Magistral Chaplain Ordained to Serve Former Anglicans

Members of the Houston Region recently attended the ordination of the Most Revered Steven Joseph Lopes, a Member of the Order of Malta, to be the first bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, which serves former Anglicans in the U.S. and Canada who have been brought into the full communion of the Catholic Church but who are permitted to retain many aspects of Anglican liturgy and tradition. The historic event was held February 2 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. 

The principal consecrator was Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. The principal co-consecrators were:  Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington. Also present was Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, together with many other bishops, priests and deacons.  Guests overflowed the cathedral for the event, which was broadcast live on EWTN.

Prior to his ordination, Bishop Lopes served in Rome at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.  In his new position he continues to serve as a Chaplain of Magistral Grace with the Order of Malta-Western Association.

With the ordination of Bishop Lopes, Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson, a former Anglican bishop steps down as head of the Ordinariate but he will continue to serve as a priest of the Ordinariate.  The Cathedral of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston.

Twenty Knights and Dames of the Houston Region were honored to participate in the procession at the ordination.