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Fra Angelico. Annunciation. Convent of San Marco, Florence, Italy.

By Rev. Allie McDougall

The breadth of liturgical, spiritual, and aesthetic diversity is one of the historic treasures of Anglicanism. Wrought through conflict, mutual discernment, and God’s grace to unite us across difference, Anglicanism thrives when this balance is respected and celebrated.

A small group of priests from the Dioceses of Huron and Niagara have undertaken to explore and enrich this diversity through the formation of a new chapter of the Society of Catholic Priests (SCP).

The SCP is an Anglo-Catholic confraternity that prioritizes inclusive priestly formation and catholic evangelism, with chapters in European, Australian, and North American provinces. In the North American province, membership is available to deacons, priests, and bishops serving in the Episcopal Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Church in Mexico, Anglican Church of Central America, and the Church of the Provinces of the West Indies.

The chapter, named after the Annunciation, was created following the attendance of Huron and Niagara clerics at the 2024 North American conference. Our purpose is to promote catholic evangelism and spirituality, offer collegial support to clergy working in the Dioceses of Huron and Niagara, to pray for the Church and its work in the world, and to serve the needs of our dioceses through faith formation and developing resources to support prayer, sacramental participation, and loving service to our neighbours.

Annunciation will host our first chapter conference on May 14th and 15th to honour this mandate. “Teach Us to Pray: Exploring Prayer in the Catholic Tradition of Anglicanism” will be held at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton and feature Brother James Koester of the Society of St. John the Evangelist.

All are welcome to join us for two days of prayer, plenary sessions with Br. Koester, and fellowship. Solemn high Mass for the Feast of the Ascension and St. Matthias (transferred) will be celebrated alongside the Daily Office. The conference fee is $100 or $50 for students, pensioners, and religious. Registration and further information about the chapter and its activities may be found at annunciationscp.org.