St. Thomas More Society
              Scranton, Pennsylvania

Pastoral Letter
 

July 06, 2006

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

Exactly one month ago today Bishop Dougherty, Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton, celebrated the Anglican Usage Mass at St. Clare Church, confirming three people at the concluding event of the 2006 Anglican Use Conference.  The Conference was an incredible success, the concrete results having already been detailed in an article I wrote for the latest issue of Anglican Embers, the quarterly journal of the Anglican Use Society, the co-sponsors of the Conference.  Those who are interested can find that article on our website, www.stthomasmoresociety.org, along with an invitation to purchase for $20 recordings of the Conference addresses.  If you want to hear and share what David Mills, Fr. Carleton Jones, and Avery Cardinal Dulles had to say about conversion to Catholicism, and you would like to know more about the Pastoral Provision, contact me.  They are an excellent resource for apologetics, the art of proclaiming and defending the Faith in order that others may come to the fullness of Catholic Truth.  You will not be disappointed.

 While the greatest thing to happen at the Conference was the confirmation of Joe, Lori, and Sarah, (whom we shall all now keep in our prayers as they begin their life in the faith) the Bishop offered another wonderful ministration to our Society that day.  Bishop Dougherty announced within the context his sermon that my dossier, along with the letter of sponsorship from Bishop Martino, has been sent to Rome for the Holy Father’s consideration. We now officially await the Pope’s permission for me to be ordained a Catholic priest.  Bishop Dougherty announced as well that the Bishop intends to erect our group as a Personal Parish of the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite.  This means two things.  One, the light at the end of the tunnel just got a lot brighter.  Two, we have much planning to do between now and the time my rescript (presumably) arrives from Rome.

 Several of you have already volunteered to help me with administrative responsibilities, in order that I can more fully commit myself to prepare for my theological examination, which may very well take place in only a few months.  For this I thank you.  Anyone else who would like to volunteer should not hesitate to contact me.  My preparations to be examined, however, are not our only priority.  We have also to consider what our name will be once we are erected as a parish.  I have ideas of my own, but I welcome suggestions from you, so that as a group we can determine whom God has called to be our Patron.  We have benefited much from the prayers of St. Thomas More and St. Clare as we have gotten this ministry off the ground.  As we recommit ourselves to our evangelical endeavor and move forward, grateful for the success we have enjoyed thus far, we shall enlist the further intercessions of those God has already appointed to aid us.

 We shall prepare for our erection as a parish in another manner, as well, one we have made good use of these past eighteen months.  We will offer opportunities for learning and fellowship in order to foster maturity in the Faith and commonality of purpose.  I wrote last month that I have been permitted to offer a teaching before each Anglican Use Mass.  If you happen to come late or miss Mass, you can find these sermons on our website.  Additionally, we have instituted third Sunday fellowship and instruction.  Bring a dish on the 16^th for the potluck and stay afterwards to learn how we might become better Catholic Christians.  Finally, we have scheduled our annual picnic in Bear Creek for August 19^th.  If you would like to help in planning for this event call Judy Sanderson at 472-3526.

 In closing I will ask that you keep one more matter in your prayers.  The mission to Anglicans made possible by the Pastoral Provision is expanding, as an increasing number of Episcopal clergymen seek to take advantage of the Church’s generosity.  Pray especially for these men, that they receive the grace required to invite others to join them on their journey.  And pray also for Archbishop John Myers, the Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision, Fr. William Stetson, his secretary, and Taylor Marshall, Fr. Stetson’s assistant.  May God give them wisdom and strength as they help to welcome home those who have found themselves in the shoes we wore not very long ago.

Yours in Christ,

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