News from the North American Province
The Society of Catholic Priests, North American Province, held their 2022 annual conference from Tuesday, October 4th through Friday, October 7th. It was hosted by beautiful and historic St. Stephen’s Church (Father Benjamin Straley, rector) in Providence, Rhode Island, a perfect setting for an Anglo-Catholic conference. The conference was well attended, with a combined online/in person total of about seventy bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, and guests.
The conference, entitled, “Providence in Providence: Grace, Freedom, Sacraments, and the Mission of God,” was the first in-person conference held in two years. Attendees enjoyed good food, fellowship, and four excellent keynote speakers: The Rev’d Adrienne R. Hymes, a priest church planter in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, The Right Rev’d Craig Loya, the bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, The Very Rev’d Dr. Andrew McGowan, Dean and President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and The Rev’d Dr. Jesse Zink, Anglican/Episcopal priest, author, and principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College.
It was particularly heartening to witness many new expressions of hope at this conference. Everyone present was grateful to be together again and left refreshed and strengthened. There were many newcomers to the society who were present, including a number of seminarians, many of whom were able to attend because of financial support from Virginia Theological Seminary.
More informal breakout sessions led by members of the council included a time discussing ways to foster clergy wellness and included a lectionary Bible study. Another session was “Daily Mass 101,” where members of the society discussed ways to introduce, implement, and consistently offer a daily Eucharist in one’s parish. In addition, three of the featured speakers (Bishop Loya, Mtr. Hymes, and Fr. Jesse Zink) formed a panel discussion on the final day.
The first evening everyone worshipped together with a moving service of Compline and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Each day, the members of the society and guests had opportunity to worship together at Morning and Evening Prayer. At the Pontifical Mass, the Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, former bishop diocesan of the Diocese of Rhode Island, was the celebrant. At the Solemn Mass on Thursday, we were thrilled to induct eight new members into the Society. A Mass of Requiem was held the last day of the conference.
At the conclusion of the conference, The Reverend Melanie Rowell was elected new Provincial Convener for a three-year term. Also elected as new officers: The Very Reverend William Ogburn, Secretary, The Reverend Mark Harris, Communications, and The Very Reverend Rick Datos-Robÿn, Treasurer. The Reverend Tripp Norris was asked by the new convener to serve as Advisor.
The next conference is planned to be held at St. Mary’s in Kansas City, Missouri, during the first week of October. More details will be forthcoming soon.
The Rev'd Mtr. Melanie Rowell, SCP
The Diocese of Atlanta