“I’ve been able to dedicate myself entirely to St. Barnabas,” he said. “We did a new website and we’re getting the word out. There’s interest out there.”

When Pope Benedict set up the process for Anglican churches to become Catholic, he made it possible for those congregations to keep some of their liturgical practices. They use some of the same language in the Book of Common Prayer, adapted in places to fit the Catholic Mass. Musically, the church differs from most Omaha Catholic churches in that it follows a classical repertoire in English and Latin, and employs chant.

“We’re very thankful that we’re able to retain so much of our tradition in terms of worship,” Catania said.

Former Anglican churches aren’t the only Catholic communities using a liturgy departing from the traditional Roman rite that is followed by the majority of U.S. Catholics. In Omaha, for instance, a group of people regularly attend Eastern Rite Masses, where the liturgy is similar to that used in the Orthodox Church.

Though former Anglicans and Eastern Rite congregations have different bishops, they are fully Catholic; congregants celebrate the same sacraments as their Roman Catholic counterparts, and Roman Catholics can fulfill their weekly Mass obligation at St. Barnabas or in an Eastern Rite church.