The history of the Blessed John Henry Newman Society has it's foundations in the Anglican Use Mother parish, Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio, Texas. Like so many who have come to form the first wave of the Ordinariate in America, the pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement befriended and aided Fr. Bartus. It was the guidance, advice, and encouragement of Fr. Christopher Phillips that really helped get Bl. John's off and running, and for that reason, we consider ourselves as "children of the Atonement."
On April 3, 2011 an informational meeting was held at Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia about the Ordinariate led by the ecumenical officer of the Diocese of Orange, Fr. Al Baca, the rector of Blessed Sacrament, Fr. David Baumann, and Fr. Bartus. There was a good core group from various Anglican/Episcopal parishes who signified that not only were they interested in the Ordinariate, but were ready to become Catholics and even form a new congregation for the Ordinariate in Orange County! The Anglican Use Society of Orange County (what Bl. John's was first named) met for it's founding service (Evensong and Benediction) on May 29, 2011 and has been meeting in Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church in Placentia for nearly every week since then.
