FR. LEE KENYON, DEAN OF CSP ORDINARIATE (Canada) TO CELEBRATE MASS, SUN. JULY 7 with ST. THOMAS MORE (Sacre Coeur) TORONTO

The Dean of the Canadian CSP Deanery of St. John the Baptist will make a visit to Toronto in July. Fr. Kenyon will celebrate and preach for St. Thomas More (Sacre-Coeur) on Sunday, July 7 AT 1:45 pm.

He was the first of what is now eight Anglican Ordinariate priests in Canada and is rector of the historic Church of St. John the Evangelist in Calgary which has doubled Sunday Mass attendance since joining the Ordinariate in 2011.

A native of England, Fr. Kenyon was educated for the Anglican priesthood at Mirfield with the Community of the Resurrection. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are expecting their fourth child in August.

A History of the Anglican Use in the Catholic Church in Toronto

Excerpted  and adapted from the website of TAUS now St. Thomas More Catholic (Ordinariate Use) Toronto

On the eve of the Feast of Saint Thomas More . . . . Mgr Steenson, has officially designated Thomas More as our new patron saint [of the Toronto Ordinariate parish in formation]. 

In January 1993, a small group of Anglicans met in downtown Toronto on a freezing Saturday afternoon to discuss joining the Catholic Church as a parish set up according to the Anglican Use (AU), similar to existing parishes in the United States as authorized by Blessed Pope John Paul II. While being fully Catholic in every respect, AU churches, parishes and groups retain an Anglican identity in terms of language, liturgy and music.

The group continued to meet for two years and, having chosen Sir Thomas More as its patron, became known as the Society of Saint Thomas More. Evensong was held monthly at St Cecilia's Catholic Church on Annette St.  Exploratory meetings were held with Catholic officials in Toronto and then . . .  nothing. Rumour had it that Cardinal Ambrozic had raised the matter with the bishops’ conference, but no positive response was ever received.

While hopes and prayers for the Anglican Use in Toronto never ceased, nothing more was able to happen until the promulgation of Anglicanorum Coetibus (AC) by Pope Benedict XVI in late 2009. This deeply visionary and pastoral act of Pope Benedict’s dramatically responded to the long-standing hopes and prayers of many Anglicans throughout the English-speaking world by greatly expanding the free use of the Anglican liturgy in the Catholic Church and by enabling those parishes and groups of Anglican heritage to unite under their own hierarchy as Personal Ordinariates, similar to but distinct from territorial dioceses.

Interest in the Anglican Use continued to grow in Toronto, and in March 2011 the Archdiocese of Toronto hosted a national conference on the Anglican Ordinariate, which included, on the Feast of the Annunciation, the first ever AU Mass in Canada.  A few weeks later, on the 1^st of May, a new group of Anglicans and former Anglicans, incorporating many of the members of the old Society of St Thomas More, began meeting regularly once again – this time on a weekly basis – for Sung Evensong, catechesis, fellowship and discussion at the Newman Centre at U of T.

After just over a year of weekly Evensong, the Toronto Anglican Use Sodality, as it had become known, was able to begin offering weekly Anglican Use Sung Masses and received a number of Anglicans into the full Communion of the Catholic Church. Now, after yet another year, we are continuing to grow and are on the verge of receiving some more Anglicans into full Communion.

Our meeting last Sunday was full of enthusiasm and goodwill. There was strong support for adopting the name and patronage of St Thomas More, and within days the Dean, Fr Kenyon, passed along the joyful news that Mgr Steenson had officially given his approval. We look forward to the permanent assignment of a priest and pastor in the coming months and in the meantime will continue our beautiful weekly Sung Masses in Sacre-Coeur church under the care of Fr Eric Rodrigues.

As we celebrate our newfound patronal feast day today and the patronal of the Canadian Ordinariate Deanery on Monday (St John the Baptist), we can trust that St Thomas More’s prayers for us, as well as the intercessions of the Baptist and so many other great saints, are most efficacious, and our Lord’s mercies are great.

As always, our Sung Anglican Use Mass is every Sunday at 1:45pm at Sacré-Coeur, 381 Sherbourne St. AU Masses fulfill Sunday obligation for all Catholics, regardless of whether or not they are of an Anglican background. There is parking immediately north of the Church and coffee hour afterward.

Everyone is welcome to attend and we hope to see you there. Have a blessed feast day!

Laus Deo! St Thomas More, ora pro nobis!

Saint Thomas More Catholic (Anglican Use), Toronto

Blessings on the Feast of St. Thomas More

Saint Thomas More, English Martyr:  February 7, 1478 - July 6, 1535
Patronal Feast Day - June 22

The Toronto AU sodality celebrates the Feast of St. Thomas More this weekend as their new patron. June 22 is a memorial on the Calendar of the Catholic Church in Canada and is now the patronal feast day for the Ordinariate parish in formation.

Please remember the community in your prayers today and this weekend as we also celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, patron of the Canadian Deanery of the CSP Ordinariate for North America.

We are also praying for St. John's, Calgary, Fr. Kenyon, his family and the people of Southern Alberta as they face massive flooding. May God grant them grace and peace and many the intercessions of Our Lady of Walsingham, St. Peter, St John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist and St Thomas More assist them.

St. Thomas More (Anglican Use of the Catholic Church), Toronto

That is the new name for the Catholic congregation formerly the Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (TAUS). Msgr. Steenson sent word that the congregation, seeking to enter the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (CSP), could come under the patronage of St. Thomas More, the sixteenth-century English Catholic layman, noted author and Chancellor of England who maintained his allegiance to the Holy See despite pressure to acknowledge the king as supreme over the Church. He was martyred.

The congregation will be developed within the CSP initially as what Ordinariate chancellor, Margaret Chalmers, has said is canonically a "Public Association of the Faithful". This is the first step towards development as a parish over time.

TAUS June 16 meeting and YouTube Video of Anglican Use Mass in Toronto

Here are some  clips of the Kyrie and Offertory from the AU Sunday Sung Mass, June 16 celebrated at Sacré-Coeur Church in downtown Toronto before a meeting to begin the establishment of an Ordinariate mission parish. See clips at:

TAUS Youtube Sung Mass Music

This fine music is offered weekly and shared with Ordinariate friends around the world as we establish a vibrant patrimonial community for those seeking unity in the Catholic faith while preserving the best of Anglican liturgy, music and pastoral outreach.

Peter Mahon, a noted choral conductor in Toronto, along with a four part choir have offered a full Sung Mass weekly from September to June (a single cantor assists with plainchant during the summer). The full choir returns SUNDAY, SEPT. 8.

At the June 16 meeting more than the required 24 signed people were registered on forms to form the Toronto Ordinariate mission. The parish's official name is to be announced soon, following approval by Msgr Steenson. Detailed News of the meeting later this week.

Selecting a Patron Saint

The selection of a patron saint for a mission or parish is a very important process. Not only does it create a relationship of prayer between the community and the saint, it establishes the priorities and public image of the mission or  parish.

Anglican Ordinariate parishes and communities in this Year of Faith select patron saints with the approval of the ordinary as a part of the New Evangelization, bringing the Word of God afresh to society. In this process the Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (TAUS) will become a mission parish under the patronage of one of the great saints in Anglican and Catholic patrimony. 

Saints proposed as patron come from various backgrounds. One was a pre-Reformation English Catholic. St. Thomas More, when faced with the  decision to renounce his allegiance to Rome proclaimed: "I am the king's good servant, but God's first." Others like St. Edmund Campion (an Anglican deacon) entered into full communion with Rome, was ordained a priest and then was later martyred for the Catholic faith as he sought to bring others into full communion with the Holy See.

We pray that all the saints will be with TAUS on Sunday as the sodality continues the process of becoming a mission parish under the patronage of a great saint and with the prayers of our Lady and all the saints. 

TAUS MEETING TO FORM TORONTO MISSION PARISH AND SELECT NAME Sunday, June 16 at 3 pm.

TAUS MEETING - After Sung Mass on Sunday, June 16 at 3 pm. All are welcome as forms are gathered for those affiliating with the Ordinariate. 

We will also be selecting a mission name to submit to Msgr Steenson for approval. Those suggested so far include:

1. St. Benedict
2. St. Thomas More
3. St Edmund Campion
4. St. John Fisher
5. St Hilda
6. St. Kateri Tekakwitha
7. Blessed John Henry Newman


Here is a link to the Ordinariate website and the pdf form for membership.

http://www.usordinariate.org/documents/Request_to_Enter_Ordinariate.pdf

If you fill one out please bring it to the meeting so that these can be submitted as a group with the 24+.

TAUS to discuss formation of an Ordinariate Mission Parish in Toronto

The June meeting of the Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (TAUS) will choose a name to submit to Msgr. Steenson with an application to form a Mission Parish (technically a quasi-parish) in Toronto.

A few practical points:

1.  AN ORDINARIATE MISSION PARISH FOR TORONTO

Twenty-four members are required to form an Ordinariate mission parish. 

2.  WHO CAN BE A MEMBER?

A)  If you are an Anglican (Episcopalian), a former Anglican, or are married to or in the family of an Anglican or former Anglican you can be a member of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

B)  If you are a non-Catholic of any denomination or none and wish to be received into the Catholic Church through the Ordinariate you can belong to the Ordinariate. 

C)  Basically, only those who have been both baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church and have no familial connection to an Anglican cannot, formally, be a member of the Personal Ordinariate but, of course, any Catholic can attend Ordinariate Masses, fulfill their Sunday obligation and partake of the sacraments (Penance, etc.) through the ministry of an Ordinariate priest or chaplain. [Subsequent to this posting, Pope Francis has extended the mandate of Ordinariates to reach out to baptized but unchatechized and unconfirmed Catholics who seek full communion through an Ordinariate community.]

3.  DO I HAVE TO STOP ATTENDING MY LOCAL PARISH AND ATTEND THE ORDINARIATE MASS EVERY SUNDAY?

You can continue to attend any Catholic Church and come to Ordinariate Masses when possible. Once a member of the Ordinariate though, you cannot hold an official position in another parish e.g. Parish Council. 

4.  DO I HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF TORONTO?

Any Canadian who meets the criteria in # 2 above can affiliate with the Ordinariate in Canada and may attend the closest Ordinariate mission parish or sodality when possible. If in doubt on this or other issues, fill out a form and we will have the Ordinariate Chancellor review the case. 

5. MSGR STEENSON NEEDS THE FORMS

Even those who filled out a form for the archdiocese must complete a form for the Ordinariate office in Houston.  These can be collected at the June meeting. 

Pentecost Novena for Toronto Anglican Use Sodality, the Odinariate and Re-evangelization

The Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (TAUS) will be meeting in June to select a patronal (saint's) name for the community and to consider the process of forming a mission parish following the year May 2012 - May 2013 during which TAUS has offered Sung Mass every Sunday at Sacré-Coeur Parish Church.  Now it is time to reach out in the Year of Faith as together we seek to re-evangelize our city and the world.

TAUS receives a second group of baptized people into the full communion of the Catholic Church this week and looks to receive others this Fall. Members and friends are asked to offer the Novena to the Holy Spirit this Pentecost for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter and, in particular, for the Toronto mission (TAUS) that those who have expressed a desire to respond to Pope Benedict's welcome will have the courage to do so in light of our Lord's prayer "that they all may be one." 

The novena (nine days of prayer) to the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Jesus, himself when he sent his apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian community and individual for the re-evangelization of the world.

PENTECOST NOVENA

Begin with this prayer each day:

O Holy Spirit, my Lord and my God, I adore Thee and humbly acknowledge here in Thy sacred presence that I am nothing, and can do nothing, without Thy operation within me. 

Come, great Paraclete, Thou Father of the poor, Thou Comforter of the blest, fulfill the promise of our Saviour, who would not leave us orphans, and enter my mind and heart as thou didst descend on the day of Pentecost upon the holy Mother of Jesus and upon his first disciples. Grant that I may have a part in those gifts which Thou didst so prodigally bestow upon them.

Take from my heart all that is not pleasing to thee and make of it a worthy dwelling place for Jesus.

Illumine my mind, that I may see and understand the things that are for my eternal welfare.

Inflame my heart with pure love of the Father, that, cleansed from attachment to all unworthy objects, my whole life may be hidden with Jesus in God.

Strengthen my will, that it may be conformable to the will of my Creator and guided by Thy holy inspirations.

Aid me to practice the heavenly virtues of humility, poverty, and obedience which are taught me in the earthly life of Jesus.

Descend upon me, O mighty Spirit, that, inspired and encouraged by thee, I may faithfully fulfill the duties of my state in life, carry my daily cross with patience and courage, and accomplish the Father's will for me more perfectly. Make me, day by day, more holy and give to me that heavenly peace which the world cannot give.

O Holy Spirit, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant to me the intentions of this novena of prayer [Mention intentions]. May the Father's will be done in me and through me. And mayest Thou, O mighty Spirit of the living God, be praised and glorified for ever and ever. Amen.

Then follows the hymn to God the Holy Spirit:

Veni Creator Spiritus

1. Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, And lighten with celestial fire,

Thou the anointing Spirit art; Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart.

2. Thy blessed unction from above, is comfort, life, and fire of love,

Enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight.

3. Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of Thy grace.

Keep far our foes, give peace at home; where Thou art Guide, no ill can come.

4. Teach us to know the Father, Son, and Thee, of both, to be but One;

That, through the ages all along, This may be our endless song:

Praise to Thine eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then is said the Our Father and Hail Mary.

Then follows either the following prayer, or one of the prayers proper to the day below.

Let us pray.

O God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Day

Come, O Holy Ghost, the Lord and Life-giver; take up Thy dwelling within my soul, and make of it Thy sacred temple. Make me live by grace as an adopted child of God. Pervade all the energies of my soul, and create in me a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting.

Second Day

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, and power, and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show me the way by which I may be able to attain to them, and possess them, and hold them hereafter, my own forever.

Third Day

Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten my mind, that I may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation, and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy light; and in the light of glory to have the clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son.

Fourth Day

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good, turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the path of Thy commandments to the goal of eternal life.

Fifth Day

Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give courage to my soul. Make my heart strong in all trials and in all distress, pouring forth abundantly into it the gifts of strength, that I may be able to resist the attacks of the devil.

Sixth Day

Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make me understand and despise the emptiness and nothingness of the world. Give me grace to use the world only for Thy glory and the salvation of thy creatures. May I always be very faithful in putting thy rewards before every earthly gift.

Seventh Day

Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess my heart; incline it to a true faith in Thee, to a holy love of Thee, my God, that with my whole soul I may seek Thee, and find thee my best, my truest joy.

Eighth Day

Come, O Spirit of holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; and shun all things that can offend thee so that I may be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of thy divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens, where thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Ever-blessed Trinity, world without end.

Ninth Day

Come, O Holy Comforter, and grant me a relish for heavenly things. Produce in my soul the fruits of virtue, so that, being filled with all sweetness and joy in the pursuit of good, I may attain unto eternal blessedness. 

Easter Joy !

The Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (TAUS) congregation is always welcoming new faces as people come to see how an Anglican Use Mass is celebrated and especially to hear the patrimonial music of the Anglican Use at Sacré-Coeur. Many come just out of curiosity but other seekers are looking for a spiritual home.

Blessed with what visitors tell us is, in their view, the finest Mass music in Toronto, TAUS continues its slow growth. At  this point, the mission of TAUS is clearly focussed on the provision of the weekly Sunday Mass, which presents the Gospel in the beautiful language and patrimony of the Anglican Tradition within the faith and life of the wider Catholic community.

With the leadership of the TAUS director of music, Peter Mahon and under the guidance of Fr. Eric Rodrigues, TAUS chaplain, the mission will complete one year offering weekly Sunday Sung Mass at Sacré-Coeur Church in downtown Toronto.

Having been asked to provide music for archdiocesan events has raised the profile of TAUS in the Toronto region and we now welcome visitors from a variety of backgrounds every week. Mennonites, former C of E Anglicans, Lutherans, Protestants and Catholics of all backgrounds make their way to the corner of Carlton and Sherbourne every week. Here they find a celebration of the unity of the Church celebrated in the beauty of liturgy and music which is a gift to the universal Church. Unity is at the core of everything that marks TAUS, unity of faith and teaching, unity of mission and purpose i.e. the unity for which our Lord prayed.

Gradually, some who visit return on a regular basis. Thanks to the weekly hospitality in the parish hall (with excellent Easter treats last week provided by generous folk) the gathered members of the community are getting to know one another.

Here is a little flavour of the offertory music that we are so grateful to have at Mass every Sunday . . .

"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is . . . "

Palm Sunday Processional and Mass

The Blessing and Distribution of Palms will be celebrated as part of the regular 1:45 pm Anglican Use Sung Mass at Sacré Coeur Church this Sunday. Weather permitting the blessing will take place on the steps of the church at the corner of Sherbourne and Carlton streets.

Catholics and others who can join with the Toronto Sodality in this public witness to the faith are warmly welcomed. There will be refreshments, as usual, in parish hall after Mass as we welcome our chaplain, Fr. Eric Rodrigues, back from Rome where he has been for the past several weeks assisting the cardinal at the election of Pope Francis.

We look forward to hearing from Fr. Eric about his Roman adventure and the great hope that has been given to the world in the election of Pope Francis I following our beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

It looks like they went for a long one and scored a touchdown!

Toronto A.U. Sodality to Choose Name

Toronto AU Sung Mass 

At the first annual meeting of the Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (TAUS) much was discussed. TAUS still comes under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Toronto but is soon to be received into the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (CSP). A name for the Sodality and future Mission Parish was discussed.

A variety of names were considered in light of the names of other groups and parishes in the Deanery of St. John the Baptist (DSJB - the Canadian Deanery of CSP). Amongst these were St. Thomas More - the name of the previous Toronto society which unsuccessfully sought to form an Anglican Use mission in the 1990s. Others include St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. John Fisher, St. Edmund Campion, St. Benedict and Blessed John Henry Newman (this latter name has already been used by a Canadian group).

It was decided to reconvene TAUS after Easter to select a name to submit to the dean of DSJB, Fr. Lee Kenyon of Calgary, for approval by the Ordinary. Other names for the mission parish along with interest in TAUS will be sought during the intervening time.

In the meantime, TAUS continues to meet for Sung Mass weekly at 1:45 pm Sundays at Sacré Coeur with wonderful patrimonial Anglican choral music and a variety of celebrant priests each with faculties to conduct the interim approved AU rite from the Book of Divine Worship in the classic sacral English of the Book of Common Prayer. The AU rite for the Ordinariates worldwide will be formally updated in Rome at a later date and published in missal form.

Considerable excitement was expressed about plans to develop a youth choir to sing the traditional music of the AU Mass and other music of the Western choral canon. In addition, to providing a second choir for the mission parish this will be an opportunity to reach out to more young people and their families.

It was also decided to reconsider the Sunday youth program during the Liturgy of the Word so that families may attend Mass together thus exposing children to the full music and ceremonial of the AU Mass and, at the same time, recruiting altar servers and others to assist with the provision of weekly Eucharistic hospitality.

A TAUS budget for the use of the church, organ and organist as well as other expenses for the choir and stipends for priests was considered in light of the start up loan from the Archdiocese of Toronto which is repayable, without interest, when the sodality is on a solid footing. The loan money goes directly to Sacré Coeur to help defray the parish's expenses.

Father Eric Rodrigues as deacon

TAUS hopes to have a priest to succeed its excellent chaplain, Fr. Eric Rodrigues (currently in Rome as Cardinal Collins' assistant). While Fr. Eric is away there are five priests in the Toronto area who have been instructed in the Anglican Use rite for Mass.  These priests take turns celebrating the Anglican Use Sunday Mass in the afternoon. Sung Mass has been celebrated by TAUS weekly without interruption since May 2012.

Approaching its first anniversary of weekly Mass in Toronto, the sodality is hoping that an Ordinariate priest will be ordained for TAUS later this year or by Spring 2014 after the group has been received into the Ordinariate formally with its new name. The priest will be pastor to the group but also available to assist with chaplaincy or parish ministry in the Archdiocese at the discretion of the Cardinal and the Ordinary, Msgr Steenson.

Communication about the activities of TAUS were the focus of discussion at the annual meeting. Cards will be distributed by members and a sign placed outside Sacré Coeur at the corner of Carlton and Sherbourne stating "ENGLISH MASS 1:45 pm SUNDAY" to offer Catholics in the community another alternative for the Sunday obligation and to make the community aware of TAUS.

Advertising in the CATHOLIC REGISTER will be focused on special events - Easter Sung Mass, etc.  Other strategies to make Anglicans, Lutherans and other Protestants aware of TAUS and its mission for Christian Unity were discussed.

The small but growing sodality looks forward to a year of development as it seeks to be faithful to the Gospel call of Jesus "that they all may be one".

Heartiest Congratulations Monsignor Peter Wilkinson

Dateline: Houston, Texas

Feast of the Presentation, 2013

In the presence of cardinals, bishops and the staff of St. Mary's Seminary in Houston and along with deacons, priests with their wives and candidates for ordination for the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, Msgr Jeffrey Steenson, on the seminary stage, announced that the Holy Father has made Fr. Peter Wilkinson a prelate of honour with the title of Monsignor.

This is a wonderful recognition of Msgr Wilkinson's past service to his people in Canada as an Anglican bishop. As well, Pope Benedict has recognized the sacrifice and faithfulness Msgr Peter has shown in shepherding his people into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

With his usual humility and grace Msgr Wilkinson dedicated this honour to the clergy, their wives and the people of his former diocese now in communion with the Holy Father.

With great thanks to God the Canadian Deanery of St. John the Baptist now has a monsignor as well as a fine dean. May God bless the Deanery as we walk in the Year of Faith and give us grace to proclaim Christ to all in the New Evangelization in the unity of communion to which we are called.

Epiphany and the Toronto AU Facebook Page

It has been said that the new front door for parishes and missions is a webpage. A webpage is a kind of showing forth or epiphany of what the parish or mission offers.

If that is so then perhaps the new bulletin for parishes is a Facebook or Twitter account.

As we seek to get the word out that since May 2012 the Toronto Anglican Use Sodality has offered Sung Mass every Sunday at 1:45 pm this is a new opportunity to make people aware of this ministry of worship, the increasing activities of the mission and of the Canadian Ordinariate Deanery.

Such communication is a contribution to the New Evangelization for all Catholics and all those seeking unity in Christ.

Along with video clips of the choral offerings weekly at Sacré-Coeur Church there will be updates and notices on a regular basis as more and more come to Mass, Evensong or other liturgies to experience the beauty of patrimonial liturgy and music in the Anglican Use.

You can link to the Toronto AU Sodality page by entering TORONTO ANGLICAN USE SODALITY on Facebook.

Share this with your Facebook Friends.

Happy New Year and a blessed Epiphany.

See you at:

Evensong, Carols and Benediction 

7:00 pm this Sunday, January 6.

Advent and Christmas in Toronto

The Toronto Anglican Use Sodality (soon to be an Ordinariate mission with a patron saint) celebrates its first Advent and Christmas season having maintained the weekly Sunday celebration of Sung Mass since May with thanks to the efforts of AU chaplain Fr. Eric Rodrigues and other priests.

Due to his many responsibilities as the Cardinal's assistant, Fr. Eric was unable to be present for every weekly Mass and so four other priests helped from time to time.

What a wonderful blessing for them and for us. Each priest appreciated the opportunity to celebrate Mass using the sacral English of the traditional AU rite and to enjoy the marvellous music of the sodality choir led by Peter Mahon.

The Toronto AU schedule insures that at 1:45 pm each Sunday a priest is at Sacré-Coeur Church (corner of Sherbourne and Carlton streets) in downtown Toronto to celebrate the Anglican Use Mass.

Many visitors and inquirers as well as regular attendees have maintained this weekly witness to the unity of the Church as increasing numbers of people become aware of the Ordinariate and seek to explore possibilities as we enter the Year of Faith and seek to serve the New Evangelization.

A significant contribution to the new evangelization is the Anglican choral tradition presented in its highest expression weekly by the AU sodality.

Offertory motet for Advent III - Gaudete Sunday at  Sacré-Coeur

During the Twelve Days of Christmas the Toronto AU choir will offer Sung Mass at 5:00 pm on Monday, Dec. 31 at Sacré-Coeur for the Vigil of Mary Mother of God (a day of obligation for all Catholics).

On Epiphany Sunday in addition to Sunday Sung Mass at 1:45 pm (Sunday, Jan. 6) the choir will offer music for  Evensong, Benediction and Carols at 7:00 pm. 

All are welcome and, of course, Catholics of all rites may fulfill their Mass obligation at any AU Mass. 

Sunday AU Sung Mass continues every week at 1:45 pm at Sacré-Coeur.

Laudate Dominum

A Warm Welcome to Father Lee Kenyon, Dean of the Deanery of St. John the Baptist of the Personal Ordinariate in Canada

We are very fortunate to have Father Lee Kenyon appointed to lead those Canadian Anglicans and others who are responding to our Lord's call to Christian unity by means of the Personal Ordinariate for North America.

Fr. Lee is a thoughtful, well educated, prayerful and pastoral priest with youth and a great sense of humour to complement his other qualities. A husband and father of three he embodies the Anglican patrimony in so many ways.

Fr. Lee through prayer and hard work has a thriving parish which grows weekly (it has doubled in size since the parish was received into full communion less than a year ago).

Fr Kenyon (left) talks with theologian and papal advisor Fr. Aidan Nichols OP while both were in Toronto for the Anglican Use Conference in 2011.

One of only three Ordinariate priests in Canada to date, he will work well with those who join Fr. Wilkinson (just ordained in BC) in parish ministry. Fr. Lee has expressed his keen desire to visit the Toronto Sodality and celebrate Mass with our congregation and great choir. He will facilitate the transfer into the Ordinariate and the choice of a name for our sodality as he assists in the formation of the three Toronto area sodalities into parishes over time.

We give thanks to Our Lady of Walsingham for her prayers and for the many blessings that St. John's, Calgary has been granted and now for the sharing of their fine priest with the rest of us across this vast land.

God bless you Father and may the prayers of OLW, St. Peter, St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist sustain and strengthen you and your family.

A Note from the Music Director of the Toronto Sodality

This Sunday, Nov. 25, Mass we celebrate 
The Feast of Christ The King. 

The music of the Mass will include the Missa Aeterna Munera by Palestrina, plainsong propers, hymns, and the motet for double choir, Ecce Vicit Leo by Peter Philips.

Our Masses begin at 1:45pm every Sunday at Sacré-Coeur Church, 381 Sherbourne St. and fulfil the Sunday obligation for all Catholics, regardless of whether or not they are of an Anglican background. As always, there is also free parking, a children’s program for part of the service, and a coffee hour afterward. 

Everyone is welcome!