From across the Ordinariate

Grace and peace to you in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we gather to celebrate Independence Day, we do so during a truly historic year, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This remarkable milestone invites us to pause with gratitude, humility, and hope as we reflect upon the blessings of liberty, the sacrifices of those who came before us, and the responsibilities entrusted to every generation.

For two and a half centuries, countless Americans have labored to build, defend, and strengthen this nation. We remember with gratitude the courage of our founders, the sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform of our armed forces, the dedication of first responders, healthcare professionals, chaplains, public servants, educators, and all who have worked quietly and faithfully for the common good.

As Christians, however, we recognize that freedom is far more than political independence. Holy Scripture reminds us:

"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become servants of one another." — Galatians 5:13

True liberty is found not merely in our rights, but in our willingness to love God and serve our neighbor. The freedoms we celebrate today are sustained not only by laws and constitutions, but by virtue, justice, mercy, and a people committed to the common good.

This anniversary also calls us to humility. Like every nation throughout history, ours has known moments of extraordinary courage and moments that call for repentance and renewal. Yet we trust that God continues to guide those who seek His wisdom and walk in His ways. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers, to pursue justice, to defend the dignity of every human person, and to pray faithfully for all who exercise authority.

As Anglicans, we have long prayed for our nation and its leaders. I invite every member of the Anglican Province of North America to join me in praying:

For the President of the United States, members of Congress, governors, judges, and all entrusted with public office.

For the men and women of our Armed Forces, veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, healthcare workers, and chaplains.

For our churches, our families, our communities, and our neighbors.

For peace, justice, reconciliation, and unity throughout our nation.

That Almighty God would continue to bless America and guide us in the paths of righteousness.

As we commemorate 250 years of American independence, I am reminded of the beloved hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country. It captures a truth that has long resonated with Christians: we may rightly love and faithfully serve our earthly nation with gratitude and sacrifice, yet our highest allegiance belongs to another Kingdom—one whose King is Christ Himself.

That is the balance to which we are called.

We honor our nation without making it our idol.

We cherish our freedoms while remembering that they are gifts entrusted to us for the service of others.

We love our country most faithfully when we seek justice, show mercy, walk humbly with God, and strive to leave our communities better than we found them.

As we celebrate this historic anniversary, may we recommit ourselves not only to being faithful Americans but, above all, faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect the hope of the Gospel, our service reflect the love of Christ, and our witness remind the world that no earthly kingdom, however great, can compare to the everlasting Kingdom of God.

May Almighty God bless the United States of America as we celebrate this 250th year of our national story.

May He grant wisdom to those who govern, courage to those who serve, comfort to those who mourn, healing to those who suffer, and hope to every generation yet to come.

And may He ever remind us that while we give thanks for the nation entrusted to our care, we journey toward that eternal Kingdom where righteousness, peace, and love shall reign forever.

May God bless you, your families, and our beloved nation.

Happy Independence Day.

Faithfully in Christ,

"If my people, who are called by my Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." — 2 Chronicles 7:14

By the Grace of God

The Right Reverend Brent E. Whetstone, Ordinary, The Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George

To the Reverend Clergy, Religious, Chaplains, and all the Faithful of the Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George: Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Beloved in Christ,

In the good providence of Almighty God, our Nation has reached a singular moment in its history as we commemorate the Two Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Such anniversaries are not merely civic observances, but occasions for the Church to offer thanksgiving to Almighty God, to confess her dependence upon His mercy, and to renew her vocation as a people of constant prayer.

Holy Scripture reminds us:

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." — Psalm 33:12

And again,

"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." — Proverbs 14:34

From the earliest centuries, the Church has understood that no kingdom, republic, or commonwealth endures by human wisdom alone. Every nation stands beneath the providence, judgment, and mercy of Almighty God.

Therefore, while we rightly give thanks for the blessings of liberty, the sacrifices of those who have defended our freedoms, and the institutions that have served this Republic for two and a half centuries, we acknowledge that our first duty is not celebration, but prayer.

Episcopal Declaration

Wherefore, by virtue of the Office entrusted unto Us as Ordinary of the Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George, and relying wholly upon the grace and mercy of Almighty God,

We do hereby declare and appoint the period beginning on the Fourth Day of July in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six and continuing until the Fourth Day of July in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Seven to be observed throughout the Anglican Ordinariate of George as

The Year of Prayer for Our Nation

During this holy observance, We earnestly call upon every parish, mission, chaplaincy, religious community, ministry, household, and member of the Ordinariate to unite in continual prayer for the spiritual renewal of our Nation and for the peace of the whole world.

The Duty of the Church

The Church of Jesus Christ is not established to advance the interests of earthly kingdoms, political parties, or temporal ambitions.

Her citizenship is in Heaven. Her King is Christ. Her mission is the proclamation of the Gospel. Her greatest labor is prayer.

Therefore this declaration is made not to encourage political activity, but to renew the apostolic practice commanded by Saint Paul:

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority…" — 1 Timothy 2:1–2

The Intention of Our Prayers

Throughout this Year of Prayer, let continual intercession be offered before Almighty God for: The President of the United States; Members of Congress; the Judiciary; Governors, legislators, and local officials; Members of the Armed Forces; Veterans; Law enforcement officers; Firefighters; Emergency medical personnel; Physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers; Chaplains serving throughout our Nation; Teachers and educators; Families and children; the unborn and their mothers; the elderly and those approaching the end of earthly life; the poor and forgotten; those burdened by illness, addiction, or despair; peace among nations; justice within our communities; the unity of Christ's Holy Church; the conversion of sinners; an increase in holy vocations; and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.

Our Exhortation to the Clergy

We direct the clergy of the Ordinariate, insofar as it is pastorally possible, to: include prayers for our Nation at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist; offer the Daily Office faithfully; observe Ember Days and other traditional days of fasting and prayer; hold parish Holy Hours, Vigils, and Services of Intercession; encourage regular reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation where available; teach concerning the Christian duty of prayer for those in authority; and encourage works of mercy within every parish.

May every parish become a house of prayer.

Our Exhortation to the Faithful

Beloved children in Christ, pray daily. Read the Holy Scriptures. Receive the Blessed Sacrament frequently. Love your neighbors. Forgive your enemies. Honor lawful authority. Serve the poor. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the dignity of every human person from conception until natural death. Live lives worthy of the Gospel entrusted to you.

Our Hope

As we commemorate the Two Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of our Nation, We are reminded of the beloved hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country, whose words beautifully express the proper ordering of Christian patriotism.

We rightly love our earthly homeland. We rightly give thanks for the blessings of liberty. Yet our supreme allegiance belongs to another Kingdom—one "whose King is God."

May our patriotism never become idolatry. May our love of country always be purified by charity. May our hope remain fixed not upon earthly powers but upon the eternal reign of Jesus Christ.

Episcopal Blessing

May Almighty God, Who rules over the nations of the earth and whose Kingdom hath no end, look with mercy upon this Nation.

May He grant wisdom to those entrusted with authority, courage to those who serve, comfort to those who suffer, peace to our communities, and renewal to His Holy Church.

And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, ✠ the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Given under Our Hand and Episcopal Seal at the Chancery of the Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George, this Fourth Day of July, in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six, being the Two Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

The ordination marks the culmination of years of discernment, formation, study, and prayer, as Fr. Liam now enters a new season of ministry dedicated to the service of Christ and His Church through the preaching of the Gospel, the administration of the Sacraments, and the care of souls.

In his sermon, Bishop Brent Whetstone reflected upon the witness of the Oxford Martyrs, particularly Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, whose steadfast faith in the face of persecution continues to inspire Anglicans around the world. Recalling Latimer's famous words spoken at the stake in Oxford, "We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out," the Bishop reminded those gathered that priesthood is ultimately a ministry of faithful witness to Jesus Christ.

"The Church today places a candle into your hands. Guard it well. Feed it with prayer. Strengthen it with Scripture. Sustain it with the Sacraments. And may it burn brightly throughout your ministry."

The sermon emphasized that priesthood is not a position of privilege but a vocation of service, calling priests to stand beside God's people in moments of joy, grief, celebration, and loss. Drawing upon the example of the martyrs, the Bishop encouraged Fr. Liam to embrace a ministry marked by courage, compassion, humility, and faithfulness.

A particularly moving portion of the service recognized the role of Fr. Liam's husband, John, whose steadfast support has accompanied him throughout his journey toward ordination. The congregation gave thanks for the ways in which vocation is nurtured through faithful companionship, prayer, sacrifice, and love. The Bishop noted that while the Church ordains individuals, no vocation is lived alone, and that the support of family and loved ones remains an essential part of sustaining ministry.

As Fr. Liam begins this new chapter of priestly service, the Ordinariate gives thanks to Almighty God for His calling and prays that the same grace which strengthened the Apostles, the saints, and the martyrs will continue to guide and sustain him in the years ahead.

Please join us in praying for Fr. Liam, for John, and for all those entrusted with the sacred work of shepherding Christ's flock.

"Preach the Gospel faithfully. Celebrate the Sacraments reverently. Love the people generously. Pray constantly. Serve humbly."

What makes ministries like the Red Door Café so important is not simply the food placed on a table, but the reminder that every person is worthy of care, conversation, and compassion. In a world often marked by division and isolation, these moments of shared service become small but powerful signs of the Kingdom of God.

We are deeply grateful to the people of Saint John's for their continued friendship and witness, and we are proud of the members of the Anglican Mission of Lake Erie who gave their time and energy in service to others.

As Anglicans, we believe the Church is called not only to worship within sanctuary walls, but also to serve Christ in our neighbors. Ministries like the Red Door Café embody that calling beautifully.

"Let us not love in word or speech, but in truth and action." — 1 John 3:18

Today the Church stands once more in the upper room.

We gather again at the great feast of Pentecost, not merely to remember a moment in history, but to proclaim a living reality: the Holy Ghost still moves among the people of God. The same Spirit who descended upon the Apostles with wind and fire continues to breathe life into the Church, strengthen the weary, comfort the brokenhearted, and send ordinary men and women into extraordinary places bearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pentecost reminds us that Christianity was never meant to be timid, performative, or hidden safely behind walls. The Church was born in public proclamation. She was born in courage. She was born in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Yet we live in an age of exhaustion.

Many are tired of shallow religion that confuses the Kingdom of God with political ideology. Others have grown weary of a world that offers endless outrage, endless noise, and no lasting hope. We see institutions crumbling, loneliness increasing, families struggling, and many wondering whether truth itself can still be trusted.

Into this confusion, Pentecost speaks clearly.

The answer to the chaos of the modern world is not a louder ideology. It is not retreat into bitterness. It is not surrender to every passing cultural current. The answer is the same today as it was in Jerusalem two thousand years ago: the presence of the Holy Spirit drawing humanity back to Jesus Christ.

The Spirit does not erase truth. The Spirit illuminates it.

The Spirit does not destroy the Church. The Spirit renews her.

The Spirit does not lead us away from Christ, but ever deeper into Him.

As Anglicans, we stand within that ancient and sacramental stream of the Christian faith — rooted in Scripture, shaped by the Creeds, nourished by Word and Sacrament, and called to be present among those who suffer, serve, and seek.

This is especially true for our chaplains, clergy, and ministers who stand daily at hospital bedsides, in military units, in prisons, shelters, schools, funeral homes, hospice rooms, and places of tragedy. Pentecost reminds us that ministry is not ultimately sustained by our own strength. It is sustained by the Spirit of God.

The world does not need chaplains who arrive with rehearsed slogans or partisan talking points. The world needs ministers filled with the Holy Ghost — ministers who can stand calmly in moments of chaos, speak truth with compassion, and embody the presence of Christ among the wounded.

In the Book of Acts, people from every nation heard the Gospel proclaimed in their own language. Pentecost is therefore not a celebration of division, but of unity through Christ. The Spirit gathers what sin has scattered. The Spirit makes one Body from many people.

In a fractured age, the Church must again become a place where human dignity is defended, where mercy is practiced, where repentance is proclaimed, and where Christ remains at the center.

My prayer for this Province, and for all entrusted to our care, is simple:

May we never become captive to the spirit of the age.

May we never mistake activism for holiness.

May we never lose the beauty of reverence, the courage of truth, or the tenderness of pastoral care.

And may the fire of Pentecost burn again within the Church.

Come, Holy Ghost.

Renew Your Church.

Strengthen Your people.

Send us again into the world.

Given under my hand this Feast of Pentecost, in the Year of Our Lord 2026.

Throughout the history of the Church, the people of God have remembered those whose lives bore witness to sacrificial love, courageous faith, and steadfast service in the face of death. Such remembrance is not merely historical reflection, but a sacred act by which the Church gives thanks to Almighty God for lives lived in profound imitation of Christ.

Therefore, with gratitude for their witness and mindful of the sacred vocation of chaplaincy, we hereby declare that February 3 shall be observed within the Ordinariate of Saint George for Chaplaincy as the Feast of the Four Chaplains.

On the night of February 3, 1943, the troop transport USAT Dorchester was struck by a German torpedo in the icy waters of the North Atlantic during the Second World War. Amid panic, darkness, and certain death, four United States Army chaplains — Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish Rabbi), Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic Priest), and Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed Minister) — moved calmly among the frightened soldiers, offering prayers, comfort, guidance, and hope. When the supply of life jackets was exhausted, each of the chaplains removed his own and gave it to another man. Survivors later testified that the four were last seen standing arm in arm in prayer as the ship slipped beneath the waters.

Their sacrifice transcended denominational boundaries and became a lasting witness to unity, courage, pastoral care, and selfless love. In a moment where fear might have overcome humanity, these chaplains chose instead to embody the words of Our Lord:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

For those called to chaplaincy ministry, the witness of the Four Chaplains remains especially sacred. They remind us that chaplains are called not merely to preach, but to stand in the midst of suffering; not merely to speak of hope, but to become instruments of hope in moments of terror, grief, loneliness, and death.

The Feast of the Four Chaplains shall therefore serve within the Ordinariate as a day of remembrance, prayer, and recommitment to the sacred ministry of presence. We encourage clergy and faithful alike to offer prayers on this day for military chaplains, healthcare chaplains, first responder chaplains, institutional chaplains, and all who minister in places of suffering and crisis.

May the memory of the Four Chaplains inspire us to lives of greater courage, deeper compassion, and unwavering devotion to Christ and His people.

Given under our hand and authority within the Ordinariate of Saint George for Chaplaincy.

It's not just poetry—it's a question every mariner, every chaplain, every mother standing by a silent phone has asked in the dark. It's the same question whispered at hospital bedsides, in waiting rooms, in sanctuaries half-lit by grief: Where is the love of God when the storm will not stop?

Fifty years ago, the Edmund Fitzgerald vanished beneath the furious gray of Lake Superior. No mayday. No survivors. Just silence, and the slow ache of minutes that turned into hours, and hours into half a century of wondering.

Those of us who serve along these inland seas—Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan—feel that story in our bones. Because the Great Lakes are not only deep in water; they are deep in memory. Every storm carries the echo of those 29 names. Every ship's whistle sounds a little like a prayer.

And yet—beneath all that loss, there is a truth the Church dares to proclaim: the love of God does not vanish in the storm. It is not capsized by tragedy. It does not drown in the depths.

When Lightfoot asked, Does anyone know where the love of God goes?—the answer, I think, is yes.

The love of God goes down with the ship. It is there in the final prayers of frightened men. It rides on the wind that carried their last breath home. It sits with the families who never got the call they prayed for. It weeps beside them, unseen but not absent.

The love of God goes to the bottom of the lake, to the bedside of the dying, to the lonely who wait for answers that will never come. It is the presence that abides even when there are no words left to speak.

Because the miracle of faith is not that God prevents every storm—it's that He joins us in the storm, and refuses to let the dark have the final word.

The same Christ who stilled the Sea of Galilee walks these waters still. He does not silence every wave, but He meets us amid them. And sometimes, faith means rowing on through the tempest, trusting that even when the compass spins, even when the radar fails, even when the shoreline disappears—God is not gone.

In the hours that feel like days, when grief stretches time beyond measure, the love of God does not go anywhere. It remains. It endures. It descends to the depths and rises again with the dawn.

So tonight, we toll the bells not only for the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew, but for every life that has been swallowed by silence, every family left waiting for the wind to break.

We remember that to live by these lakes—to serve by them—is to stand where the sacred meets the unpredictable. It is to preach resurrection in a place that remembers wreckage.

And we proclaim this truth: Even here, even now— when the waves turn the minutes to hours, when the night will not end, when the lake keeps her secrets— the love of God goes nowhere. It remains, steady as the shoreline of eternity.

Christus in Omnibus Locis, Per Viam Anglicanam. Christ in all places—yes, even on the waters that never give up their dead.

Over the course of 126 years, the Communion has grown into seven provinces with over 200 churches around the world. Today, as Bishop of the Anglican Vicariate of Saint George, I believe it is both fitting and necessary to remember those who helped forge the path we now walk. With gratitude and reverence, I am formally establishing November 2nd as a Feast Day of the Founders, commemorating the lives and ministries of Bishop Leon Checkemian, Bishop James Martin, and Bishop Andrew Albert MacLaglen.

Their legacy is more than institutional. Through their vision, perseverance, and pastoral witness, they gave rise to a Communion where many of us have found our spiritual home—a home where the via media is not merely a theological ideal, but a way of being: Anglican, open-hearted, and missionally grounded.

As a jurisdiction charged with accompanying chaplains into places of suffering, service, and seeking, we in the Anglican Vicariate of Saint George are uniquely positioned to carry forward the spirit of our founders—bringing the light of Christ to the margins, the frontlines, and the forgotten corners of the world.

I therefore direct that November 2nd be observed annually within our Vicariate as a solemn feast in honor of our founders. I encourage all chaplains, clergy, and lay ministers to mark this day in their prayers, devotions, or liturgies as a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of faithful witnesses who went before us.

Liturgical guidelines and prayers for this observance are enclosed with this letter.

In Christ who sends us,