Here's an article, written by a very happy and excited Fr. Andrew Bartus after the May 1st vote at St. Mary of the Angels, from his blog "Anglican Patrimony."
This was a momentous day for our parish to say the least. A friend of mine who was here in LA back then, said that he has waited for thirty-six years for this! He wrote this, now famous article, some years ago. Others have noted similarly. After nearly a year of discerning about this issue, the vote was cast – everyone placed their ballots upon the altar to bring solemnity to the seriousness and the holiness of this issue, as well as to bring to mind what our bishops did in Portsmouth back in 2007 to start this whole process.
The reality of the vote passing is still sinking in for me. I have been in battle mode since coming here (and even before while in seminary): against rogue bishops, against misinformation, against theological and moral novelties, against needless strife and disunity, etc., etc., etc. Now I can look postively towards a future where we stand for something rather than against something. Now St. Mary's can look forward to a future where our identity is sure, our foundation is upon the rock of Peter, we are in full unity with our Catholic brothers and sisters, and our faith won't be changed on us or watered down. We can look forward to a future where we can move worship in safety and full communion, and help, in our own little way, in the mission of the Catholic Church in a manner that's positive and not merely reactionary.
I remember when I first met Fr. Phillips in person and he told me that he barely remembers the days when he was having to fight and simply preserve things against the forces of "progress" because now he is involved with being constructive: growing his parish, evanglism, outreach, helping the cause of the Ordinariate, his church school, etc. I long for the day when I too can look back on these days as a distant memory and concentrate my energy and efforts on constructive projects rather than simply defensive measures.
Now, as of May 1, 2011, I see the light at the end of the tunnel: for myself and my family, as well as for St Mary of the Angels as a whole! Gone are the days of bickering over fundamentals of the faith and here come the days of joy! Did this really happen? Is this a dream? It hasn't really started sinking in yet. Thirty-six years and finally…
Here is a glimpse of our church immediately after the vote was passed:
And there's more news! Here's an article about the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of Fr. David Ousley, they will be entering the U. S. Ordinariate as soon as it is erected. Thanks be to God!
Related posts:
Watch Fr. Hurd's InterviewFr. Robert Barron on Authority"What's a Modernist?"St. Mary of the Angels Parish VotesVideo from Rome Reports
Fr. Christopher G. Phillips is the pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he has served for the past twenty-seven years. He is the founding pastor of the first Anglican Use parish, erected in 1983 under the terms of the Pastoral Provision. Fr. Phillips was ordained as an Anglican for the Diocese of Bristol, England, in 1975. After serving as Curate for three years at St. Stephen Southmead, he returned to the United States and served in two Episcopal parishes in the Diocese of Rhode Island. In 1981 he left the Episcopal Church and moved with his family to Texas, where he was subsequently ordained as a Catholic priest in 1983. Fr. Phillips and his wife, JoAnn, have been married for forty years. They have five children, all grown and married, and two grandchildren. 
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