| May 04, 2006
Dear Friends and Members of the St. Thomas
More Society,
Blessed Easter greetings in the name of the Lord!
What a pleasure it is to write you this Easter season, the first since
so many of our members were received into the Church. As you know, we
were able to experience Holy Week and Easter Sunday in a new light. For
one, except for those still in the formation process, we were able to
receive Holy Communion. Moreover, many of us were able to worship with
our Catholic brothers and sisters of different Rites. We learned, for
instance, that while on Holy Thursday the Roman Rite emphasizes the
institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood, the Maronite Rite makes
Christ washing his disciples' feet stand out, so much so that the
liturgy is intended to serve as the homily. When we worshiped on Good
Friday we witnessed the Burial of Christ, replete with a funeral
procession and the reverencing of our Lord's shroud and tomb, the
Ukrainian Rite's complement to the Western emphasis upon the
crucifixion. Thus, not only did we honor different traditions that exist
within the universal Church, we found that these liturgies express
truths we might not contemplate but for our presence among those who
uphold them year after year. We know that this is what our liturgy
offers to our fellow Catholics, as well, and we are better Christians
for having taken the time to get to know better the heritage of people
beyond our churchyard.
Some of our members also became acquainted with another Catholic
tradition, one common to every Rite. On April 29th nine members of the
Society traveled on pilgrimage to Washington to the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. If you have never been, I
recommend this church to you. St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, whose
feast we celebrate on June 22nd, are both represented. Plus, there are
altars for many of the Catholic ethnic groups that have immigrated to
the United States in large numbers. We noticed the absence of a shrine
to Our Lady of Walsingham, which could serve as inspiration for the
different Anglican Use groups to petition her inclusion. Also, if you
receive the Catholic Light, look for the photo with Lola Jordan, my
mother, Sue, my daughter, Clara, and me on the front page, right below
the article about the 2006 Anglican Use Conference.
And what an article that is! I have received much positive response to
this story already, and the Catholic Light just came out today. We have
received more than fifty reservations for the Conference, and we're
still a month out, matching at this early date the total we received for
attendance last year. We shall require your help, so contemplate now how
you might help us on June 4th, 5th, and 6th. And please invite someone.
These speakers promise to offer great insight into why the conversion we
have made is so compelling. Even if you can't make it for both days,
plan to be there for Cardinal Dulles' talk at 7:30PM on Monday at the
University of Scranton. Tickets are only $15, and I anticipate a very
large turnout. In addition, we may get to see some of our members
confirmed at the Anglican Use Mass celebrated by Bishop Dougherty on
June 6th. We have still to work out the details, but it looks like our
new Catechism Class will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and
First Holy Communion in the presence of friends from across the country.
Speaking of Bishop Dougherty, he has agreed to meet with the membership
of the St. Thomas More Society Scranton, Pennsylvania. On May 21st,
immediately following the Anglican Use Mass, Bishop Dougherty will be
with us at St. Clare to answer whatever questions you might have about
the Pastoral Provision process and specifically about my progress
towards ordination as a Catholic priest. We have arranged this meeting
because we have recognized a certain anxiety among a few of our members
who wonder about the slow pace of things. Bishop Dougherty will be
present to give you the assurances that I cannot, though he will not
have a speech of any sort prepared. Therefore, come ready with the
questions you ask me but which I am unable to answer.
Finally, come with a dish, as we will share lunch while we talk with the
Bishop. After all, we don't want anyone breaking the one-hour fast
before Mass because we know we'll be a church a bit longer.
I'd like to see the third Sunday of the month become a regular time for
us to gather as a community. One of the things we have lost since the
conclusion of our catechetical instruction has been corporate
educational component that is so integral to growth in the Faith. I
propose that we set aside this one Sunday every month so we can learn
more about what it means to be a practicing Catholic. Certainly we will
share fellowship over a meal, but we will also share ourselves, our
questions and our answers, as we explore the Church we have embraced,
the Church that has embraced us. Please commit yourselves to making this
sacrifice in order that we may grow closer to Him who has sacrificed so
much for us.
I will close with a few pleas in preparation for the Conference. We have
received a welcome response in our appeal for lodging for those who
cannot afford the hotel stay. Thank you. We could use more, if you have
the space, just in case demand should suddenly grow. Also, we have
arranged for the St. Raphael Society to provide babysitting for both
days. These are the same women who cared for our children during
Catechism, so do not hesitate to come, just because your children need a
nanny for the day. Lastly, we have posters. If you know of a place we
might hang one, or you'd like to help distribute them to churches in the
area, get in touch with me. I shall look forward to hearing from you.
With gratitude for your prayers and every means of support, eagerly
anticipating witnessing the hospitality we will share with people from
across the continent, I am,
Yours in Christ,
Eric L. Bergman,Director
St. Thomas More Society of St. Clare |
