How May I Join the Ordinariate?
The Ordinariate’s founding document, Anglicanorum coetibus and the Complementary Norms, give direction regarding membership in the Ordinariate.
Members of the Ordinariate are Roman Catholics who have come from Anglican and other ecclesial communities and are now in the full communion of the Church, Catholics who have completed their Sacraments of Initiation (or whose family member has completed the Sacraments of Initiation) in one of our Parishes or Communities, or those who have been drawn to the Church through the evangelizing mission of our Diocese, and their families.
No one is automatically a member of the Ordinariate, anyone seeking membership must submit a completed and signed Membership Registration Form to their local Ordinariate Priest. Your signature on the form is the canonical act by which you manifest your desire to enter the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.
Most people who desire to join the Ordinariate do so in the context of an Ordinariate Parish or Parochial Community through the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation. If you are currently worshipping in an Ordinariate Parish or are preparing to be received into the Church in an Ordinariate Parish or Community, your Pastor or local community leader must notify the Chancery and submit proof of your Sacraments for your membership to be complete.
If you do not live near an Ordinariate Parish or Parochial Community, you may still become a member of the Ordinariate. You may wish to join your local Catholic Church’s RCIA program to be received into the Church. Once you have received your Sacraments, you may use the Membership Registration Form to petition for membership in the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. This will require you to provide documents verifying your reception of the Sacraments. Individuals or families should mail a Membership Registration Form directly to the Chancery for consideration. The mailing address is provided on the form.
If you are an Episcopalian or Anglican whose church or group is interested in corporately joining the Ordinariate, or a Catholic group of former Anglicans who wish to come into the Ordinariate, your rector or priest needs to begin the process by contacting to the Vicar General of the Ordinariate. You may contact the Vicar General by e-mailing vg@ordinariate.net or calling 713-609-9292.