Former TAC Bishop to be the Head of the New Australian Ordinariate

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross is the third Ordinariate established by the Holy Father. The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham for England and Wales was announced in January of 2011 and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for the United States was announced January 1st of this year.

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - On Friday, June 15, 2012 the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith officially announced the establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross for Australia. That was expected.

However, just one hour before his ordination as a Catholic Priest on that same day, former Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) bishop Harry Entwistle was informed that he had been named as the first Ordinary by Pope Benedict XVI.

Father Entwistle, 72, was as an Anglican priest who immigrated to Australia in 1988. He joined the TAC in 2006 and was later consecrated as the bishop for Western Australia. The new Ordinary, who was ordained at St. Mary's Cathedral, Perth is married and has two grown children.

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross is the third Ordinariate established by the Holy Father. The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham for England and Wales was announced in January of 2011 and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for the United States was announced January 1st of this year.

Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson, Ordinary of the U.S.-based Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, welcomed the appointment of Fr. Entwistle saying, "I welcome the news of the new Ordinariate in Australia and the appointment of Rev. Harry Entwistle as Ordinary.

"I offer my support to him as he begins the important work of raising a home for Anglicans in Australia who have been called by God to full communion with the Catholic Church and the rock from which we were hewn. The prayers of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter are with him. May God bless Fr. Entwistle as he launches this new endeavor in the vast lands of 'down under.'"

Monsignor Keith Newton, the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, joined Msgr. Steenson in offering his congratulations. "I'm very pleased to hear of this encouraging appointment. Fr Entwistle has a wealth of experience from his Anglican ministry in England and in Australia, and I look forward to working with him closely as we seek to articulate the vision of Anglicanorum coetibus."

Anglicanorum coetibus, issued on November 4, 2009, is the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Benedict XVI that authorizes the establishment of "Personal Ordinariates" for those of the Anglican heritage entering full communion with the Catholic Church while maintaining distinctive elements of their theological, spiritual, and liturgical patrimony.

Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle For a Loved One this Christmas

Just as the U.S. Ordinariate is currently covering Canada for the time being, reports are indicating that the Australian Ordinariate will also cover Japan.

-----
 
Deacon Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a transitional deacon with the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter established by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, through the Apostolic Constitution "Anglicanorum Coetibus."

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'