As long time readers of CMR know, I have a particular interest in the happenings in the Anglican Communion. Some time back, as part of my reading on the topic I came across the blog of Fr. Jeffrey Steel of the Anglican Church. Since then, I have become a semi regular reader of his blog “De Cura Animarum.”
Imagine my delight when as I visited his site this evening and was greeted with this opening paragraph.
I am writing to make the announcement that I am becoming a Roman Catholic along with my wife Rhea and our six children. I realise that this decision is going to make some really happy, some very sad and others possibily angry. But, I have made the decision with the deepest sense of integrity and by conscience. I would like to share a bit of my faith journey though there are many gaps here, it is descriptive of my heart over the past few months. This is not particularly an academic account of what I have done in my studies but rather the spiritual wrestling that went on within me. The announcement was made this morning in all three parishes where I serve and is now a matter of public knowledge. My duties and licence in the parish end on 14 June 2009 (Corpus Christi Sunday) and my reception into Holy Mother Church is forthcoming.
In his post he details how he came to this momentous decision. I cannot even imagine the courage it takes to take the first steps in a journey such as this. Please be sure to read the whole piece and keep Fr. Steel and his family in your prayers.
June 10, 2009 at 5:04 am
awesome! We have a dear friend who is a former Episcopal priest, with *only* five kids, who left and found his home in Rome. He is currently a candidate for the priesthood through the Pastoral Provision, which was instituted by Pope John Paul II.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow…
June 10, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I will pray that he will be a GOOD Catholic priest. The irony is many anglo-Catholics are more conservative and dedicated to the preservation of tradition than the vast majority of "Catholics" you will find in our church…let alone our priesthood. So, here's hoping he will be chanting the Tridentine missa cantata very soon, as opposed to being a tool for the "married priests" movement.
June 11, 2009 at 5:06 am
Interestingly enough, most of the married priests coming in through the Pastoral Provision are very grateful for their opportunity to continue in the priesthood, but not anything LIKE tools for the "married priests movement" at all.