Father Carl Reid to Serve in the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

Remarks at the Mass of Ordination of Carl Leonard Reid
Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa, ON
The Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus—January 26, 2013

With joy, I welcome all who have come for this ordination Mass this morning: the priests, deacons, religious and the lay faithful of Ottawa. A particularly warm welcome is extended to the congregation of the sodality of the Annunciation of Our Lady served by our ordinand Carl Leonard Reid and representatives of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in which he will exercise his ministry.

I acknowledge Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson, the Houston-based Ordinary, who exercises oversight of what is a far-flung diocese, Father Lee Kenyon of Calgary, Dean of the Canadian Deanery of St. John the Baptist, Father Peter Wilkinson of Victoria and local candidates for priestly ordination in the Ordinariate, Douglas Hayman and Kipling Cooper. As this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity draws to a close, we recognize the spiritual leadership of these men and particularly that of Carl Reid.

On this day, the church’s liturgy commemorates Saints Timothy and Titus, associates of St. Paul who were challenged by him to put their gifts of leadership at the service of the Church. In Paul’s first epistle to Timothy we learn of his family ties to Lois and Eunice, strong women of God. And so today we acknowledge the experience of family that lies at the core of each ordinand’s personal life journey.

So, I extend a most cordial welcome to (Barbara) the wife and siblings, to the friends and associates of our brother in Christ, Carl Leonard Reid. We give thanks to God for the way in which his family and friends nurtured faith in him, primarily but not solely in the Anglican tradition.

Carl, my son, your life up to now has been one of profound commitment and witness. Your formation and ministry within the Anglican tradition have provided you solid spiritual bedrock. You have been a bold witness to Christ and to the truths of Catholic Christianity–often at great cost to yourself.

Coming into communion with the Catholic Church through the Ordinariate, you bring with you the rich spiritual patrimony of the Anglican Church. Now, your ministry of bridge-building extends to creating bonds of friendship and communion between the Catholic Church and ecclesial communities of the Anglican and other Christian traditions. We ask God’s blessing on you and your ministry.

Msgr. Steenson gave the sermon

Kipling Cooper (left) and Douglas Hayman, candidates for ordination

Father Francis Donnelly CC vests Father Reid

Mrs. Barbara Reid take part in the offertory procession

Fathers Reid and Wilkinson