top of page
What does it mean to be a canonical member of the Ordinariate?
When someone becomes an official canonical member of the Ordinariate, that person is no longer under the canonical jurisdiction of the local geographical Roman Rite diocesan bishop/archbishop. All Ordinariate members in Canada and the U.S. fall under the canonical jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (currently Bishop Steven J. Lopes) in Houston, Texas.
A member of the Ordinariate is in a somewhat similar situation to a member of, for example, a Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy. While an Ordinariate member may live within the geographical boundaries of a Roman Rite diocese/archdiocese, he is nevertheless instead under the jurisdiction of the bishop of the Ordinariate. He may still participate in the liturgies and events of the other local parishes, but his official canonical home is with the Ordinariate.
Practically, this means that a member of the Ordinariate must go through the Ordinariate Chancery in Houston (instead of the local geographical Roman Rite diocese) when preparing for and receiving the sacraments of Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders. An Ordinariate member must also follow universal Catholic disciplines in addition to any uniquely Ordinariate disciplines (such as holy days of obligation, days of abstinence, etc).
bottom of page