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35th Anniversary celebration at Holy Apostles', Virginia Beach
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Holy Apostles',
Virginia Beach, is our diocese's ecumenical community with Episcopalians
and Roman Catholics together in the same congregation. It is the only
community of its kind anywhere and they are now facing some major
changes in the way they worship.
Last November,
Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond told
Holy Apostles to "bring its liturgical celebrations into conformity with
the Roman Catholic Church."
In a statement
released last week, DiLorenzo suggested other forms of liturgy, would
allow Catholic and Episcopal members to worship together. Celebration of
the Eucharistic liturgy continues to be separate. "As the shepherd of
the Diocese of Richmond, it is my prayerful desire that this ecumenical
community at Holy Apostles continues and flourishes," the statement
said.
Bishop Hollerith
expressed his obvious concern over how the requirements of the Roman
Catholic Church regarding the liturgy would affect the life of the
community. He also said that, from the Episcopal side of things, we have
much to lose. "We will respect the Roman Catholic requirements because
Holy Apostles' is a precious community and should be preserved."
Holy Apostles' was
established in 1977 and Catholic and Episcopal clergy performed
services according to each tradition and shared leadership of the
community. The Episcopal and Catholic congregations prayed together
before separating for the Eucharist. Participants say that this has
allowed families in ecumenical marriages to worship together and
strengthen their community.
Last week, Bishop
DiLorenzo, accompanied by members of his staff, and Bishop Hollerith,
accompanied by the Rev. Canon Ed Tracy, met with congregational
leadership, including the clergy. Congregational leaders outlined what
has been done since November to comply with the directives and to assure
Bishop DiLorenzo that they have been working faithfully to do what was
required of them while also trying to avoid pastoral trauma to the
congregation. Bishop DiLorenzo assured them that he is aware of
potential pastoral consequences and desires that they be as minimal as
possible. The community has more work to do to bring their liturgy in
line with the directive, much of which they have already begun.
The Rev. Michael
Ferguson, the church's Episcopal priest said the meeting was productive,
but that there are still "huge pastoral issues that have to be worked
out because there are people here who have been worshiping together for
years."
