The Portal - Australia edition January 2014 | Page 15

THE P RTAL January 2014 Page 11 Ordination in Canada in the Snows of Ottawa Fr John Hodgins reports T ongue firmly in cheek, Monsignor Jeffrey Steenson greeted those gathered for the celebration of priestly ordination in the wondrous Basilica of Notre Dame in Ottawa, (capital city of Canada): “I am thankful to Our Lady of the Snows for the welcome,” he said, referring to his arrival from Houston TX into a Canadian winter storm. historic basilica Just across the street from the National Art Gallery of Canada, the historic basilica is itself a work of art and the venue for yet another historic moment in the history of the Christ’s One Holy Catholic Church in Canada. Four married Anglican priests celebrated region. Hosts for the event were Fr Carl and Mrs Bev their ordination in full communion with Rome as part Reid along with their parishioners at the parish of the of the Canadian Deanery of St John the Baptist in the Annunciation of our Lady in Ottawa. Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter (OCSP). far flung jurisdiction The OCSP covers all of North America and so Mgr Steenson is flying almost weekly to some part of the continent for ordinations, retreats and meetings. Marking papers on airplanes for his students at St Mary’s Seminary, Houston, where he teaches patristics, the monsignor wears a number of hats. At 6’ 4” he displays his Norwegian ancestry but bemoans the leg-room in modern aircraft. A pilot himself, Mgr Jeff enjoys travel and thoroughly enjoys meeting the laity and clergy in his far flung jurisdiction. Archbishop Terrence Prendergast SJ The ordaining bishop was the delightful Archbishop Terrence Prendergast S.J. who hosted the new priests and their wives to a luncheon in the art-filled episcopal residence. A student of history, the fully bi-lingual Archbishop Prendergast is happy to point out details about the portraits of his many predecessors of French ancestry and other paintings that adorn the hallways and dining room. A recent portrait of himself greets visitors in the second floor hallway. Toronto-Ottawa choir The Saturday Ordination Mass was sung by a combined Toronto-Ottawa choir led by the masterful Ordinariate musical director Peter Mahon. Exquisite renderings of the Greek and Latin texts of the Kyrie, Credo, Veni Creator and the Byrd, Agnus Dei from Mass for Four Voices were combined with English plainsong propers, Anglican hymns including Newman’s Praise to the Holiest in the Height and the motets: Bruchner, Os Justi and Tallis, If Ye Love Me at the post-ordination clergy Pax. healing the Reformation breach The congregation, including some high government officials, was awe-inspired with thanksgiving for the event, the building, the music and in wonder at what God has wrought with the Ordinariate’s mandate to incarnate the healing of the Reformation breach on Canadian shores. Four Ordinations and a Wedding” The liturgies on the weekend included a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday at St George’s Catholic Church in Ottawa West along with luncheons and celebrating ordination dinners. Two fine homilies by Mgr Steenson and Fr Those celebrating ordination to priesthood on Dec. Scott McCaig of the Companions of the Cross rounded 14, the Memorial of St John of the Cross, were: Fr out the spiritual feast. Taking the lead from Fr Kenyon’s Kipling Cooper of Barrhaven, ON and Fr Douglas faux movie title description of Mgr Steenson’s spiritual Hayden, faculty member of Augustine College, both journey as “Four Ordinations and a Wedding” this in the Ottawa area, along with Fr Jim Tilley and, weekend of joy and thanksgiving to God was dubbed your scribe, Fr John Hodgins, both from the Toronto “Eat, Pray, Love.”