A Christmas Message from the Archbishop

My Dear Brethren in Christ Jesus - Greetings in His Holy Name.

The great festival of Christmas will soon be here. I was asked the other day whether I would like to have been the shepherds who visited the new born Holy Child, or would I prefer to have been the inn keeper (the man who let the greatly pregnant Mary into his stable because there was no room available in his inn). My reply was that I would prefer to have been the inn keeper. “What!”, my questioner
exclaimed. “think of the shepherds seeing a vision of angels who directed them to the stable - what a privilege!”

“Why the inn keeper?” I was then asked.
I replied: “Because it was the inn keeper who made room.”
The lesson is that so few of those who claim to be Christian can find room in their lives for Jesus Christ except perhaps at Christmas - indeed, after Christmas is over, they knowingly shut him out.

My prayer is that all of us will find room in our lives, not only on Christmas Day but throughout the year - and follow Him no matter what the cost may be.

With this prayer I wish you all a very happy and Holy Christmas.

Your servant in Christ Jesus

+ Leslie

Bishop's Visitation 'happy and relaxed'

 Bishop Garner has thanked all those who helped to make his recent visitation to America a happy and relaxed experience.  During his stay in San Antonio he met the Vestry to review the satisfactory progress made by the parish of St Edward's during the previous year, and celebrated Sunday Mass, during which he confirmed a group of young candidates.  He also had the opportunity of helping Fr Barrymore to celebrate his 70th birthday. An important development for the Church was the reception of the first American Oblate of St Benedict (see news item below).

Commenting on his visit, Bishop Garner said: “I don't like the business of getting to San Antonio, but as soon as I arrive I feel completely at home, making new friends, meeting a reassuring number of old ones and enjoying the legendary Texan hospitality. It was good to find St Edward's in a stable and healthy state, witnessed to by the number of candidates presented for Confirmation.  After receiving Rosemary Ukleya as a Benedictine Oblate I was left with the feeling that there will be an active Benedictine community in San Antonio in quite a short time. This is a welcome development, because every Church needs religious Orders to support its work with their prayers and undertake outreach to the less fortunate in the community.”

Church's First American Oblate

On 10 November 2008 Bishop Garner, at a Mass celebrated at Rosemary Ukleya's home, formally admitted Rosemary as an Oblate of the Order of Saint Benedict.  Rosemary is the first HCCWR Oblate in the Diocese of America.

After serving and studying for the past year Rosemary, during her elevation to full Oblate, offered herself to God and promised to live a life of Oblation.

Anyone seeking information about the life of an Oblate or information on becoming an Oblate may contact Rosemary via email at webmaster@1usachurch.com.

Bishop's Annual Visit

Bishop Garner's annual visit to the Diocese of America will take place from 5th to 12th November. During his stay in San Antonio he will formally admit Rosemary Ukleya as an Oblate of the Order of St Benedict and conduct Confirmations at the Mass which he will celebrate on 9th November in the church of St Edward the Confessor. Commenting on his visit, Bishop Garner said, “We are living in hard times at the moment, and for a while it seemed that my trip would have to be postponed. It was made possible at the last moment by some generous assistance from within the Benedictine Order, whose members see the importance of admitting our Church's first American Oblate. They obviously hope, as we all do, that the Order will begin to grow in the Diocese of America.”  Pointing out that every Church member has a right of access to the Bishop; he said that he would welcome any requests for private interviews during his stay.

Requests for a private interview with Bishop Garner can be made via email to:
bishop@1usachurch.com.

General Conference 2008

 The General Conference 2008 was held in Sweden at the invitation of Bishop Torner, who was responsible for the excellent arrangements.  Delegates were accommodated in a Christian conference centre on the Baltic coast, and enjoyed comfortable rooms, good cuisine, well-equipped meeting facilities and a large chapel.

 Discussion covered the usual formal business, including reports from Dioceses, and delegates also welcomed news of the completion of the Catholic Missal, which will now be introduced throughout the Church. Copies of the handsomely bound book were on display, and the Archbishop paid tribute to Deacon Michael Voinus, who had worked on its production for two years.

 Also under discussion was the question of making maximum use of the Church's websites. It was agreed that the American site was best-developed at present, and delegates welcomed the fact that its webmaster, Mr. Leo Ukleya, had offered to give advice and practical help in improving the other sites.

 It was agreed that international gatherings were so important that they should be held every two years, and the bishops were asked to agree on a venue that would enable the maximum number of delegates to attend.

 Among the decisions of the Synod of Bishops was the inclusion in the General Kalendar of two additional Feasts – Our Lady of Fatima, whose observance was now overwhelmingly accepted by European Catholics, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose veneration had a similar status among Hispanic Catholics.

 Worship played an important part in the conference program, and a notable occasion was the Archbishop's celebration of Mass in St Brigid's Cathedral.  The Mass was in Latin – the form which St Brigid would have recognized.

Ordinations in Archdiocese

 At a Mass on Saturday, 10th May,  Archbishop Leslie Hamlett ordained the Revd Deacon Dr David Price to the Priesthood and Subdeacon John Lynch to the Diaconate. Bishop Garner preached the Ordination sermon.  Fr Price will serve a developing Mission in Oxford, while Deacon Lynch will continue to be responsible for the Mission of St Columba in Burnley, Lancashire.

Big Day at St. Jude's Church, Farmington, NM

It was a big day indeed at St. Jude's - the Crowning of the Holy Mother, Mothers Day Celebration and most importantly First Holy Communion.

Receiving First Holy Communion were Erin Nicole Currin, Sarah Angeline Jobe, Sean Alexander Jobe, Alexis Olivia Lewis and Teana Marie Smrz.

The May Day Queen was Mary Matlock.

Rosemary Hart instructed the First Holy Communion Class and prepared them for the important event.

You can view photos of this event by going to the  Photo Albums Page and clicking on PHOTO ALBUM

New Cathedral Comes a Little Closer 

The Archdiocese of Europe is hoping to take possession of its new cathedral in the near future. The building is a former Anglican church in Stoke-on-Trent, a few miles from the present cathedral, which is due for demolition under a major city clearance scheme.

The developers have been obliged to provide an equivalent building under a 'like-for-like' arrangement, so there will be no additional expense involved for the Archdiocese. The arrangement includes the construction of a new hall, the updating of  facilities and some necessary repair work.  The new site will have distinct advantages – there will be space for a car park, and the cathedral will have much more public exposure in a busy locality  close to housing developments and shopping areas.

Archbishop Hamlett believes that, in spite of the difficult task of transferring furniture and fixtures, the move will be worthwhile because it will offer far better opportunities for evangelism, and will keep the Church very much in the public eye.

New Bishop For Rio Grande

Fr James Moore OSF has been consecrated to serve as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Rio Grande. 

Archbishop Leslie Hamlett was the Chief Consecrator at a service conducted on 12th December in the church of St Mary and St John, Madeley Heath, which was the first church established in the United Kingdom. The Co-Consecrators were Bishop Lawrence Garner and Bishop Ralph Torner.  The preacher for the occasion was Fr Alan Bowser OSB, who pointed out the qualities needed in a bishop by drawing on his own long experience of serving under bishops of very different characters. 

Bishop Moore, who was accompanied by his granddaughter Aimee, took the opportunity of an extended visit on his first trip to Britain.  He will continue to act as priest-in-charge of St Jude's, Farmington NM, where he has built up an enthusiastic congregation. 

Our picture shows Bishop Moore with the Archbishop at the lunch which followed the Consecration.  We hope to have pictures of the service itself in due course. 

New UK Cathedral in Prospect 

The long-drawn-out negotiations for a new cathedral in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, appear to be coming to a conclusion.  Although still in use, the present cathedral has gone into a state of limbo, having been scheduled for demolition under a large-scale redevelopment scheme in the Middleport area of the city. The local authority have offered in exchange a former Anglican church close to the city centre – an area described by Archbishop Hamlett as far more promising for evangelism. Plans are now being drawn up to refurbish the interior and to provide a church hall. 

The Archbishop Reports on His Visitation to South Africa

(Adapted from an address by the Archbishop to his Council of Advice.)

 The main purpose of my recent visitation to the Diocese of Umzi Wase Tiyopiya was to attend the Youth Conference and the Ladies' Conference – two diocesan gatherings held in King William's Town.

Yes, the trip to South Africa was tedious – all those long hours sitting in a cramped seat could be none other – yet if the money were to be available I would gladly make the journey all over again.  I would sum up my visitation in a single word – INSPIRING.  I only wish that all our people could have been there!  I must express my gratitude to Bishop Lamani for his welcome and meticulous care for our needs.

I recall with joy the attentive and devout congregations at the daily Masses I offered. At almost all the Masses (which were always High Masses) it was my privilege to preach to large and attentive congregations.  The high day for me was Sunday, 30th September.  It was the final day of the Conference, and I was to be the celebrant at the High Mass, ordain and preach in the larger of our two churches in King William's Town.  I eagerly approached this joyful task, for it was in this very building that I had inaugurated the Diocese of Umzi Wase Tiyopiya on Sunday, 5th November, 1999.  At that time I received a very large number of men, women and children into the full communion of the Church and ordained several deacons.

I was driven to the church by Bishop Lamani, and as soon as I had sight of the building memories flooded my mind – memories enhanced by the greetings expressed by so many of our faithful laity and clergy who recalled my 1999 visit, and upon whom I had not set eyes since.

The amazing growth of the Diocese was clearly evident by the very large congregation at the High Mass – some six hundred souls, exceeding the number at my first visit.  Never before had I preached to so large a congregation.

Sincere congratulations to Bishop Lamani and his many faithful clergy and laity, our true brothers and sisters in their ongoing witness to the true Catholic faith in South Africa.  My sincere gratitude to you for giving me INSPIRATION.