About Blessed John Henry Newman Catholic Church
Word & Sacraments
As Catholics, we are nourished by both God's word in the Scriptures and in the unchanging Tradition of the Church throughout the ages. The Anglican Use is a distinct usage of the Roman Rite, that focuses heavily on the reading and proclamation of Scripture, and applying it to our parish life corporately and to our lives individually. The word of God is life-changing and transforming (Heb. iv. 12) and is interpreted through the Tradition of the Church and applied very seriously to our situations. In his role as chief pastor of the faithful, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Verbum Dei, “The living Tradition is essential for enabling the Church to grow through time in the understanding of the truth revealed in the Scriptures; indeed, 'by means of the same tradition, the full canon of the sacred books is known to the Church and the holy Scriptures themselves are more thoroughly understood and constantly made effective in the Church.' Ultimately, it is the living Tradition of the Church which makes us adequately understand sacred Scripture as the word of God. Although the word of God precedes and exceeds sacred Scripture, nonetheless Scripture, as inspired by God, contains the divine word (cf. 2 Tim iii. 16) 'in an altogether singular way.'”
Likewise, the Sacraments of the Church are what help sanctify us in a unique way. The seven sacraments, and the many sacramentals of the Church, nourish us in a mysterious way, being sure and certain means of grace. Our communal life revolves around the Eucharist, which we celebrate according to the Anglican Use.
Music
Our parish's musical life is directed by Dr. Sandra Fryling, who is deeply committed to having music not just complement liturgy but be an integral part of it to the greater glory of God. Bl. John's has two choirs: the S. Cecilia's Choir, which is our “general" choir composed of laity who are both trained and untrained musically. S. Cecilia's Choir sings most Sundays. The second choir, which is our professional choir, is the Tallis Chapel Society. These men and women are trained and perform special pieces for high Holy Days and other services, like Evensong, and also plan to perform at other special events in and around Southern California.
Our “main fare" at Bl. John's is composed of Anglican and Gregorian chant, English and American hymnody with special emphasis on Anglican hymns, and traditional Latin Rite Catholic compositions.
As Catholics, we are nourished by both God's word in the Scriptures and in the unchanging Tradition of the Church throughout the ages. The Anglican Use is a distinct usage of the Roman Rite, that focuses heavily on the reading and proclamation of Scripture, and applying it to our parish life corporately and to our lives individually. The word of God is life-changing and transforming (Heb. iv. 12) and is interpreted through the Tradition of the Church and applied very seriously to our situations. In his role as chief pastor of the faithful, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Verbum Dei, “The living Tradition is essential for enabling the Church to grow through time in the understanding of the truth revealed in the Scriptures; indeed, 'by means of the same tradition, the full canon of the sacred books is known to the Church and the holy Scriptures themselves are more thoroughly understood and constantly made effective in the Church.' Ultimately, it is the living Tradition of the Church which makes us adequately understand sacred Scripture as the word of God. Although the word of God precedes and exceeds sacred Scripture, nonetheless Scripture, as inspired by God, contains the divine word (cf. 2 Tim iii. 16) 'in an altogether singular way.'”
Likewise, the Sacraments of the Church are what help sanctify us in a unique way. The seven sacraments, and the many sacramentals of the Church, nourish us in a mysterious way, being sure and certain means of grace. Our communal life revolves around the Eucharist, which we celebrate according to the Anglican Use.
Music
Our parish's musical life is directed by Dr. Sandra Fryling, who is deeply committed to having music not just complement liturgy but be an integral part of it to the greater glory of God. Bl. John's has two choirs: the S. Cecilia's Choir, which is our “general" choir composed of laity who are both trained and untrained musically. S. Cecilia's Choir sings most Sundays. The second choir, which is our professional choir, is the Tallis Chapel Society. These men and women are trained and perform special pieces for high Holy Days and other services, like Evensong, and also plan to perform at other special events in and around Southern California.
Our “main fare" at Bl. John's is composed of Anglican and Gregorian chant, English and American hymnody with special emphasis on Anglican hymns, and traditional Latin Rite Catholic compositions.
History
In the spring of 2011, some people contacted Fr. Bartus, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, about forming an informational and prayer group for the Ordinariate in Orange County. Word of mouth spread and several people were not just interested in doing that, but also wanted something more permanent. On April 3, 2011 an informational meeting was held at Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia about the Ordinariate led by the ecumenical officer of the Diocese of Orange, Fr. Al Baca, the rector of Blessed Sacrament, Fr. David Baumann, and Fr. Bartus. There was a core group from various Anglican/Episcopal parishes who signified that not only were they interested in the Ordinariate, but were ready to become Catholics and even form a new congregation for the Ordinariate in Orange County! The Anglican Use Society of Orange County (as Bl. John's was first named) was born and met for it's founding service (Evensong and Benediction) on May 29, 2011. From that date onward until May 20, 2012, we were meeting in Blessed Sacrament for nearly every week until our reception into the Church and being established as a mission parish of the Ordinariate. Our first Mass as a Catholic parish of the Ordinariate was on Sunday, July 8, 2012.
Public acknowledgement of gratitude must be given to Fr. David Baumann, rector of Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church, for his generosity of opening his parish to our weekly worship and for his ecumenical support. Thanks must also be given to Fr. Al Baca, the Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese of Orange, for his pastoral oversight while we were in formation. And finally, special gratitude goes out to the Bishop of Orange, the Most. Rev. Tod Brown, for his support for us and for the Ordinariate in Orange County.
Public acknowledgement of gratitude must be given to Fr. David Baumann, rector of Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church, for his generosity of opening his parish to our weekly worship and for his ecumenical support. Thanks must also be given to Fr. Al Baca, the Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese of Orange, for his pastoral oversight while we were in formation. And finally, special gratitude goes out to the Bishop of Orange, the Most. Rev. Tod Brown, for his support for us and for the Ordinariate in Orange County.
Receptions & Ordinations
Reception of the Bartus'
into the
Catholic Church
into the
Catholic Church
On Thursday in the Easter Octave (April 12, 2012), Father Bartus and his wife Laura were received into the Church by Monsignor William Stetson at the S. Vibiana Chapel in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, in Los Angeles. In attendance were many members of Bl. John's. On June 9, 2012, he was ordained a deacon by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, His Excellency José H. Gómez, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles; he was ordained a priest on July 3, 2012 by the Bishop of Orange, His Grace Tod D. Brown at the Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano.
Bl. John's was also received into the Church on July 3, 2012, together with S. Augustine of Canterbury in San Diego County. Bl. John's was received by the Bishop of Orange, and St. Augustine's was received by the Bishop Coadjutor of San Diego, His Grace Cirilo B. Flores. The Mass where both congregations were jointly received and Fr. Bartus was ordained a priest took place at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, and was presided over by the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of S. Peter, Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson.
Since that time, we have been meeting for Mass at S. Joseph's, Santa Ana on Sundays at 3:00 pm.
Bl. John's was also received into the Church on July 3, 2012, together with S. Augustine of Canterbury in San Diego County. Bl. John's was received by the Bishop of Orange, and St. Augustine's was received by the Bishop Coadjutor of San Diego, His Grace Cirilo B. Flores. The Mass where both congregations were jointly received and Fr. Bartus was ordained a priest took place at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, and was presided over by the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of S. Peter, Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson.
Since that time, we have been meeting for Mass at S. Joseph's, Santa Ana on Sundays at 3:00 pm.
Ordination to the Diaconate
Saturday, June 9, 2012 (Feast of S. Columba) |
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 (Feast of S. Thomas, Apostle & Martyr) |
into the Catholic Church of members of Bl. John's Tuesday, July 3, 2012 (Feast of S. Thomas, Apostle & Martyr) |
July 8, 2012 (Trinity V) |
Our future
Our future as a parish in Orange County revolves around two aspects: creating an Anglican Catholic community that nurtures, preserves, and grows our patrimony - which is ultimately the people - to help us on our way to heaven; and the second aspect is participating in the unity of Christians which Our Lord commanded (cf. St. John xvii). These are really two sides of the same coin. Our position as Anglicans in full communion with the Mother Church, who see Anglicanorum coetibus as the way for Anglicans to achieve the corporate unity our forefathers have longed sought, provides Bl. John's with a unique standpoint and capacity to participate in ecumenism in the Orange County area, both on a corporate level and to reach individuals. This necessarily requires Bl. John's to evangelize Orange County with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through his Church here on earth. Our committment to the Catholic faith and the Anglican patrimony leads us to not only reach out to other Anglicans and Episcopalians in our area, but also to Protestant Christians and to non-Christians.
Our intention is grow spiritually and numerically, and as we grow, invest time, energy, talent and finances into the lives of parishioners and the community around us. Not only do we hope and pray for a physical location of our own one day, but also we hope to develop one of the finest musical programs in Orange County. We take very seriously the adage attributed to St. Augustine, “To sing is to pray twice." Likewise we hope to develop a Catholic school in the Anglican tradition using Scripture, Tradition and Reason to form students in the classical tradition in the best of Western Civilization. These hopes for Bl. John's in the future arise from our patron, Blessed John Henry Newman, who himself desired this to be how parish churches should be modeled.
Soli Deo Gloria
Our intention is grow spiritually and numerically, and as we grow, invest time, energy, talent and finances into the lives of parishioners and the community around us. Not only do we hope and pray for a physical location of our own one day, but also we hope to develop one of the finest musical programs in Orange County. We take very seriously the adage attributed to St. Augustine, “To sing is to pray twice." Likewise we hope to develop a Catholic school in the Anglican tradition using Scripture, Tradition and Reason to form students in the classical tradition in the best of Western Civilization. These hopes for Bl. John's in the future arise from our patron, Blessed John Henry Newman, who himself desired this to be how parish churches should be modeled.
Soli Deo Gloria
