An Episcopal church in Bladensburg on Monday became the first in the nation to convert to Roman Catholicism. St. Luke’s Episcopal parish will enter the Catholic Church under the wing of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl and the Vatican, which is forming a national diocese for Episcopalians who want to convert to Catholicism.
Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 started a program to allow Episcopal parishes to move into the Catholic Church, changing a long-standing practice of accepting Anglican converts case by case. The Christian faiths have been separated for 500 years.
“That opened the doors for us,” said the Rev. Mark Lewis, pastor of St. Luke’s. “This is a natural progression. We’ve always been close to Catholic theology and this is an answer to our prayer for unity.”
Washington Episcopal Bishop John Chane said Monday that he approved St. Luke’s decision.
Little liturgy will change in the transition and an approved book of Catholic liturgy based on Anglican history will be used, said the Rev. Scott Hurd, a Catholic priest who helped the initiative headed by Wuerl.
For centuries, Anglicans were divided over ordaining women, married clergy and gays. But in response to the requests of many Anglicans, Pope Benedict XVI created a conversion process that receives Anglicans into the Catholic Church while preserving their liturgy and heritage. That includes married priests, for which Lewis, married with two grown children, said he is grateful.
The move does not signify a change in the Catholic teaching of celibacy for its clergy, Hurd said.
“It’s all unprecedented,” said Hurd, a former Episcopal priest who also is married. “We welcome them with enthusiasm.”
St. Luke’s, totaling 250 parishioners but with 100 active members, last week signed a three-year lease with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington to continue worshiping in their church with an option to buy the building after the lease expires. The parish is scheduled to complete its conversion to Catholicism by the end of this year.
Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore also has announced its intention to become Catholic, but is still negotiating property use and other details. It is the only other Episcopalian parish that has voted to join the Catholic Church.
“Those people I know who usually attend [Mass] are very supportive of our move,” said Lewis, who is a married clergyman. “It’s a miracle. Any reservation that was there was wiped away. People’s attitudes changed and hearts softened. It was a beautiful thing to witness.”
