Ordination to Catholic Priesthood for Local Men

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Former Anglican priests Mark Lewis of Bladensburg, Rick Kramer of Lanham and Ed Meeks of Towson will make history when they are ordained Catholic priests by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington.

The men are members of the first ordination class for the new Catholic Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Equivalent to a diocese, but national in scope, the U.S.-based ordinariate was created earlier this year by Pope Benedict XVI for Anglican groups and clergy seeking to become Catholic while retaining elements of their Anglican heritage.

The men are among 30 former Anglican or Episcopal priests being ordained nationally this summer.

Three ordinariates exist in the world, in the United States, United Kingdom and, as of June 15, Australia. The U.S. ordinariate is led by a former Episcopal bishop, Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson of Houston, Texas. Msgr. Steenson will participate in the ordination Mass.