Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This month the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul; these two great apostles are important to us, both because of their individual holiness and also because they, in their different ways, show us something of the nature of the Church and the way in which God orders it.

It is Peter who first confesses Jesus to be the Messiah; Jesus proclaims him to be the rock upon which he will build his Church.   During the passion, Peter denies Jesus, but after the resurrection Peter is greeted by the risen Lord, who asks three times if he loves him; Peter is restored as the Rock as Jesus instructs him to feed the sheep.  Later Peter becomes Bishop of Rome and dies a martyr’s death.

Paul starts out as a young rabbi with an almost fanatical desire to kill Christians.  However, on the Damascus Road, Jesus encounters him in a blinding light.  The Church’s great persecutor becomes her greatest missionary.  Later Paul dies a martyr’s death in Rome.

The See of Rome remains the centre of the Catholic Church, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter.  To be a Catholic is to be in communion with the successor of Peter – a relationship which thereby places us in communion with our brethren throughout the world and through the ages.  That communion is built upon doctrine – One Church, One Faith, One Lord.  

Paul is also a vital example and witness.  The institutional Church, founded by Christ, on that rock, which is Peter, must by her very calling, be missionary.  There is no division between the hierarchical Church and the Missionary Church; The Church, founded upon the apostles and over which Peter has primacy, is commissioned by Our Lord himself to go out into the whole world.

A week before we celebrate Saints Peter and Paul, will see the second anniversary of my Ordination as your bishop.  Bishops are essential to the life of the Church (even if, individually, we leave a lot to be desired).  Each bishop is appointed by the Pope, and his ordination can only proceed on production of the mandate from the Holy See.  This is not about control for its own sake; it is because the bishop governs the local church in communion with the universal Church.  The universal is embodied in the local, the local is an intrinsic part of the Universal.  

The Ordinariate is a “Particular Church”, it is the equivalent of a diocese, the local manifestation of the Universal Church, united in doctrine with Catholics everywhere, through communion with the See of Peter.  Having a bishop is about being the Church, not about the particular character of any individual hold of that office.

It is under the bishop that local communities and parishes flourish as they in their small ways participate in the life and mission of the Catholic Church.  This is particularly manifested in the Ordinariate when we come together (festivals; pilgrimages; clergy plenaries; ordinations; chrism mass etc), when the bishop visits communities (visits; confirmations etc) and through communications such as the newsletter and website.   

This month, let us give thanks for the Catholic Church, for its apostolic foundations and for the Ordinariate.  Pray for Pope Leo.  Pray for me, that, despite my unworthiness, I will be an instrument of Communion among you and with the Holy See.

‍

In Christ

+ David

‍