Diocesan News

Once again the beautiful feast of Christ’s Nativity has come and gone.

We look forward to this celebration with great anticipation, eager to share in the joy, and goodwill that it brings. If only this feeling could last the whole year through. But for many people as soon as the New Year arrives, it is back to the some old rut of life. We wonder where all the friendliness, joy, and good feelings have gone.

We seem to forget the peace and joy that the birth of our Savior brought, and fail to carry it over into the New Year. What a difference it would make to the entire world if this feeling would continue for the next 12 months. Just try to imagine how the world could change if we carried this love and peace within us throughout the entire year.

This is what we are charged as Christian Catholics to do. As ministers of Christ’s word, this is our duty, and our focus. We are charged to follow the teaching of Jesus, going out into the world to preach the “Good News,” to bring healing to a wounded world. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit the prisoners, and bring the sacraments of the Church to all who seek them. By doing this we help keep the love of Christ alive all year long.

At our celebration of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Sebastian Cathedral here in Columbus, Ohio we began our celebration with a member of St. Luke’s parish, standing at the front of the church, wrapped in the Jewish Tallis (prayer shawl) as she blew the Shofar (the rams horn as a call to prayer). Each member of the congregation was given a small candle to hold in their hand, as the clergy processed up the aisle toward the altar, led by the crucifer, thurifer, candle bearers, and officiating clergy. The crèche, and altar were incensed and the celebration of the Christ Mass began.

What a feeling of joy to gather together with our brother and sister RCC clergy to celebrate the natal day of Our Lord and Savior.

Now as we are about to enter into a new year my prayer is that we all keep this special joy of Christmas in our hearts as we go about ministering to Gods people, and let His love shine forth in all we do.

With my prayers, best wishes and blessing

The Reformed Catholic Church meets the City of Brotherly Love

Under the Episcopal oversight of Bishop Ken Denski, and progressed by the exemplary efforts of newly appointed Diocesan Chancellor Monsignor Christopher Tobin, after many years of a lying dormant; a Holy Dream has been gradually awakened. In the city that is home to the family of Presiding Archbishop Phillip Zimmerman, RSJ, the development of “Annunciation” parish has been a topic of discussion for many years with strong personal support from the Archbishop. Noting the deep spiritual hunger, and sadly corresponding marginalizing amongst so many – now estranged – Catholics, all are in agreement: the time to be for our struggling sisters and brothers! In one of the most exclusive and rigidly conservative Roman Catholic Diocese in the United States, our “agenda” is quite simple: to be a “Gospel People” and to welcome all to the Holy Table set, most of all, for the least among us. Let it be, therefore, joyously announced that Annunciation Parish is in the formal stages of planning and development with sights set to geographical location in center-city Philadelphia. The Rev. Father Michael Abair, RCC Spiritual Director and Minister of Pilgrim Sanctuary Apsostolate, has been recommended by the Chancellor to Bishop Denski to serve as pastor of the parish and has accepted the corresponding request of the Bishop.

It is with great excitement that all involved in this stage of both strategic planning and communal discernment look to becoming a living presence of the Reformed Catholic Church in Philadelphia. On November 10, 2007, Archbishop Zimmerman formerly promulgated the Diocese. One particular statement made by the Archbishop continues to echo upon the ears of those in this Diocese: “I have faith in the Holy Spirit that now is the time for us to be here. God calls us to be here; he calls each of you to be here. I know neither he nor I will be disappointed.” A prophetic challenge and a heartfelt prayer all at once, the Archbishop’s words have not fallen on death ears: Annunciation begins!

“Annunciation,” therefore, will mean many things in the life of the Reformed Catholic Church and, equally, for the faithful of Philadelphia seeking refuge in a faith community in which fundamental aspects of the Catholic Tradition are celebrated in a new spirit of reformation. All are welcome is the implicit charism of Annunciation. As once the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to bear God-self, in the present age the Diocese of St. Katharine Drexel is a message of Mother Church, imploring her faithful ministers to be present to all; and in so doing to be agents of the perpetual birthing of Jesus Christ in every age. As Mary opened her heart and accepted the Annunciation, we pray also for a similar opening of hearts in the development of the parish, which will bear the name of this most holy moment in salvation history.

In faithfulness to John XXIII, the Patron of the RCC, who called upon the Church to “open herself” to the Holy Spirit who is – indeed – manifest in and through the world, as the Living Church in which we each share membership, the Leadership of this Diocese will remain steadfast in this opening of doors, of minds and of hearts. That the Annunciation of more than 2,000 years ago might grace each of us in the development of what will be our own public “annunciation, ” in spite of all challenges, and in light of all grace, let this be common prayer.

Pastor - Rev. Fr. Michael Abair, Jr.

Annunciation Parish - Philadelphia, PA

RCC Spring 2008 Synod

Atlanta, Georgia

April 23 – 26, 2008

SEE YOU IN ATLANTA

The Reformed Catholic Church meets the City of Brotherly Love