Message to the marginalized

Others have noted yet another excellent interview with Bishop Athanasius Schneider, given this time to the Spanish-Language website, Adelante La Fe (Advance the Faith) but I thought it worth drawing attention to as well.  Particularly for his words to those of us who really do feel on the periphery of the Church as it has expressed itself in more recent times of the hermeneutic of discontinuity.  Having met him on more than one occasion, I can testify to how encouraging he is and a man of obvious deep faith and holiness.  You can read the full interview at OnePeterFive.  Here are his words addressed to those of us who feel on the periphery...

I would like to say to these priests, seminarians, young people and families: “It is an honor and a privilege to be faithful to the Divine truth and to the spiritual and liturgical traditions of our forefathers and of the saints and being therefore marginalized by those who currently occupy administrative power in the Church. This your fidelity and courage constitute the real power in the Church. You are the real ecclesiastical periphery, which with God’s power renews the Church. Living the true tradition of dogma, liturgy and holiness is a manifestation of the democracy of the Saints, because tradition is the democracy of the Saints. With Saint Athanasius I would like to tell you these words: Those in the Church who oppose, humiliate and marginalize you, have occupied the churches, while during this time you are outside; it is a fact that they have the premises – but you have the Apostolic Faith. They claim that they represent the Church, but in reality, they are the ones who are expelling themselves from it and going astray (cf. Letter to his flock)”.

Incidentally, Bishop Schneider will be ordaining two priests for the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem later this year. Please pray for Deacons John and Alban - both great men who have persevered through many difficult times to come to this day:

With the blessing and presence of Most Reverend Michael J. Bransfield,

ordinary of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer, CRNJ, Prior, announces

The ordination to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ of

Dom John Berchmans Tonkin, CRNJ

Dom Alban Baker, CRNJ

At the hands of the Right Reverend Athanasius Schneider, ORC

Auxiliary Bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan

Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM

St. James the Greater Catholic Church

49 Crosswinds Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414 

Here are the brethren from a few years ago on a visit to the UK.