The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle

    February 23rd is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. It is the Patronal Festival for the North American Ordinariate. It takes the place of the usual  Septuagesima Sunday for Ordinariate Parishes. An Ordinariate patronal feast day refers to the special feast day celebrated by a particular “Ordinariate” within the Catholic Church, usually commemorating the saint or title associated with that specific jurisdiction, which in the case of the “Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter” in the United States and Canada. The “Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” celebrated on December 8th; essentially acting as the patronal feast for all members of all the Ordinariates.
 
Key points about Ordinariate patronal feast day:
 
· Purpose:
 
It is a day to celebrate the special patron saint or title associated with the Ordinariate, allowing members to focus on their unique identity within the Catholic Church.
 
· Anglican connection:
 
The Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter was established to welcome former Anglicans in North America into full communion with the Catholic 
Church, so our patronal feast often reflects elements of Anglican tradition. Since its inception in 2012, though many Catholics with little or no connection with the Anglican churches have discovered the beauty and reverence of our Mass, and have come to cherish it and are vital members of our Ordinariate parishes.
· Liturgical celebration:
 
   The feast day is usually celebrated with a special Mass and other liturgical practices on, or as close as possible to February 22nd, the actual date of the Feast. This year we are celebrating today, on February 23rd in all Churches in North America.
 
    We wish all our parishioners and friends a most happy “Chair of St. Peter celebration today!
 
 
Faithfully, Your Friend and Pastor,
 
Fr. Christopher C. Stainbrook, KHS