Do we even have a right to be in the Diocese of Christchurch?

 Q.  Do we e

2014 Letter of Petition to Enter the Christchurch Diocese

Q.  Do we even have a right to be in the diocese of Christchurch?

This is a very basic question.

History records that we first intruded into the Christchurch diocese in 2007. That is, we came without any invitation or authorization from the Bishop. In fact, the first Mass that we celebrated was at the Christchurch 'Rose Chapel' on Sunday the 8th July 2007.  That was the day following the Motu proprio of Pope Benedict XVI calling for communities such as ours to seek or renew full communion with the Church. It assured us that we could celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass as well as belong to the Church.

The only reason that we were considered to be "outside the Church" was that we held fast to the offering of the holy Latin Mass.

Over the months that followed that great motu proprio of the Pope, we sought to have our situation in the Church validated.

On 18 June 2008 we accomplished "reconciliation" with the Church through Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos but the actual journey was only beginning. 

From 2008 - 2013 we faced five years of constant opposition from within the Church hierarchy. We were Catholics in good standing but there were many difficulties to face. Someone wanted our monastery in Scotland to be broken up and for us all to be sent away; Faculties for Confession were extremely restricted and only the direct intervention of Pope Benedict XVI managed to gain us faculties to include the less that twelve Faithful living on the neighbouring island of Stronsay.

During this time we were in the Church but were like Catholics in Limbo: In the Church but in a painful no-man's-land. On 7 April 2010 I wrote to the Bishop of Christchurch offering to close down our Oratory in Rutland Street. Bishop Barry did not accept. He encouraged us to patience. He was a Good Shepherd, he never sought to crush us; the Oratory remained open; Christchurch diocese remained as a kindly refuge thanks to Bishop Barry, may is Name be held in our hearts!

2012 Letter from Bishop Barry even before we were erected as a Religious Order

Opposition to our establishment as a Religious Order still dragged on. There were many visits to Rome. Eventually, William Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (the CDF), stepped in to stop the underhand political games set on sinking us. He personally, and very kindly oversaw the completion of our Constitutions, and thus opening the way for us to become a Religious Order in the Church which happened on 15 August 2013. 

Whatever the future may hold by way of persecution and opposition, or even of fatal sinking, it remains that the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer is the first Religious Order in the Church to be founded by New Zealanders. What a grace! This grace from God, which we are not worthy to receive, makes us ready to bear opposition of any kind, for it has been a difficult road and we are only weak men. Like St Paul we hope that we do not crack or break, for we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God, and not of us. (2 Cor 4:7)

(Bear in mind that if we were to be successfully expelled from the diocese it would unjustly exclude 20 New Zealanders from living in New Zealand, from their whānau, families and culture.)

Below are the letters by which the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer received canonical approval to live in the Diocese of Christchurch permanently. All Religious Orders canonically estabished in a diocese, like the diocese itself, are permanent structures. They are more permanent than  the priests and monks who come and go and pass into eternity; more permanent too than the temporary bishops who also come and go and pass into eternity; as does all mortal flesh of whatever rank.

A. The answer to our first question is that we do have a right to live permanently in the diocese of Christchurch by reason of our canonical establishment in the diocese on 15 April 2014.

28 April 2015 Bishop Barry Jones assists at Solemn High Mass.

28 April 2015 Bishop Barry Jones preaching.

28 April 2015 Bishop Barry Jones blesses the Oratory of our Mother of Perpetual Succour.

Blessing the external walls.

Quoniam elegit Dominus Sion

For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling.

Haec requies mea in saeculum saeculi; 

This is my rest for ever and ever: 

here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.  

Blessing, I will bless her widow: 

I will satisfy her poor with bread. 

I will clothe her priests with salvation: 

and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. 

(Ps 131)

November 13, 2024     No comments