Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter

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The Diocese of Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese serving former Anglican communities in the United States and Canada. Established in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, it preserves Anglican liturgical traditions within the full communion of the Catholic Church. As part of the broader structure of the Latin Rite, the ordinariate fosters the spiritual heritage of its members while maintaining unity with the Holy See. A notable aspect is its role in receiving groups of Anglicans, highlighted by the ordination of its first ordinary, Bishop Steven J. Lopes, in 2016.

Stored in Cargo: Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter

Diocese: Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
Status:Active
Rite:Latin
Type:Personal Ordinariate
Country:United States
Region:United States and Canada
Bishop:Steven J. Lopes
Website:https://ordinariate.net/
Priests:100
Existence:2012–
Rating:4.5
Chancery Address:7730 Westview Drive Houston, TX 77055

Establishment

The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was erected on 1 January 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI through the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus to provide a structure for groups of former Anglicans entering the Catholic Church while retaining elements of their liturgical and spiritual patrimony.

History

Early Years

Following the promulgation of Anglicanorum coetibus in 2009, the ordinariate was established to receive Anglican clergy and laity. Its first ordinary, Msgr. Jeffrey N. Steenson, was appointed in 2012.

Growth and Development

The ordinariate expanded with the reception of parishes and the ordination of married former Anglican priests as Catholic priests. In 2016, Bishop Steven J. Lopes became the first bishop ordinary.

Geography

The ordinariate covers the entire territory of the United States and Canada, with communities dispersed across multiple states and provinces rather than a contiguous geographic area.

Mother Church

The ordinariate does not have a single cathedral but designates principal churches in various locations, including the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, Texas, which serves as a focal point for its liturgical life.

Leadership

Current Bishop

Bishop Steven J. Lopes has served as ordinary since 2016. A native of California, he previously worked in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and oversees the ordinariate's pastoral and liturgical mission.

Auxiliary Bishops

None.

Past Bishops

Name Tenure Notes
Jeffrey N. Steenson 2012–2016 First ordinary; oversaw initial establishment.
Steven J. Lopes 2016–present First bishop ordinary; Current Bishop.

Theological and Cultural Orientation

The ordinariate leans strongly conservative (rating: 4.5), emphasizing traditional Anglican Use liturgy with frequent use of the Book of Divine Worship, prioritizing doctrinal fidelity and traditional moral teachings with limited focus on contemporary social justice initiatives, and led by a bishop who actively promotes the ordinariate's distinctive patrimony.

Statistics

The ordinariate serves several thousand Catholics across approximately 50 parishes and communities in the United States and Canada.

Religious Communities

Society of Our Lady of Walsingham

The Society of Our Lady of Walsingham supports the ordinariate through prayer and promotion of its patroness.

Parishes

Main article: List of parishes in Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
This map created from a Cargo query (Purge)

The ordinariate comprises dispersed communities rather than traditional deaneries, with parishes using the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite.

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The ordinariate supports limited educational initiatives through its parishes.

Community Outreach

Parishes engage in standard Catholic charitable works adapted to local needs.

Notable Events or Figures

  • In 2012, the ordinariate was erected by Pope Benedict XVI to welcome former Anglicans.
  • Bishop Steven J. Lopes was ordained as the first bishop ordinary in 2016.

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter:


  • Did you know? The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was created in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI specifically to welcome groups of Anglicans into the Catholic Church while keeping beautiful elements of their worship.
  • Surprise! Its first bishop ordinary, Steven J. Lopes, was the very first bishop ever ordained specifically for a personal ordinariate in the United States.
  • Here's something cool: The ordinariate uses a special form of the Mass called the Anglican Use, which includes lovely traditional prayers and music from the Anglican tradition now fully Catholic.
  • Wow moment: Parishes are scattered across the United States and Canada rather than one region, creating a unique nationwide family of communities.
  • Little-known gem: The ordinariate's principal church honors Our Lady of Walsingham, a beloved English shrine with deep roots in pre-Reformation Catholic England.

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    External Links

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