New Pastor Named for US Ordinariate's Principal Church

Our Lady of Walsingham parish in Houston, TX serves as the principal church for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Formerly an Anglican Use parish of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the parish was reassigned to the Ordinariate by Cardinal DiNardo. Similar to a diocese, though national in scope, the Ordinariate was established by Pope Benedict XVI on January 1, 2012

HOUSTON, TX (Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter) - Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson, the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, announces the appointment of a new pastor for the principal church of the Ordinariate, Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, TX. Father James Ramsey, the pastor, retired on April. 30.

Charles Hough, IV, who has received the necessary permission from the Holy See to be ordained as a Catholic priest, will assume this office on July 1, after his ordination. He and his wife, Lindsay, together with their two sons, will move from Fort Worth to Houston in June.

"Chuck Hough comes from a family with a very distinguished record of ministry, and he has himself demonstrated significant leadership gifts while serving in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth," said Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson. "His father served for many years as canon to the ordinary in Fort Worth, one of the best mentors for ministry there can be."

He was received into the Catholic Church during the Anglican Use Conference in Arlington, TX, a year ago. A former Anglican priest, he has been preparing for Catholic ordination through the Ordinariate's formation program at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth, one of three bishops initially appointed by the Holy See to oversee the creation of the new Ordinariate, will ordain him a priest in June.

"A passion to teach and to live the Catholic faith, the energy and vision to expand the mission of Our Lady of Walsingham, and a commitment to the new evangelization to which Pope Benedict XVI has called the Church -- these are some of the key criteria for calling a new pastor to Our Lady of Walsingham. I am confident that Fr. Hough will bring this kind of leadership to our principal church," said Msgr. Steenson.

Msgr. Steenson also thanked Bishop Vann for his pastoral support of the Houghs on the journey to full communion. "This partnership between the local diocese and the Ordinariate lies at the heart of Pope Benedict's intention for this work of Christian unity. Fr. Hough will continue to deepen the close ties that exist between the Ordinariate parish of Our Lady of Walsingham and the wider Catholic community of Houston."

Charles Hough was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2007 after completing studies at the Nashotah House Theological Seminary. He served as curate at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Arlington, Texas and, from 2009-2011, as rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Gainesville, Texas. In June 2011, during the Anglican Use Conference held in Arlington, Texas, he was received into the Catholic Church by Fort Worth Bishop Kevin Vann. Since that time, he has worked with adult religious education and RCIA programs at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, Texas. He is expected to be ordained a Catholic priest in June 2012, after completing his studies.

Similar to a diocese, though national in scope, the Ordinariate was established by Pope Benedict XVI on January 1, 2012 after repeated requests from Anglican clergy and groups who were seeking to join the Catholic Church while retaining elements of their Anglican heritage. Approximately 60 Anglican priests are in formation to be ordained Catholic priests for the Ordinariate. The Ordinariate is online at www.usordinariate.org and www.facebook.com/usordinariate.

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In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI established the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter for those groups of Anglicans in the United States who seek to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.