must reform itself and work to become a unified body. It must act as a conduit to bring about the Unity that I talked of earlier and that Bishop Alan and I found to be at the centre of our discussion.

The Ordinariate is now established and as I write it has its first members. Over the coming weeks and months, the numbers God willing will continue to grow, indeed our own TTAC aspirants will be meeting [this meeting took place on 12^th March] with Bishop Alan very shortly to discuss the next steps. Father Keith Newton (ordinary) and I have shared correspondence and although St Katherine’s has decided not to be a part of the “first wave” of entrants, in Christian charity I have offered St Katherine’s to be used for occasional services.

The journey for those who are not going towards the Ordinariate is now clearer. Without Episcopal oversight from the TAC there will be no TTAC in this country. No oversight has been offered, indeed there appears to be open division within the college of Bishops and one fears for the Communion’s future.

I cannot say how long the process will take for those who aspire to join the Ordinariate, I think each individual applicant will have their own individual journey that might take several weeks or even months but we can only wait and see as time goes by.

One thing for very certain, those who join the Ordinariate will become Catholic Priests. Where the Ordinariate fits with the rest of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and probably Scotland is being worked on by Father Newton and his formation team. Certainly the Ordinariate will be a territorial not a diocesan structure. The relationship of the Ordinary and Diocesan Bishops is unclear but the details are being put in place. Forms of services, liturgy and music have yet to be fully formalised but over the coming weeks and months all will become clear.

For many a journey and a process has begun, and I pray that those who aspire to join the Ordinariate will see their aspirations fulfilled. In your charity, please pray for Bishop Alan Hopes and Father Keith Newton.

May Almighty God bless you all.

Yours in Christ Jesus.

Father Ian

The Evensong will be led by Bishop Peter Wilkinson of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada; the Morning Prayer will be led on Saturday by a wonderful priest from the Anglican Communion. There will be masses for the Anglicans who are not part of the Catholic Church yet before breakfast celebrated by ACCC bishops on the Friday, the Feast of the Annunciation, (Bishop Carl Reid, as it is our feast of title in Ottawa) and on the Saturday morning (Bishop Craig Botterill.) We are all looking forward as well to the Anglican Use Mass that Father Christopher Phillips will celebrate on the Friday evening.

Anglicanorum Coetibus Conference March 24-26, 2011 – (Tentative Schedule)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

4:00 p.m.
Registration opens

7:00 p.m.
Welcome: Archbishop Thomas Collins
Evening Prayer

7:45 p.m.
Opening Session: Father Christopher Phillips: “Becoming One”

9:00 p.m.
Wine/cheese reception

Friday, March 25, 2011

8:00 a.m.
Breakfast

9:00 a.m.
Morning Prayer

9:30 a.m.
Father Phillips: “Living the Anglican Patrimony”

10:30 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m.
Father Aidan Nichols:
“The Theological Context of Anglicanorum Coetibus”

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:30 p.m.
Father Nichols:
“The Place of Anglicanorum Coetibus in Pope Benedict’s Vision”

2:45 p.m.
Break

3:15 p.m.
Father Nichols:
“Liturgical dimensions of Anglicanorum Coetibus”

5:30 p.m.
Dinner

6:45 p.m.
Buses to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

7:30 p.m.
Anglican Use Mass celebrated by Fr. Christopher Phillips
(held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Streetsville)
(Reception to follow in parish hall)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

8:00 a.m.
Breakfast

9:00 a.m.
Morning Prayer

9:30 a.m.
Archbishop Thomas Collins:
“Anglicanorum Coetibus in Canada”

10:30 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m.
Panel Discussion
“The Path Ahead”

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Adjournment

Keynote speakers include:

• Fr. Christopher Phillips, Pastor, Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. He is the founding pastor of the first Anglican Use parish, erected in 1983 under the terms of the Pastoral Provision.

• Archbishop Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, Delegate, Anglicanorum Coetibus in Canada (as appointed by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith).
• Father Aidan Nichols, O.P. has the honorary status of Affiliated Lecturer in the University of Cambridge. He has also taught at the Pontifical University of St Thomas, Rome; St Mary’s College, Oscott; and Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. He has published some thirty books, and over seventy articles