the Spring

Ordinariate Life

"Yes, we are small; yes, we bring distinctive patrimony – but we are most definitely mainstream!"

July 18, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters, most of you will know that earlier this year I had the great privilege of meeting with Pope Leo...

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Most of you will know that earlier this year I had the great privilege of meeting with Pope Leo. During the audience, the Holy Father expressed an interest in the journey in faith which had led us into the Ordinariate; this provided the opportunity to explain that we had not been driven by particular issues (e.g. female ordination; issues of sexuality; liturgical difficulties), we had been driven by our realisation that we needed to be in communion with the successor of St Peter. The issues confronting us in the Church of England were symptoms of an ecclesial life out of communion with the Catholic Church. Unless this is understood, the Ordinariate itself will be misunderstood. It is not an escape from a ghetto in the Church of England into a new ghetto in the Catholic Church. The Ordinariate is not a fringe group with slightly weird or extreme ideas. Our coming into the fullness of Communion was based on our acceptance of the Church's doctrine as set out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Yes, we are small; yes, we bring distinctive patrimony – but we are most definitely mainstream! We are part of that glorious communion which is the Church.

As I write, the We Believe festival is 10 days away. I know many of you will be coming and I look forward to seeing you there. The festival is a great gathering of Catholics from all over the country representing a significant range of groups and individuals. And yet We Believe does not feel like an assembly of differing bodies – it is a vibrant event where folk engage with one another and rejoice in the worship, prayer and mission of the one Church of which we are all members.

It is good that the Ordinariate is at We Believe, both to tell its own particular story and to be alongside others in celebrating a common faith and mission. That is the same faith and mission that is lived out by God's faithful people up and down our country, day by day. The life of the Ordinariate and its local groups is nothing less than a sharing in the life and witness of the Universal Church as she celebrates, and proclaims with great joy, the good news of Jesus Christ.

As your Bishop, I have the immense joy and privilege of seeing our very different communities in action. Each is a place where people are faithful in prayer and worship; engaging in the mission of the Church. Most are seeing growth, both through converts but also through those of no faith background coming to faith through the mission of the Ordinariate. It is always good when we can come together at national or regional events and share our stories.

In the Ordinariate we most definitely “travel light” in terms of a central or administrative structure. Partly this is because of our size and financial limitations but it is also about our priorities. The “centre” must never be an impersonal place full of red tape. I am very grateful to those who give generously of their time assisting with important roles which serve the wider mission of the Ordinariate. Often they perform thankless tasks but without them we would not be able to function as smoothly as we do. This month I want to express my particular thanks to two of our Episcopal Vicars, who are standing down after significant and generous service: Fr Michael Halsall and Fr Paul Burch.

Fr Michael has served as Vicar for Vocations and Formation. He has done considerable work in supporting our seminarians and developing our relationship with Allan Hall. He has also established a series of evening conferences for clergy and laity.

Fr Paul has served as Vicar for Evangelisation. He has done considerable work addressing a broken communications system and led us through a period of discernment with regard to online priorities. I am particular grateful to Fr Paul for the way he has handled some difficult and complex situations.

Very soon I hope to be able to share news of replacements for Frs Michael and Paul, with slightly different structure and workloads, to best serve us all as a Particular Church, active in small missionary groups, proclaiming the Gospel to a needy world.

With prayers and blessings – I look forward to seeing some of you at We Believe.

+ Bishop David

Bishop David Waller

19 Aug 26

"The Ordinariate gathered those of diverse traditions to pray together as one Church"

Dear Friends,

Last month, I wrote about the WeBelieve Festival and explained why it was important for the Ordinariate to play a part in it. Now the Festival has happened, I want to say how good it was to have such a strong and diverse Ordinariate presence. WeBelieve provided a wonderful opportunity for Ordinariate members to meet one another and also to mix with other Catholics and to make the Ordinariate more widely known.

During the Festival, attendees participated in beautiful worship; rich teaching; and presentations and discussions on the proclamation of the gospel. At the heart of it all was the truth of our faith, that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has saved us and given us the promise of eternal life. That is the Good News that the Church exists to proclaim.

The launch of Joanna Bogle’s book on the beginnings of the Ordinariate, drew a good number of people and provided an opportunity not only to promote the book but also to say more about the Ordinariate as it has developed and to distribute copies of the recent document from the Holy See on our Anglican Heritage.

On the Sunday morning, I was privileged to be the principal celebrant at the main Mass, with thousands of worshippers in a big-top tent. On Sunday evening, we celebrated Evensong and Benediction in the seminary chapel; over 150 people were present and they came from across the wide range of groups and backgrounds at the festival. Using a rite that was clearly of Anglican Patrimony and hymns of the Anglican tradition, in a context that was clearly Catholic worship, the Ordinariate gathered those of diverse traditions to pray together as one Church.

I look forward to WeBelieve 2027 and I hope our presence will be even greater. Meanwhile, the joys of our faith, as experienced at WeBelieve, remain the joys of our faith in the communities in which we live. Big events set before us more clearly that to which we must bear witness locally. I pray that each of our Ordinariate communities will be more and more places where the Faith is taught; joy is glimpsed; and the Good News is proclaimed.

Finally, may I draw your attention to this year’s March for Life on Saturday 5th September. In the morning there will be a Mass at 10.30 in Westminster Cathedral. The March begins at 1.30. Experience shows that it is difficult for groups to keep together throughout the duration of the March, however, it is good if Ordinariate members and friends can gather and at least enter the march as a group. Therefore, I would request that those who wish to begin the March together, meet with me outside St Matthew’s Church in Great Peter Street at 1.10. I look forward to seeing many of you on the March.

In Christ

+ Bishop David