The Reception of a Presbyter is conducted during the celebration of the Mass,
immediately following the Gospel Reading.
In the Sacristy, preceding the Mass,
the Ordinary shall Consecrate an Antimension for the use of the presbyter being received.
The Litany of Saints may be sung in procession preceding the Mass.
T H E P R E S E N T A T I O N
All are seated.
The Ordinary, wearing the mitre and holding the crozier, is seated before the altar.
Bishop _____,
on behalf of the clergy of The Old Catholic Ordinariate for Specialized Ministries,
and the people whom they serve,
we present to you _____ _____ _____ to be received as a presbyter.
in accordance with the provisions in our Canonical Norms?
If the candidate is married, the Ordinary shall ask the spouse:
and affirm that _____ is indeed worthy, by God’s grace, of this role?
The candidate is then seated facing the Ordinary, and the presenter returns to their seat.
The Ordinary, usually seated, preaches the Homily.
T H E E X A M I N A T I O N
When the Homily is concluded, the candidate shall stand.
Father _____, it has been duly certified to me that you have been ordained to the presbyterate in __________, and that you now desire to exercise your priestly ministry with The Old Catholic Ordinariate of Specialized Ministries. Having examined you, we have deemed it well to admit you to the presbyterium. Do you now here, in the presence of God and this congregation, affirm your desire to be received into this Ordinariate?
teaching us all things necessary for a salvific and life-giving relationship with God, and with one another,
through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord?
and accept, as sources of sound doctrine and practice,
the liturgical texts of this jurisdiction?
in all things that are just, lifegiving, and true?
that this jurisdiction of Christ’s Church may be a place of concord and grace?
sustaining them in word and sacrament
and laboring alongside them to know God and make God known?
that those who hear your words may become strong and faithful followers of Christ?
that the compassionate love of Christ may be known and received by all?
so that you may be a wholesome example of Christian faith and love
offering all your labors to God, through the mediation of Jesus Christ,
and in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit?
give you the grace and power to keep it faithfully all the days of your life.
All stand.
P R O F E S S I O N O F F A I T H
_____, I now ask you to lead us in the profession of our faith.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven, and of earth, and of all things – seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all the ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, of one Essence with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again, according to the promise of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who, with the Father and the Son, is worshipped and glorified; who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
P R A Y E R O F C O M M I T M E N T
The assembly is seated.
I now invite you to make your prayer of commitment to Almighty God.
O Lord my God, unworthy though I am, you have called me to stand in your holy temple, and to serve at your sacred altar. To you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do.
Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that I may faithfully administer your holy Sacraments, and by my life and teaching set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my ministry. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises, heighten my love and gratitude; in preaching, give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
T H E A C T O F I N C A R D I N A T I O N
A N D I N S T I T U T I O N
The Ordinary stands, and extends his right hand to the candidate.
My brother in Christ, receive from me the authority to execute within this Ordinariate, the ministry of a presbyter, to the glory of God, and for the well-being of all. Be a faithful minister of the Word of God and of his holy Sacraments, and an effective example of God’s holiness, patience, goodness, and love. Amen.
Any other presbyter of the Ordinariate who is present shall come forward at this time
and extend their right hand in fellowship to the newly-incardinated priest.
The Ordinary then continues:
Father _____, you have been called to work together with me and with your fellow-Presbyters as a pastor, priest, and teacher, and to take your share in the councils of the Church. Now, in accordance with the Canonical Norms of the Ordinariate, you are appointed to serve God through the work of [name of ministry] in [city and state].
T H E P R E S E N T A T I O N O F T H E A N T I M E N S I O N
The Ordinary now hands the folded, consecrated Antimension to the priest-recipient, saying:
Receive this Antimension, and celebrate upon it the divine mysteries faithfully. Receive it in token of our apostolic relationship and of our fellowship in the saints. Take care to cherish this sign of unity, and ensure that it is returned to me or my successor in the event of your transfer or resignation, or buried with you in the event of your death.
The folded, consecrated Antimension is then placed upon the Altar for the celebration of the Eucharist.
C O N C L U D I N G P R A Y E R
The Ordinary removes the mitre, and prays:
Father, source of all holiness, pour down upon your servant _____, whom we have incardinated this day to the priesthood, the grace of your blessing. Through the conviction of his actions and the example of his life may he show himself to be an elder formed by the lessons Saint Paul set forth to Titus and Timothy: that meditating on your word, he may believe what he reads, teach what he believes, and practice what he teaches, thus setting an example of justice, steadfastness, mercy, fortitude, and of all your virtues; confirming others in the same. Keep the gift of his ministry pure and undefiled, and grant that he may, through the perseverance of love, rise at the last great day with a clear conscience and steadfast love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The newly incardinated presbyter shall join with the Ordinary at the altar
and concelebrate the remainder of the Mass.