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About the ‘Anglican Ordinariates’

What are ordinariates?

Personal ordinariates function as non-geographical diocesan structures.

While many other similar personal ordinariates exist, such as those created for the pastoral care of armed servicemen by St. John Paul II, several were created by Pope Benedict XVI under the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus to provide pastoral care for those Anglicans who desire full communion with the Catholic Church in Rome. While officially known as the “Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church,” these are often referred to as ‘Anglican Ordinariates.’

Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church

Each coat of arms links to respective website

Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

North America (USA and Canada)

Links specific to deanery

Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

Great Britain

Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross

Oceania (Australia and South East Asia)

Why was Anglicanorum Coetibus written?

Pope Benedict XVI wrote Anglicanorum Coetibus so as to assist Anglicans in returning to the Catholic Church and allow them to preserve those unique elements of their writings, prayers, and liturgy that are not contrary to the Catholic Faith, these elements are often referred to as the ‘Anglican Patrimony’. This heritage finds its culmination in St. Gregory’s Prayer Book and a collection of liturgical books that are each titled “Divine Worship” (Divine Worship: The Missal, Divine Worship: Daily Office, Divine Worship: Occasional Services, and so forth) that is often referred to as the ‘Anglican Use.’

Is this a separate rite?

The Divine Worship series (or the ‘Anglican Use’) is not a separate rite, but rather a use of the Roman Rite. It integrates Anglican traditions while adhering to the foundational structure and liturgical norms of the Roman Catholic Church.

Who may join?

The Complementary Norms outline the following categories for eligibility:

Lay faithful originally of the Anglican Tradition, which includes Methodists and other denominations in addition to Anglicans.
Catholics who fell away from the Church and returned due to the evangelizing mission of the Anglican Ordinariates.
Validly baptized members of another denomination who desires to enter the Church through the evangelizing mission of the Anglican Ordinariates.

The following ordinariates also permit lifelong (or ‘cradle’) Catholics to join under certain conditions:

From the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter: “Those who have been drawn to the Church through the evangelizing mission of our [Ordinariate] and their families.”
From the Personal Ordinariate of the Southern Cross: “Even as a cradle Catholic, has made the Ordinariate their church home in a stable and long term manner, such that it is the Ordinariate that in fact exercises its pastoral care over said person.”

If you are uncertain about your eligibility to join, please reach out to either your local ‘Anglican Use’ Parish or your respective Chancery.

Can I become a priest?

Pastors from Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and other similar denominations may be considered for the priesthood, even if they are married. If you are a pastor who believes that he is called by God to the Catholic Church and to the priesthood, you should contact your respective Chancery.

Lifelong (or ‘cradle’) Catholics who are not married may also be considered for the priesthood within the Anglican Ordinariates, however Catholics who formally renounce their membership in the Church and return to her are not eligible for the priesthood.

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