On April 14th, 2019, there was Solemn Mass of Palm Sunday cebrated at Saint Mary of the Angels Oratory in Graceville, Australia by His Eminence, The Most Reverend Dr. Ian Charles Adrian, DipTh, LicTh, AssTh, DD, Primate of Australia and All Oceania of The Anglocatholic Church.
On April 12, 2019 – His Beatitude, The Most Reverend Dr. Heigo Ritsbek, MA, MDiv, DMin, LittD, DD; The Patriarch of The Anglocatholic Church, received many hundreds of good wishes and congratulations at his 68th birthday from many people around the world; among them many Bishops of The Anglocatholic Church, and other churches around the world; The President of the European Baptist Union; the former President of Estonian Baptist Union, Dean of Tallinn of The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church; clergy from Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Orthodox, Pentecostal and other churches in Estonia; by The Bible Society of Estonia; members of The Parliament of The Republic of Estonia; members of The Estonian Grand Priory of The International Knighthood of Saint Michael the Archangel; The Union of Noble Knights of Reval; Estonian Heritage Society; and from many-many other people. Thank you very much! Thank you and be blessed!
For health reasons His Beatitude, The Most Reverend Dr. Heigo Ritsbek, MA, MDiv, DMin, LittD, DD; The Patriarch of The Anglocatholic Church will be on sabbatical from July 15, 2019 until July 15, 2020. During this time the Active Patriarch will be His Eminence, The Most Reverend Dr. David Smith, BMus, MMus, DD, Patriarch Coadjutor of The Anglocatholic Church.
“For I know the plans for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11)
Your Beatitude, how to describe the first three years of your communion?
Certainly three years is a short time to come to some very deep conclusions. But I think that it shows that we are building still the basis for a communion of faithful from Conservative Old Catholic, Anglican and other background Christians in several countries.
How large is your Church just now?
We have 31 bishops, 208 priests, and 235 deacons – total 474 clergymen in 25 countries of the world with 143 parishes and 22,201 faithful members. The majority of our church is in Africa. Totally we have twelve archdioceses and seventeen dioceses.
What makes you most happy in your ministry as the Patriarch of The Anglocatholic Church?
Several things, but the joy of ministry by our clergy makes me really happy. And several bishops who are bringing in new people and educating new clergy and sending messages of growth in several parts of the world. Also – the faithfulness of the leadership in very difficult situations and great loyalty to the Patriarch.
Now you are making preparations to The Convocation of The Holy Synod of The Anglocatholic Church in Toronto, Canada this June. What would be the main topics of discussion there?
As The Holy Synod is the only legislative organ in our church, we will have there different decisions to make. Maybe one of the most important one will be the revision of our Canon Law, so after The Convocation we will have The Code of Revised Canon Law 2019. Also many other aspects of church life – liturgy, theological education, church structure, missions etc. will be discussed.
What is making you most sad looking at the current trends in the Christian world?
Surely the liberal theology, which has changed the understanding of the Holy Scripture, the Creeds of the Church, the first Councils of the Christian Church and Christian ethics and to be honest – the whole Christian Theology. More and more clergy are writing to me and we are incardinating new clergy, who simply cannot serve with pure heart in the denominations and communions where there the female clergy, gay clergy, and gay marriages are accepted and propagated.
So you have no female clergy nor gay clergy?
No.
What do you see in future for your Communion?
I see that there will be more Conservative Anglican, Old Catholic and other clergy who simply cannot accept the liberal movements and the ultra-liberal theology and they find among us a real home. I surely see new church members, who thru evangelism have found their way to our church. We have a small beginnings, but we want to stand faithfully next to our brothers and sisters in Christ in larger communions to proclaim Christian message, as it was given to the Early Church by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ himself, and was proclaimed thru all the ages.
Thank you.
You are welcome. Blessings+++
Since March 11, 2019 there is a change in the Office of the Patriarch of The Anglocatholic Church. As we have now larger structure and Primates in several continents helping The Patriarch in the ministry of the Church, there is no need to have certain positions. There remains only one official advisor to the Patriarch – Senior Advisor Patriarch Coadjutor Dr. David Smith. All Primates are helping the Patriarch and giving him advice concerning different areas of ministry and issues of the church.
We have a new Bishop Elect in Cameroon, Africa – The Reverend Father Omie Moise. He will be consecrated as a Bishop by The Primate of All Africa, The Most Reverend Dr. Jean Ndjewel when the time will be right.
His Beatitude, The Most Reverend Dr. Heigo Ritsbek, MA, MDiv, DMin, LittD, DD, The Patriarch of The Anglocatholic Church, thanks all bishops of The Anglocatholic Church who have sent very warm and sincere greetings to the Office of The Patriarch in connection of The Third Anniversary of The Anglocatholic Church! Be blessed +++
On Sunday, February 24, 2019, His Eminence, The Most Reverend Dr. Raphael Marie Villiere, D.D., had Solemn Mass commemorating the Third Anniversary of The Anglocatholic Church and two girls were confirmed at this Holy Mass.
On February 25th, 2019, by the decree of His Beatitude, The Most Reverend Dr. Heigo Ritsbek, MA, MDiv, DMin, LittD, DD, Patriarch of The Anglocatholic Church nominated His Eminence, The Most Reverend Dr. Raphael Marie Villiere, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop of The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mary Madiatrix of All Graces of The Anglocatholic Church, also as The Primate of All Europe of The Anglocatholic Church.
