April 30, 2008

Dear Clergy and members of the RCC.

This week we come to the end of the Easter Season of the Church for the year of 2008.

We have traveled with Christ through the sorrows, and triumphs of Holy week, We were there with the apostles, disciples and holy women from the sorrow of Good Friday, culminating with the joyous Feast of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.   We have heard in the Gospel accounts of the past weeks, of His work and teaching of all that He imparted to his followers and the believers of the early church. 

He reassured them that He was truly the Son of God, who was alive, and with them once again.  He set to rest all their fears, and instructed them further in who He was, and what He was to do in the future.  He told them that He would leave to go and be with the Father.  And that when he left he would send the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, to strengthen them, and to give them courage.

 On Ascension Day, which we celebrate on Sunday May 1st we celebrate his rising up into heaven as He returns to be with his Father.   Naturally the disciples and apostles were very upset when He said that He would leave them,  But they were to have courage, they would not be left alone. Jesus tells them "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,.  And behold I am with you always, until the end of the age."

When He leaves the he promises to send the Holy Sprit, which he does on Pentecost when he gives the blessing of peace, and bestows his authority on the disciples as he confers on them the Holy Spirit. On the first day of the  week, while the doors were locked,  Jesus comes and stands in the midst of the disciples, and says to them "Peace be with you". The disciples rejoiced in seeing him and he showed them his hand and his side.  Again Jesus  says, "Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you"

He breathes on them, and speaks the words, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven

On this feast of Pentecost we celebrate the great beginning of Gods church.  The day when the Holy Spirit makes known to all people the one true God. 

And on this great feast I will be in Ireland consecrating Fr. Niall Sheridan to the Episcopal office of Bishop. This year the feast of Pentecost and the celebration here in our country of Mothers Day fall on the same day.  So we want to remember all mothers, both living and those who have gone before us into the kingdom of the Father. We pray for them, remember them with love and ask Almighty God to keep them in his loving care.

 I am deeply grateful to our Presiding Bishop Phillip Zimmerman for asking me to travel to Ireland to consecrate Fr. Sheridan as Bishop of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.  Bishop elect Sheridan will become the Father Protector of all Reformed Catholic clergy in those countries and the clergy of Europe. I ask that all our RCC clergy keep me and Bishop Elect Sheridan in their prayers and Masses.

Our church continues to grow, to gather together Gods people from around the globe into the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

I impart to you all my Apostolic Blessing and best wishes as you strive to bring Gods blessing to all of His children.

Archbishop Bill Quinlan

Diocese of St. Patrick

On the fourth Sunday of Easter, April 13th Brother Paul Slyby was ordained to the Diaconate. 

The ordination Mass was held at St. Sebastian Cathedral Church in Columbus Ohio. Mass was celebrated by Archbishop William Quinlan, Diocesan Bishop of St. Patrick Diocese, using the ancient Mass of the church, the Tridentine Latin Mass.

During the ordination Mass the candidate is reminded of the duties that he will undertake as a deacon in Gods church.  It will be his duty to bring God's word to believer and unbeliever alike, to preside over public prayer, to baptize, to assist at marriages and bless them, to bring the sacrament to the sick and dying, preside over the rites of burial, and assist the bishop or priest in the celebration of the Holy Mass.  

He is reminded to do the work of God generously.  To serve mankind and God in love and joy.

The candidate is invested with the deacons stole and dalmatic, and is then  presented with the Book of Gospels from the bishop who says "Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are."

After his ordination and laying on of hands Deacon Paul assisted the bishop during the Mass and in bringing Holy Communion to the people. 

Let us all  welcome Deacon Paul to the ranks of the Reformed Catholic Clergy, and offer up this prayer for him:

"Oh,  God look with favor on your servant Paul, that he excel in  every virtue, in love that is sincere, in concern for the sick and the poor, in self-discipline, and holiness of life. May he remain strong and steadfast in Christ. May he in this life imitate your Son Jesus, who came, not to be served but to serve, and one day reign with him in heaven.

We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen."

Dear RCC Jesuit Family,

Please welcome our new brothers!

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!