Week of March 8, 2026

This weekend we are pleased to welcome Bishop Rob Lyons for an apostolic visitation to Saint Oscar Romero Ministries. Bishop Rob is the bishop of the Old Catholic Ordinariate for Specialized Ministries and a personal friend. Tonight, Saturday, March 7th, he will celebrate a quinceañera, and on Sunday, March 8th, he will preside at our Sunday liturgy in the Saint Oscar Romero Chapel. Because of his visit, our Sunday liturgy will be posted online shortly after it concludes. We warmly welcome Bishop Rob and look forward to his encouragement and enthusiasm for the proclamation of God’s Word.

We also continue our Lenten journey together. This past week we began posting videos of the Office of Readings from the Ordinariate Daily Office. Throughout the week we posted the Office each day to give viewers a basic introduction to how this form of prayer is practiced within the Ordinariate tradition. In the future we will likely post the Office two or three times per week. While we pray the Office daily, recording, editing, and posting each video requires time and energy. There are moments when prayer fulfills the Lord’s call to enter the quiet of the upper room, and there are moments when prayer is something we share publicly so that we may strengthen one another in faith.

During Lent we also hope to post weekly devotional materials. This past Friday we shared a video of the Stations of the Cross, and in the weeks ahead we hope to offer additional devotions such as extended readings of the Passion or other traditional Lenten reflections.

We are also pleased to announce the launch of the Saint Oscar Romero Ministries Facebook page, where we will share reflections, updates, and videos from our ministry.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580974298417

Of course, we will continue posting liturgies, devotions, and faith formation materials on our YouTube channel:
Saint Oscar Romero Ministries YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SaintOscarRomeroMinistries

This weekend we also released a new faith formation video on the doctrine of the Atonement, an especially meaningful topic during the season of Lent. In this presentation we explore how Christians have historically understood the saving work of Jesus Christ—how his life, death, and resurrection bring reconciliation between humanity and God.

The video introduces several major theological models used throughout Christian history. Among them is Recapitulation, developed by St. Irenaeus, which describes Christ as the “new Adam” who restores humanity through perfect obedience. The Christus Victor model emphasizes Christ’s victory over the powers of sin, death, and the devil. Anselm’s Satisfaction model highlights Christ’s obedience as restoring the honor of God disrupted by human sin, while the Penal Substitution model, emphasized during the Reformation, focuses on Christ bearing the consequences of sin on behalf of humanity. The presentation also includes Peter Abelard’s Moral Influence model, which sees the cross as the supreme revelation of God’s love that calls humanity to repentance.

Finally, the video reflects on several biblical images of salvation, including Christ as the healing physician, the sacrificial lamb, and the scapegoat who carries away the sins of the community. Rather than competing explanations, these models are best understood as complementary perspectives that illuminate different dimensions of the human condition—our guilt, shame, fear, and broken relationships—and the many ways Christ brings healing and redemption.

You can watch the full video here:
Jesus Christ and Models of the Atonement – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@Mysteruim_Fidei

As we continue our Lenten pilgrimage, let us support one another in prayer, repentance, and renewed faith. Please remember that I remain available for sacramental needs, pastoral care, or simply to receive a prayer request.

May God bless and keep you during this holy season.
Peace,
Rev. Ben