Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston is the principal church. Other large communities include St. Luke, Bladensburg, MD; Christ the King, Towson, MD; Church of the Incarnation, Orlando, FL; and St. Thomas More, Scranton, PA. Ordinariate groups and clergy are located in areas such as California, Iowa, Alabama, New York and South Carolina; Edmonton, Victoria, Ottawa and Calgary.In December 2013, B.C.Catholic carried an interview with Msgr Steenson that perhaps inadvertently reflects potential dissatisfaction in Rome with what the OCSP had become:
In the first two years, the emphasis has been on clergy formation, but now the ordinariate has clear direction from Rome to put its energy "into building up communities" so it does not become "a simple missionary society for Anglican clergy that want to come serve in the Catholic Church," Msgr. Steenson said.In the next paragraph, he gives a revised estimate of 3500 for lay membership, perhaps in response to pressure to show better results. However, the best estimate my correspondent and I can make is that OCSP lay membership has never been this high. While others may disagree, it's worth noting that officially released numbers -- 3500 in December 2013, 20,000 in November 2015, 6000 in February 2016, and 8000 in December 2016 -- are wildly inconsistent."Now we're going to have to emphasize congregational development and evangelization," Msgr. Steenson said. "We need to strengthen these parishes and make them attractive places that will function for the purpose they were created, to bring people into full communion."
And whichever is closest to the mark, none exceeds the membership of a single large diocesan parish.
