Pastoral Letter
 

Dear Friends and Members of the St. Thomas More Society,

Enclosed is the June calendar, the month for which we have been busily preparing now for at least since this past winter. Yes, the Conference that we hosted for the first time last year is upon us again, and we have received an incredible response from those interested in taking advantage of the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II. So far we have people coming from 17 states, 1 Canadian province, and one United States territory. If you are attending, I thank you in advance for the kind hospitality and firm witness to the Faith that you will surely show our guests. If you are unable to attend I ask that you keep us in your prayers, remembering especially to intercede for those who will be confirmed on Tuesday, as well as for the continuing conversion of those who are close to being received into full communion with the Church. Pray for a fruitful three days, as Anglicans and Catholics from all over the country learn about what has happened in Scranton these past 18 months and what can indeed happen in their own communities. Finally, those who are coming are encouraged to bring along a friend. If you need tickets to Cardinal Dulles' lecture on Monday night, they are available from me or from Donna at the St. Clare Parish Office. Call me or stop by the church until 2PM Monday to Thursday or until noon Friday.

The calendar also shows that we will be having adult education on the third Sunday of the month. I will be leading a class about the Mass, so that we can become more familiar with Catholic devotional practices inherent to the Mass. Lori Edsall, one of the candidates for Confirmation, also suggested we have something for the children to do on these afternoons, and she will be putting something together for them. If you'd like to help her, she can be reached at 348-1111. That is, the children will be learning at the same time as the adults, so don't hesitate to bring along the kids. And if you think you'll get hungry, pack yourself a lunch, as well.

Speaking of instruction, in response to the request of several of you at the meeting with Bishop Dougherty on May 21st, I have received permission to offer some words to the congregation before each Anglican Use Mass at St. Clare Church. The priest who celebrates the Mass for us will still offer a brief homily, and we will work out the precise details the week after the Conference. The important thing to remember, however, is that this arrangement allows for us both to be faithful to the law of the Church and to the specific needs of the Society and her members. These instructions, when they begin, will again be posted on the internet, so those who have missed this portion of our ministry can be assured of its imminent resumption.

The Bishop of Scranton, in consultation with Msgr. Feldcamp, has also agreed to allow me to administer the chalice to communicants at the Anglican Use Mass. Until now, we have received by intinction, in order that we could receive the Sacrament under both species. As we well know, though, that is not the usual practice of Catholics who have come from the Anglican tradition, so we will now return to drinking from the common cup. I believe this change will make the Mass even more familiar to those Anglicans who are considering entering into full communion with the Catholic Church, and I know it will serve as a comfort to those who have missed this element of our heritage.

Bishop Dougherty also mentioned last Sunday that he expects my dossier will be in Rome within weeks, where it will receive the Holy Father's consideration. According to Bishop Dougherty, there are no impediments to it being sent, the letter from Bishop Martino that must accompany it is being composed, and we can be confident that this long process will issue in my ordination to the Catholic priesthood. We can all be grateful for his pastoral concern for our Society, and I have already thanked him personally for his presence among us that afternoon. Please offer him your own thanks when he is with us again next week.

Finally, we have highlighted on the calendar the Feast Day of St. Thomas More. While there will be no Anglican Use Mass that day at St. Clare, I implore you to attend Mass at a Catholic Church in your neighborhood, giving thanks to our Lord for our patron's intercessions on our behalf, and offering up supplications for St. Thomas More's continuing prayers for our mission and ministry.

Yours in Christ,

Eric L. Bergman,
Director St. Thomas More Society of St. Clare