The simplest reason for joining the Ordinariate is that you believe God may be calling you to do so. The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is fully part of the Catholic Church, and joining it is therefore first and foremost about belonging to Jesus Christ and living the fullness of the Catholic faith within his Church.
The Ordinariate was established particularly for Anglicans and former Anglicans who wish to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church, while preserving those elements of Anglican spiritual, liturgical and pastoral life which can find their proper home within Catholicism. For some, this means becoming Catholic without leaving behind the prayers, music, language and traditions which helped to form their Christian faith. Others encounter Christ and the Catholic faith for the first time through the worship, witness and community of the Ordinariate.
Membership is not, however, simply a matter of preferring a particular style of worship. It is a commitment to the Catholic faith in its fullness and to the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. The purpose of the Ordinariate, like every part of the Church, is to help us know and love Jesus Christ, receive his grace through the Sacraments, grow in holiness and, ultimately, reach our eternal home with God.
Anglicans and former Anglicans living in England, Wales and Scotland may seek to enter the Catholic Church through the Ordinariate. Membership may also be possible for certain Catholics who were baptised Catholic but did not complete the Sacraments of Initiation and who return to the faith through the evangelising mission of the Ordinariate. Eligibility in individual circumstances can be discussed privately with an Ordinariate priest.
If you are considering becoming a Catholic, returning to the practice of the faith, or simply wondering whether God may be leading you towards the Ordinariate, you do not need to have everything worked out before making contact. The first step is simply a conversation. There is no pressure and no assumption about where that conversation must lead.
For those in Salisbury and the surrounding area, our priest would be very happy to meet you, answer questions and explain the next steps. All such conversations are treated with discretion and respect. You are also very welcome simply to come to Mass, worship with us and get to know our community.
Sometimes the journey into the Church begins with nothing more complicated than walking through the door.