The Ordinariate and metropolitan mission

Archbishop Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council Promoting New Evangelization, recently outlined an initiative to take place in European cities in Lent 2012.  Recognising that "the largest European cities that have been particularly affected by secularization", the Archbishop - following a summit of bishops from Barcelona, Budapest, Brussels, Cologne, Dublin, Lisbon, Liverpool, Paris, Turin, Warsaw and Vienna - proposed that dioceses in Europe's cities should undertake the following next Lent:

The cathedral will be the place of these activities. Firstly, through a continual reading of the Gospels, to place the Word of God at the center. Then, three catechisms of the bishop dedicated to young people, to families and to catechumens on the themes of faith; then, a celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation to draw attention to confession and for its high anthropological value. An activity of charity will complete the experience to demonstrate that faith that is professed and prayed is also witnessed. Finally, a sign of spirituality of a cultural character will be given by the reading of various significant texts, such as excerpts from the Confessions of St. Augustine.

There is an opportunity for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham to consider how the Anglican patrimony, reconciled to the See of Peter, could contribute to this exciting project.  While the Ordinariate communities are presently quite small, this can be an advantage in the context of the new evangelisation in secularised, de-Christianised urban contexts, allowing for a more intentional approach to community, formation and pastoral relationships.  The Anglican patrimony has also traditionally placed a high premium on celebrating the culturally enriching character of expressions of the Christian faith, both in terms of liturgy and apologetics.  There is also the possibility that aspects of the Anglican patrimony's approach to the Sacrament of Confession - usually practiced in a pastoral relationship and intimately related to spiritual direction - may have much to commend this Sacrament in the context of de-Christianised cultures.

Finding its place in the new evangelisation is, perhaps, the chief calling of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.  This is, after all, a very significant part of what it means for the Anglican tradition to be reconciled to the great tradition of the Latin West and Europe's ancient Apostolic See: to share in the mission of once again bringing bringing the Good News of the Incarnate Word to the peoples of Europe.