United Kingdom's Ordinariate Now has its 1st Bishop - Former Anglican Vicar David Waller who was Ordained at Westminster Cathedral
The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop David Waller took place at Westminster Cathedral. London, on Saturday 22nd June 2024, the Feast of St John Fisher and St Thomas More. The principal consecrator was His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Con-celebrating Mass was Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster and Bishop Stephen Lopes and Bishop Anthony Randazzo, heads of the Anglican-Catholic ordinariates of the U.S.A.-Canada and Pacific-Australia.
In his homily, Cardinal Fernández recalled how the Ordinariate is structured to give Anglicans the possibility of entering into full communion with the Catholic Church in order to preserve what Saint Paul VI defined as "the legitimate prestige and worthy heritage of piety and customs specific to the Anglican Communion".
Cardinal Fernández also reiterated the importance of the Ordinariate's collaboration with local dioceses in order to promote unity and spiritual growth. He underlined that the priests of the Ordinariate already collaborate with local dioceses across Great Britain and encouraged those present to "grow in a spirit of dialogue and sharing, including pastoral objectives in light of what Pope Francis suggests".
Bishop David is the first Bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The first Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, Monsignor Keith Newton PA, was made Ordinary by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 at the erection of the Ordinariate, but as a married priest could not be a bishop. It is a great honour that Pope Francis has appointed one of our own priests to be the second Ordinary and shows his commitment to the Ordinariates established under Anglicanorum coetibus by his predecessor.
Bishop David Waller was born in London on 10th June 1961 and educated at the School of St David and St Katharine in Hornsey and the College of Ripon and York St John, University of Leeds. From 1983 to 1989 he worked as a community worker in Bradford, which was one of the most impoverished areas of the United Kingdom.
In 1989 he left Bradford to train for Anglican orders at Chichester Theological College and was Ordained Deacon in 1991 and Priest the following year. He served two parochial appointments in the Diocese of Chichester: Curate of Aldwick (1991-1995) and Team Vicar of Crawley (1995-2000); during this time, he was also a member of the Diocesan Synod and a part-time hospital chaplain.
In 2000 he moved to East London to become Vicar of the Parish of St Saviour, Walthamstow; he remained in this post until his reception into the Catholic Church. From 2005 until 2010 he served as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.In Holy Week 2011, he was received into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
After he was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood, following the provisions of Anglicanorum coetibus, he was named Pastor of the Walthamstow Ordinariate Mission and has also held two diocesan parochial appointments: Parochial Administrator of St John the Baptist Ilford (2011-2015) and Parish Priest of Christ the King Chingford (since 2015). Bishop Waller has been Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ordinariate since its establishment; and for the past four years has served as Vicar General.
In 1989 he left Bradford to train for Anglican orders at Chichester Theological College and was Ordained Deacon in 1991 and Priest the following year. He served two parochial appointments in the Diocese of Chichester: Curate of Aldwick (1991-1995) and Team Vicar of Crawley (1995-2000); during this time, he was also a member of the Diocesan Synod and a part-time hospital chaplain.
In 2000 he moved to East London to become Vicar of the Parish of St Saviour, Walthamstow; he remained in this post until his reception into the Catholic Church. From 2005 until 2010 he served as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.In Holy Week 2011, he was received into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
After he was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood, following the provisions of Anglicanorum coetibus, he was named Pastor of the Walthamstow Ordinariate Mission and has also held two diocesan parochial appointments: Parochial Administrator of St John the Baptist Ilford (2011-2015) and Parish Priest of Christ the King Chingford (since 2015). Bishop Waller has been Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ordinariate since its establishment; and for the past four years has served as Vicar General.
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham was established in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI to allow Anglicans to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church whilst retaining much of their heritage and traditions. It now has the full support and blessing of Pope Francis.
Sources: https://www.ordinariate.org.uk/organisation/ordinary.php
https://www.vaticannews.va/it/vaticano/news/2024-06/david-waller-primo-vescovo-nostra-signora-di-walsingham.html
Image © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk - Facebook page of the Ordinariate
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