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Author Topic: Servants of the Holy Family  (Read 14744 times)

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Online cathman7

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Servants of the Holy Family
« on: October 27, 2014, 07:01:00 PM »
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  • Does anyone have information about the Servants of the Holy Family based in Colorado Springs, CO? I know they were founded by Fr. Anthony Ward who was ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre but who for whatever reason left the SSPX in 1976.

    Their website - http://www.servi.org/ - is a bit vague. Please PM if you have any info. I don't want to broadcast the info to the public.


    Offline PG

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    « Reply #1 on: October 27, 2014, 07:32:14 PM »
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  • I would like to know how they secure their sacraments.  Fr. Ward will die one day.  So, who ordains their priests?  

    Also, feel free to PM me as well, I am interested in any other important information.
    "A secure mind is like a continual feast" - Proverbs xv: 15


    Offline Stubborn

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    Servants of the Holy Family
    « Reply #2 on: October 28, 2014, 04:44:21 AM »
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  • Quote from: obscurus
    Does anyone have information about the Servants of the Holy Family based in Colorado Springs, CO? I know they were founded by Fr. Anthony Ward who was ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre but who for whatever reason left the SSPX in 1976.

    Their website - http://www.servi.org/ - is a bit vague. Please PM if you have any info. I don't want to broadcast the info to the public.



    There were some power struggles going on within the SSPX in those early years, the rumor for his departure was that Fr. Ward expected to be the US superior but lost that dignity when Fr. Sanborn showed up on the scene.

    Anyway, if you look at the picture from their web site, two of those four for sure - and possibly all four pictured with Fr. (it's been 40 years so I could be wrong on two) were his seminarians when he was with the SSPX who left with him. I gotta believe they have long since been ordained priests. So if Fr. Ward were to die, SHF would not be without a priest.

     

    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse

    Offline Stubborn

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    « Reply #3 on: October 28, 2014, 05:36:47 AM »
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  • According to wikipedia those four in the picture are priests:

    Quote from: wikipedia
    In the 2013 declaration, Bishop Sheridan revoked the temporary faculties he had granted to the priests of the community, and explained "that the [Servants'] priests Anthony Ward, Michael J. McMahon, Mark R. Violette, Kevin D. Simons, and Allan R. Kucera, are not in good standing with the Diocesan or the Universal Catholic Church."


    Also, I probably should not have said anything about the rumor of why Fr. Ward left because I don't know for sure. Fr. Ward was awesome. I remember many parts of his sermons - most were absolutely captivating. I would absolutely go there for Mass and the sacraments - and to say hello if I was ever in the area.

    I don't know if anyone is still alive who would know the real reason he left, but my guess is that aside from Fr. Ward himself, +Sanborn would probably be one who knows, also possibly +Kelly.  

     
    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse

    Offline obediens

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    « Reply #4 on: October 28, 2014, 10:15:42 AM »
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  • His men were ordained in the traditional rite by a bishop consecrated in the new rite.


    Offline PG

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    « Reply #5 on: October 28, 2014, 12:34:37 PM »
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  • obediens - Please, share more.  I was not expecting that one.  I know he obtained a written approval for his community from Paul VI, but I did not know that he also sought sacraments from them as well.  It sounds as though they are essentially NO.  Yet, I remember in an interview not too long ago with Fr. Sanborn where he claimed inside knowledge that Fr. Ward was a secret sedevacantist.  And, Fr. Sanborn was not terribly critical of Fr. Ward at all.  For someone who is very critical about una cuм trads(sanborn), his assessment of Fr. Wards operation(apparently supported by new rite sacraments) was not negative.  And, that is odd.  
    "A secure mind is like a continual feast" - Proverbs xv: 15

    Offline Stubborn

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    « Reply #6 on: October 28, 2014, 01:01:49 PM »
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  • I do not know who ordained them or when, but sadly, it sure seems like you are correct. Looks like one was for sure consecrated a bishop the old way - the other in 1969 probably was also consecrated in the old rite. Maybe those were the two who ordained the priests?

    The only info I can find is very vague from their website - I can't find anything on who actually ordained them - all it says is "Two Roman Catholic bishops have sponsored ordinations here and are in need of your spiritual assistance too."

    I knew Fr. Ward 40 years ago when I was just a kid, but I know one thing for sure -  Fr. Ward was certainly no dummy, not by a mile.

    I would like to say that I trust his judgement that the ordinations were done correctly and are valid, but I'd also be willing to bet that he and the other priests would be willing to tell you all about it if you asked.

    Assuming the obvious -  that his seminarians were ordained by NO bishops - we know he is not sedevacantist.
    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse

    Offline PG

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    « Reply #7 on: October 28, 2014, 05:04:50 PM »
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  • Stubborn - I know what you are saying.  But, Fr. Sanborn went out on a limb in an interview specifically and confidentially saying this.  And, my impression of Fr. Ward was good, but this is definitely a curve ball.  

    I read a correspondence posted on the net between a local novus ordite who lives near them and wanted to learn about them.  He posted his emails with them in a blog, and I will be honest, the brother who returned the emails was lacking in patience and restraint.  He got impatient with the guy and threw out a little bit of an insult.  It was nothing terribly serious, but novus ordites are stupid, and, the brother should have known and refrained from trying to get in the last word.  I am not interested in digging it up the link, so you are going to have to go without.

    Besides that, I am interested in knowing who ordained their priests and when.  That in and of itself is useful information.  

    "A secure mind is like a continual feast" - Proverbs xv: 15


    Online cathman7

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    « Reply #8 on: October 28, 2014, 06:59:02 PM »
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  • Nevermind...Stubborn already gave the link

    For informational purposes then....

    In addition to the brief biographies we have provided below for our bishops, information can be obtained about them from the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook), which is the annual directory of the Holy See. It lists all the popes to date and all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. Also, an online source for the same information is The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

    Most Rev. Jesus J. Sison
    Most Rev. Jesus J. Sison
    May 6, 1918 - March 26, 2004
    Requiescat in pace.

    His Excellency, Most Reverend Jesus J. Sison was born on May 6, 1918 in Bautista, Pangsinan, Philippines. He completed his theological studies at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila and was ordained in 1941. He became the pastor of Bonuan, Pangasinan in 1943 and was named bishop of the newly erected diocese of Tarlac in 1963. During his tenure as bishop, he worked tirelessly to improve the Catholic education of his flock. After his retirement in 1988, he moved to America.

    Our community became acquainted with His Excellency in 2000, at which time he visited us and administered the Sacrament of Comfirmation. During his stay with us he also offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in our chapel. He loved the Tridentine Mass and Liturgy, which he offered every day. He was a close friend of ours and stayed in touch regularly until he passed away in 2004. Please remember him in your prayers.


    Most Rev. Pascal S. Hardjasoemarta, M.S.C.
    Most Rev. Pascal S. Hardjasoemarta, M.S.C.
    March 31, 1929 - May 23, 1999
    Requiescat in pace.

    In your charity please remember a friend of our community, Bishop Pascal Hardjasoemarta. He passed away after heart surgery. He was the ordinary of Purwokerto in Indonesia at the time of his death.

    Bishop Hardjasoemarta was from a Catholic family. He joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) and spent years away from his family in Indonesia while he prepared for the priesthood in the Netherlands. He was ordained in 1956 and eventually was sent back to his native land. In 1974 he was consecrated a bishop.

    He became a supporter of our community after learning about our struggle to maintain the traditional Latin Mass and the true and authentic Catholic teaching concerning faith and morals. In 1996, while returning to Indonesia from his "ad limina" visit to Rome, he travelled here to Colorado Springs and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the traditional rite to our faithful who needed it. Through contact with us he celebrated the traditional Latin Mass. At that time he offered to establish our community in his diocese and provide us with a religious institution. We were not able to accede to his request because of our apostolate here.

    We mourn the loss of this successor of the Apostles who was a real father to us and our faithful during these trying times.


    Most Rev. Antonino Nepomuceno, O. M. I.
    Most Rev. Antonino Nepomuceno, O. M. I.
    June 13, 1925 - February 14, 1997
    Requiescat in pace.

    Please also remember Bishop Antonino Nepomuceno in your prayers. Bishop Nepomuceno was also a friend of our community and supported us in our efforts to preserve and to propagate the traditional Latin Mass and authentic Catholic doctrine.

    Bishop Nepomuceno was born to Faustino Nepomuceno and Ester Francisco in the Philippines on June 13, 1925, the seventh of twelve children. In 1941, he entered the San Jose Seminary but World War II interrupted his studies. He later joined the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and on March 24, 1947 was sent to St. Peter’s Novitiate in Mission, Texas. After finishing his Philosophy and Theology in San Antonio, Texas he was ordained a priest on May 23, 1953. He was the fifth Filipino Oblate ordained after the order began to work in the Philippines in 1939. He remained a year in the United States before being sent back to his native country. On August 31, 1969 he was consecrated a bishop and made Auxiliary of Cotabato diocese, located on the second largest island in the southern Philippines.

    Often Bishop Nepomuceno would visit the United States to visit relatives and his religious community in Texas. During one of those visits, he reported on the importance in giving the faithful of his diocese solid Christian instruction "to help them recognize and stop any communist infiltration in the Philippines. He said they should know about the tactics of communism and Mao Tse-Tung".

    In reporting on the Catholic population in Cotabato, Bishop Nepomuceno said that "the majority of the people were Moslems before the Oblates came to the diocese in 1939. Since World War II and the liberation of the islands from the Japanese, about one-half of the diocese is Catholic".

    During one of his visits to our country we were happy to receive him. One of our priests had studied at the Oblate seminary in San Antonio, Texas and he and Bishop Nepomuceno shared stories of mutual acquaintances. We spoke to him openly of our struggles on behalf of the true Faith and the traditional Latin Mass. We were gratified to have found a bishop sympathetic and willing to assist us in any way he could. He wanted to administer here, using the traditional rite, the sacraments of Holy Orders and Confirmation whenever that would be possible. Unfortunately, before he was able to fulfill his desire to help us, he died tragically in a plane crash on February 14, 1997 in the Philippines. Bishop Nepomuceno’s plane had just taken off when gunfire was reportedly heard and the plane carrying him and three others went down. He was returning from the funeral of another Oblate Filipino bishop who had been shot and killed ten days earlier.

    Although deprived of his aid and comfort in dispensing the sacraments here in our chapel we were consoled to know another successor of the Apostles who was a moral support to us in these trying times. We remember him in our Masses and prayers and ask you to please keep him in yours as well.


    His Excellency, Most Reverend Eustathe Joseph Mounayer was born on June 6, 1925 in Katana, Syria. He was ordained a priest in Damascus in 1949 to the eastern rite of the Syro-Chaldeans who have been in union with Rome completely since 1788. In 1971 he was consecrated a bishop and appointed auxiliary of Antioch and titular bishop of Hierapolis, Syria which office he filled until 1978 when he became archbishop of Damascus.

    His Excellency visited our community twice while he was archbishop of Damascus. Being bi-ritual he loved to offer the Traditional Latin rite during his time here except on one occasion when he offered the beautiful and ancient Syro-Chaldean rite in the language of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He also administered the sacrament of Confirmation while he was with us. His Excellency often corresponded with us over the years until his death in 2007. Please remember him in your prayers.

    Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
    May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.


    Since 1996 we have had three other Catholic bishops travel here to do confirmations as well. Please pray that these bishops will continue to enjoy good health and be able to help us in the days ahead.

    Two Roman Catholic bishops have sponsored ordinations here and are in need of your spiritual assistance too.

    These are some of the bishops around the world who are in contact with us and who are offering the traditional Mass and trying to remain loyal to the Catholic faith despite opposition. Many other bishops are in sympathy with us and the traditional Latin Mass.

    Offline PG

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    « Reply #9 on: October 28, 2014, 07:23:20 PM »
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  • That was very helpful and interesting, but I don't think it tells us exactly who ordained their priests.  It sounds as though the very first bishop possibly ordained a priest or two, but the next two mentioned specifically did not.  They administered confirmation, which can be supplied to a priest, which they both were.  The eastern rite bishop may actually even be a bishop.  The two mystery bishops "sponsoring" ordinations are the ones that will tell you something, because that could mean traditional as well.  Either way, I want to learn more.  

    And, BTW, in my last post, the email I was referring to on the blog by the brother of the servants was in response to the Novus ordite saying something along the lines of "you are disobeying the local bishop, and I won't go to your chapel".  The brother did get in a last word that could have been left out, but just so you know.  I don't want to slander the servants, but, its on the net.
    "A secure mind is like a continual feast" - Proverbs xv: 15

    Offline obediens

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    « Reply #10 on: October 30, 2014, 02:44:02 AM »
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  • Father Ward is not a sedevacantist. Nor are any of his priests. The bishop who ordained to the 4 men to priesthood is not named above.


    Offline ThomisticPhilosopher

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    « Reply #11 on: October 30, 2014, 09:40:47 AM »
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  • Could you get that information for us, I would be highly interested in knowing myself. For informational purposes thanks, appreciate it and I am sure many others would also.
    https://keybase.io/saintaquinas , has all my other verified accounts including PGP key plus BTC address for bitcoin tip jar. A.M.D.G.

    Offline obediens

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    « Reply #12 on: November 06, 2014, 03:42:56 PM »
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  • I know who the Bishop is, and I can assure you that he was ordained a priest in the pre-conciliar rite but consecrated in the post-conciliar rite. Neither the bishop, nor the SHF want his name public.

    Offline Alexandria

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    « Reply #13 on: May 24, 2016, 02:13:52 PM »
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  • Is this Colorado Springs group still active?  

    No one ever hears anything about them.   They keep a very low profile.

    Offline PG

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    « Reply #14 on: May 24, 2016, 02:49:55 PM »
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  • Alexandria - yes they are active.  They post all of there sermons on their website.  It is servi.org.  I listen to their sunday sermons.  And, I must say, they are very good sermons.  
    "A secure mind is like a continual feast" - Proverbs xv: 15