Over 4,700 people from the most diverse backgrounds met in the cathedrals of England and Wales last Sunday to ask to become Catholics. According to the figures just issued by the Press Office of the Catholic Church of England and Wales, approximately 900 of such people are former Anglicans who are asking to join the personal bishopric of our Lady of Walsingham as provided for by the Apostolic Constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus”, published by the Pope in response to the requests made by some Anglicans who wanted to fully commune with Rome. The bishopric, which allows its Anglicans members to become Catholics while keeping some forms and traditions of the Anglican liturgy, was established under a decree last January, when the name of the ordinary in charge of it, Keith Newton, one of the Anglican bishops who was re-ordained as a Catholic priest, was also announced. Anglicans who have asked to become Catholics early this Lent include 61 pastors. Every year, people who are getting ready to join the Catholic Church are invited to attend a rite, called “the rite of election”, officiated by the Bishops of the diocese they belong to, which opens the final preparatory period before they are received into the Church.
The “rite of election” is the first major step along a process called the “Rite of Christian initiation of adults”, which consists of a preparatory period for people who feel attracted to Christ and His teachings. Some months before the “rite of election”, it is not unusual for small groups to meet and pray together and get a better understanding of the Christian faith. The date when Anglicans will become Catholics and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation is mutually decided by the ordinary and the diocesan bishop concerned. The ceremony takes place either at Maundy Thursday Mass or at the Easter vigil. At Whitsun, the Anglican pastors who have had their requests granted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith are re-ordained as Catholic priests. “The experiences of so many people taking such a life-changing decision are extremely encouraging”, this is how the bishop Kieran Conry, director of the evangelisation and catechesis section of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, commented the substantial number of applicant Catholics. “Every year, people come from all sorts of backgrounds, bringing along their own unique experiences and talents. The Catholic community welcomes them with affection, friendship and assurance of prayers”.