Structure and Rule
Members are organised into local 'Colleges', each of which in turn is a part of one of four Provinces of the Oratory: Australia; Europe; North America; South Africa. They are required each day to: pray the Divine Office; attend Mass; and spend an hour in private prayer. Members may use the post-nominal initials 'OGS'.
Former members have included The Father Founders Bishop John How, Bishop Edward Wynn, and The Very Rev'd Eric Milner-White, as well as: The Rev'd Canon Wilfred Knox; The Rev'd Canon Dr Alec Vidler; The Rev'd Canon Professor Eric Mascall (Referred to as 'Dr Mascall'); Archbishop John Selby Talor; Bishop George Briggs; Bishop Henry Hill; Bishop John Ruston;and The Rev'd Fr Henry R.T. Brandreth. The current membership includes Bishop Lindsay Urwin, Bishop Dominic Walker, Bishop Kenneth Mason and Bishop John William Salt. Archbishop Michael Ramsey was Visitor of the Oratory for many years.
The current Officers of the Oratory include: The Superior General of the Oratory, The Rev'd Professor Peter Hibbert; The Secretary-General, The Venerable Edward Simonton; and the Almoner-General, Brother Michael Bartlett. The Officers are elected for a three-year term at the General Chapter of the Oratory which meets once in every three years. In each of the four provinces the Provincial Chapters meet more frequently (usually annually) and elect a Provincial. The Colleges meet regularly throughout the year.
There is an association of Companions of OGS - those who are not professed members, but nevertheless support the Oratory's aims and agree to live by a simplified version of the rule.
Read more about this topic: Oratory Of The Good Shepherd
Famous quotes containing the words structure and, structure and/or rule:
“One theme links together these new proposals for family policy—the idea that the family is exceedingly durable. Changes in structure and function and individual roles are not to be confused with the collapse of the family. Families remain more important in the lives of children than other institutions. Family ties are stronger and more vital than many of us imagine in the perennial atmosphere of crisis surrounding the subject.”
—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)
“Why does philosophy use concepts and why does faith use symbols if both try to express the same ultimate? The answer, of course, is that the relation to the ultimate is not the same in each case. The philosophical relation is in principle a detached description of the basic structure in which the ultimate manifests itself. The relation of faith is in principle an involved expression of concern about the meaning of the ultimate for the faithful.”
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965)
“If all political power be derived only from Adam, and be to descend only to his successive heirs, by the ordinance of God and divine institution, this is a right antecedent and paramount to all government; and therefore the positive laws of men cannot determine that, which is itself the foundation of all law and government, and is to receive its rule only from the law of God and nature.”
—John Locke (1632–1704)