A mission of evangelisation.
The late Pope Benedict XVI created “Personal Ordinariates” in 2011 and 2012 to welcome and serve Anglicans who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. In the time since their creation, Pope Francis expanded membership in these special jurisdictions well beyond those original Anglican groups who wished to join. Because of this enlarged mission of evangelisation, Ordinariate communities are composed of a wide variety of people including converts from many different traditions, Catholic re-verts, as well as cradle Catholics who have come to know and appreciate the venerable English Mass.
The Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter is one such diocese created by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Shepherded by his Excellency Steven J. Lopes, the diocese includes nearly forty Roman Catholic communities across English speaking North America.
The Deanery of St. John the Baptist was established in order to help Bishop Lopes better tend his Canadian flock. The Deanery has offices in Calgary, Alberta and administrates one parish (St. John the Evangelist, Calgary) and five communities in various stages of formation. The Very Rev’d Fr. Robert-Charles Shane Bengry was appointed Dean of the Deanery by the Bishop and the Rev’d Deacon Joseph DeCaria was appointed Vice-Dean.
Sacrificial Giving.
The annual Bishop’s Appeal is now under way and I ask you to give generously to support our Bishop’s important work of the Ordinariate here in Canada. I’m personally very excited and optimistic about the mission here in our fair country. We’ve got a number of capacity building initiatives underway (including a new communications platform, the establishment of Deanery Offices in Calgary, and the recent Canadian Clergy Assembly) and will be rolling out a number of growth oriented projects in the coming year—but to do that, our Bishop needs your support.
I myself am pleased to give to the Bishop’s Appeal because I know that the Ordinariate in Canada has something truly beautiful to offer. Although we are small and perhaps an insignificant number, isn’t it true that “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Cor 1.27) and so we have a great hope indeed!
I normally pledge a dollar a day to support our Bishop’s work. I know inflation has hit so many people so very hard, but is that something you could do? I know many donate more and many donate less, but what’s important is that we give remembering the words of our Lord Jesus “how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20.35)
Thank you in advance for your support of this year’s Bishop’s Appeal. I look forward to continuing the important work with our Bishop and all of you towards the building up the Ordinariate in Canada.
Fr. Robert-Charles Bengry
Dean, Saint John the Baptist Deanery
Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES
The St. John the Baptist Deanery is a tiny part of the Lord’s vineyard, but we have a great joy and confidence in our mission to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of the communities of the Canadian Ordinariate are small — only half even own their own buildings — but we pray for, and are working towards, a greater stability and growth according to God’s providence and cultivating hand. We’re a young missionary diocese but we think that’s a marvellous calling. Perhaps you feel the same way. Find out more about our communities with the links below.
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