THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: One thing we've learned from the Anglican Use experiment is that calling an Anglican Use parish simply a "Catholic Church," helps to make the parish grow. Case in point, "
Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church" in San Antonio Texas is an Anglican Use parish. In every sense it is fully high-church Anglican or "Anglo-Catholic," yet it is in full communion with the pope and the Roman Catholic Church. You'll notice that nowhere is the word "Anglican" mentioned in the official name. When mentioned at all, it is simply a subtitle -
"Anglican Use of the Roman Rite." That's because the word "Anglican" simply describes
what type of Catholic Church it is. Regardless of the type, it is still a "Catholic Church." That's important. Most Roman Catholic Churches these days no longer specify the word "Roman" in their parish signs either. They simply say "St. Joseph Catholic Church" usually with the subtitle "Diocese of ______" (fill in the blank). In the case of an Anglican Catholic parish, it might be prudent to simply list the official name as "St. _____ Catholic Church" (fill in the blank) with the subtitle
"Anglican Ordinariate of the United States." This both specifies what type of Catholic Church it is, and it plainly lets people know it is a Catholic Church.
Few things will help the Anglican Catholic parishes grow faster than simply being listed as "Catholic" churches, with "Anglican Ordinariate" as the subtitle. Anglicans will know exactly what that is, while general Catholics will be more likely to visit and possibly make it their parish home. This is what happened to "Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church" as she drew in both Anglicans and Catholics in the San Antonio area, as well as people from other Christian traditions, and some with no religious background at all. It is now a full sized parish with it's own full sized academy.
Here's their website.
6 comments; post here:
You should see the signs in my area. They don't read "St. ______ Catholic Church" or "St. ______ Catholic Parish". They read "St. ______ Catholic Community". But then again, the buildings really aren't churches...they're either "multi-purpose buildings" or "worship spaces".
I agree, however, with your post, that the Ordinariate parishes should call themselves Catholic Churches, with the Ordinariate mentioned in a subtitle. But I don't know if the official phrase should be "Anglican Ordinariate", because there is, and probably always will be, a protestant Anglican denomination. On the web, I see an even divide of the use "Anglican Ordinariate" and "English Ordinariate". I prefer the latter, as it would not confuse a Catholic who may not be aware of the whole Ordinariate situation. Seeing "Anglican", even in a subtitle, they may think it's not Catholic.
Father Christopher Phillips expressed to me that what really grew the parish was founding the Academy. He says people with children want a good school and if it's part of a church and if they build it, they will come. He's been telling the other Anglican Use parishes and missions to start schools but no one else seems to be listening. Both St. Mary the Virgin and Our Lady of Walsingham could have done so years ago when it was affordable but didn't. Now $$$$$?
Interesting. I think something should be included so someone passing by quickly can see it's an "Anglican Ordinariate" church and not just a Roman Catholic Church.
Most Eastern Catholic parishes have some descriptor of their tradition in their name by contrast.
Fr. Phillips has been blessed greatly, but I think that many of the parishes, St. Mary the Virgin etc. have less financial access. Also the diocese of San Antonio was very gracious to OLA and I don't know if this is the case in the other dioceses.
As far as the name goes, it is very confusing to Catholics, since there are many Anglo Catholic parishes who are part of the Continuing church to put St. John's Anglo Catholic Church on their signs. I think that the parishes would be best served to have the word "Ordinariate" on the sign and hopefully all the dioceses will make sure that all parishes are notified that these parishes are fully Catholic.
i think all ordinariate parishes should use "anglican use", the word ordinariate might confuse the not-so-smart.
I think the term Anglican Use will apply to it's liturgical style, whereas the term "ordinariate" will simply apply to it's jurisdiction.
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