THE P RTAL
January 2014
Page 11
Ordination in Canada
in the Snows of Ottawa
Fr John Hodgins reports
T
ongue firmly
in cheek, Monsignor
Jeffrey Steenson greeted those gathered for the
celebration of priestly ordination in the wondrous
Basilica of Notre Dame in Ottawa, (capital city of
Canada): “I am thankful to Our Lady of the Snows
for the welcome,” he said, referring to his arrival from
Houston TX into a Canadian winter storm.
historic basilica
Just across the street from the National Art Gallery
of Canada, the historic basilica is itself a work of art
and the venue for yet another historic moment in the
history of the Christ’s One Holy Catholic Church in
Canada. Four married Anglican priests celebrated region. Hosts for the event were Fr Carl and Mrs Bev
their ordination in full communion with Rome as part Reid along with their parishioners at the parish of the
of the Canadian Deanery of St John the Baptist in the Annunciation of our Lady in Ottawa.
Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter (OCSP).
far flung jurisdiction
The OCSP covers all of North America and so Mgr
Steenson is flying almost weekly to some part of the
continent for ordinations, retreats and meetings.
Marking papers on airplanes for his students