Pro-life Hero, Protestant Minister to Catholic Priest: Fr. Paul Schenck, Prophetic Sign of Coming Full Communion
reserve to the Lords work.
Paul and I shared a deep love for the early Fathers of the Church. We had numerous theological discussions. I saw the Holy Spirit drawing him out of a Protestant vision of the Church and into an increasingly Catholic vision. When he became an Episcopal minister, I was there. I knew it would not satisfy his hunger. I believed that Paul was hungering for the fullness of the ancient yet ever new Catholic Christian Faith.
At his ordination in the Episcopal Church, I gave him a copy of the Liturgy of the Hours which I had engraved to "Fr. Paul Chaim Schenck'. I hoped it would be prophetic. He showed it to me this past Weekend with a huge smile on his face. Paul came to my ordination to the Order of Deacon in the Catholic Church in 1996.
The next year, 1997, it became clear that my ordination and my continued role with the ACLJ were not compatible. The somewhat painful details were recently described in David Edwin Harrell Jr.'s excellent biography of Pat Robertson entitled "Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy." (see, pp.263, 264)
Ironically my last appearance as Executive Director of the ACLJ as co-counsel with Jay Sekulow was in the very first case which I took when I moved to build the ACLJ. This time it was before the US Supreme Court. Paul's courageous work on behalf of children in the womb served as bookends for an entire chapter in my life.
We stayed in touch. I introduced Paul to a dear friend, A Melkite Catholic Bishop, who played a significant role in his journey to the Catholic Church. I was honored to serve as the Deacon at the Mass where Pro-Life Hero Fr. Frank Pavone received Paul into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2004. Paul laid aside his ordained ministry in the Reformed Episcopal Church to become a Catholic.
He and I discussed his desire for ordination over the years following on several occasions. I watched him go through what I have watched others go through who have walked the same road. His desire to be Catholic led him to give it all up - and offer to serve in any way that he could in the Church he loves. Over the years the mettle of this man always shone through. He is a man of heroic virtue, courage, and perseverance.
It was against this background that I traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania this past weekend; to rejoice with my long time friend at the goodness of the Lord in calling him. He was ordained a deacon six months ago. With a dispensation from Rome waiving the celibacy requirement, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Father Paul "Chaim" Schenck was ordained by his friend, the humble and holy Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine, Fla. His Diocese is without a Bishop since Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades has been called to the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend in Indiana. In a rare turn of events, Fr. Paul was allowed to choose a Bishop to ordain him.
I sat next to my brother deacons and behind the numerous priests who were present. I wept through most of the exquisitely beautiful ordination. His dear family was there, along with a Church filled with people whose lives have been touched by his heroic service to the Lord. They came from his days as an Assemblies of God Pastor, an Episcopal minister and now a Catholic Priest. It was an extraordinary event. When the Mass was ended I asked Fr. Paul for his blessing. He placed his hand on my head and gave me a priestly blessing, in Hebrew.
I believe that Fr. Paul Chaim Schenck is a prophetic sign of the coming full communion of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I will share more about that in the future. I ask our global readers to pray for Fr. Paul Chaim Schenck, Priest of Jesus Christ. He is a gift for a new missionary age. May there be many more.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
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I believe that Johny Hunter, Paul & Rob Shenk will lead a new pro-life
movement. As well as many others. We will glow in the dark.
My husband Steve worked in spring of life in 1992.
We will overcome this darkness with a new flow, a new and better way
All the dots and his body will connect with out any human effort.
We will turn back the tide of in justice, and see his glory cloud go before us. Everyone that cared then will be recognized now.
In his love, Dawn
A sign of things to come in Christianity.
Thank God for the grace which he has given.
In response to Fr Kevin Lee written on July 14th.
Dear Fr. Lee, Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed! You must know that your sacrifice to forego everything for the sake of Christ and His Church does not go unnoticed! As in the story of the prodigal son the return of the disobedient son and the celebration that followed caused pain to the older brother. But the father said "My son you have always been with me. Everything I have is yours." Fr Lee everything in the storehouse of grace is yours and it has been from the beginning.
Deacon Fournier is experiencing the emotional elation of a soul dear to him coming into the fullness of truth. This will not carry Fr Paul when the emotional high is over and he begins to bear the weight of his sacrifice. His family life will be strained without question. In fact I was thinking that this will be an equally difficult sacrifice for his wife as it will be for him. He will not be as free as you are to serve and it will cause him much difficulty. There is no doubt.
A spouse thinks of the other spouse first before even the smallest decisions are made. Ask any married couple and you will find this is true. Who will Fr Paul think of first? I praise God that he has called Fr Paul even at this late hour but he will have much to suffer.
The church is your spouse and you will be glad when you look back and say yes I thought of her first. You will be glad when you see the power and weight and grace that the sacrifice of your celibacy has been.
Take heart! We know the sacrifice you have made for Jesus, His Church and for us.
We thank God for you and will keep you close in prayer.
Thank you Fr. Lee for your faithful service to Christ and His Church!
Peace.
May the Lord be Praised always. "We believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church". Do we need any more proof that The Lord is working in his vineyard slowly & steadily to fullfil His own prophesy that "All may be One". In time to come all Christians brethren will be One & this I pray always. Division in the name of Jesus Christ and just not done. Let us pray for the Unity of All Christians. Thanks & Praise be to God.
May the "JOY" of the living Lord Jesus be in you and with you, Fr. Paul, today and for all time. What a blessing it is to read about someone's journey in faith. It was exhilarating, spiritually, in small part, to share Fr. Paul's journey as his "call" got stronger and more defined. May God's Blessings continue for you and your family!!!
There is nothing impossible for Catholicism in US.......................... Anyway, welcome home Fr Paul Schenk!
May God save and protect you fr Paul Schenck, am very pleased to read these great news.
Absolutely beautiful article, Deacon Keith! What a blessing. Today I am in Phoenix attending the ordination of my precious brother in Christ, Fr. Eduardo Nevares, being installed as Bishop Elect of the Diocese of Phoenix. There is great hope for the Church when godliness is in place!
Praise the Lord. He is ever faithful!
God bless fr. paul schenck and his work for life
I am sorry, folks. "Scneck" stopped being a Protestant the moment he became a Catholic Priest. Considering the trouble Rome is having with Priests these days it was a "step down." in human terms.
Too many real saints have died at the stake and in torture chambers and on the battlefields to meekly go back to an church who were the responsible for the torture chambers and batlefields and burning stakes.
I follow the risen savior. I rely upon him, but not on my works. In Christ Alone I will make my claim.
Thank you.