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The
worldwide daily communication newsletter of The Reformed
Catholic Church |
March 2008
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING
BISHOP
The Most Reverend Phillip
Zimmerman ThD RSJ
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March 26, 2008
Greetings in the name of the
Risen Lord, Jesus the Christ!
It is clear
through unlearned men that the cross was persuasive; in fact, it
persuaded the whole world.
--
St. John Chrysostom
As we continue to celebrate
Christ's victory over death, I pray that the words spoken by St.
John Chrysostom echo like thunder in the depths in your heart and
soul, and that you, like he, truly understand the power -- the
persuasion -- of the Cross. I pray that through the persuasion of
the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord that you find a sense of
renewed focus, energy, spirituality, faith, hope and love.
Certainly, this Easter Season
has been a blessed season for our community, with a signficant
number of applicants seeking to join us on our pilgrimage. It is
clear that the urging of The Holy Spirit calls people to service in
The Reformed Catholic Church, and it is a true blessing to welcome
home those who have found us.May we serve the people of God to the
best of our ability!
This coming Sunday, March 30,
2008, we will celebrate the Feast of The Divine Mercy. The people
of The Reformed Catholic Church have a special devotion to the
Divine Mercy and will celebrate this Holy Feast in parishes and
ministries around the globe. I ask that you remember the
disenfranchised, unwanted, or "inconvenient" members of our
societies that are too often forgotten.
I would like to share a
prayer to the Divine Mercy with you:
O Lord, behold
here before You a soul who exists in this world in order to allow
You to exercise Your admirable MERCY and manifest it before heaven
and earth. Others may glorify You through their faithfulness and
perseverance, thus making evident the power of Your grace. How sweet
and generous You are to those who are faithful to You!
Nevertheless, I will glorify You by acquainting others of Your
goodness to sinners and by reminding them that Your MERCY is above
all malice, that nothing can exhaust it, and that no relapse, no
matter how shameful or criminal, should allow the sinner to despair
of forgiveness.
I have offended You grievously, O Beloved Redeemer, but it would be
still worse if I were to offend You by thinking that You were
lacking in goodness to forgive me. I would rather He deprive me of
everything else than the TRUST I have in Your Mercy.
Should I
fall a hundred times or should my crimes be a hundred times worse
that they actually are, I would continue to trust in Your MERCY.
Amen
May God bless and keep you
all,
In Christ,
++Phillip
Zimmerman,
Presiding Bishop
__________________________________________________________________
Dear Family in Christ,
Our Lord Jesus himself, at the
hour of his Passion, prayed "that they may all be one"
(Jn 17:21).
The prayer of our Lord
implores us to be unified, yet, at times, we fall woefully
short. It seems that we just can't overcome barriers and
differences. This inability, if left unchecked, can lead to
disappointment, anger or resentment... and sadly, separation and
division. We have had a journey though Lent, a time for
spiritual renewal and awakening. Now, this Holy Week offers us a
time for reflection, reconciliation, refocus, and rededication to
Christ, to our ministries and to each other. This is a time to let
go of the pain of the past and to focus on the possibilities that
lie ahead. It is a time to heal the body, mind and
the soul. My prayer during this Holy Week has been that each of
us truly seeks Christ in every person we encounter, and that we
seek to overcome barriers that only serve to separate or divide
us. If we cannot overcome pain, disappointment or hatred, must
must ask ourselves: are we really following the teaching of
Christ? If not, how do we return to his teaching? If we cannot
forgive or overcome differences, can we truly love?
Holy Week has been a true
blessing to the faith family that is The Reformed Catholic Church,
with a significant number of applicants from across the United
States and around the globe seeking to join our growing
community.
In keeping with the prayer of
our Lord, that all may be one, on Palm Sunday, members of
Reconciliation Catholic Church voted to merge with this faith
community. We warmly welcome Archbishop Michael Hillis and his
clergy to our family. Please join me in welcoming clergy who have
been incardinated:
We would also like to welcome
the following Candidates who, on Palm Sunday, were accepted into
our community:
Sergio Ibarra,
of San Antonio, Texas
Mark Larson of
Chicago, Illinois
Dale
Grandfield, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Brian Halbison,
of Luckey, Ohio
Mark Spavale,
of Plymouth, Minnesota
James Smith,
of Reno, Nevada
Thomas
Allamoda, of Munich, Germany
Jens Balcerzak,
Nordhein, of Westfalen, Germany
Thomas Kiiza,
of The Republic of The Sudan
Maleya
Sospeter, The Republic of The Sudan
Fr. Mathew
Theuri, PhD of Nairobi, Kenya
Fr. Joseph Karimi,
of Nairobi, Kenya
I would like to announce that
effective Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Bishop James Martino, RSJ of
Denver, Colorado, has accepted an appointment to the office of
Diocesan Bishop for the Diocese of Our Lady of Peace. Bishop
James' wife, Deacon Bunnie Martino, shares in the ministry of St.
Dorothy Reformed Catholic Church in Denver. Also, Archbishop
Michael Hillis, FOR has accepted an appointment to the office of
Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of St. Joseph the Worker. May God
bless our new Diocesan Bishops!
Also, I am pleased to announce
that Bishop David Pflueger of Tacoma, Washington has formally
requested incardination into The Reformed Catholic Church. We
warmly welcome Bishop David and his family to our community!
Please keep our new family
members in your prayers. Please pray without ceasing for World
Peace.
Easter will soon be here.
Church Bells will ring out, choirs will sing, old friends will
visit, new friends will be made, and children will dress in their
best clothing to celebrate Christ's victory over death! May each
of us reclaim that joy that we felt as a child when we gathered
with our family and friends to share in the Holy Sacrifice of the
mass! May each of you have a blessed Holy Week and a joyful,
memorable and Holy Easter.... and may we each rejoice when we hear
the words: He is risen, He has risen INDEED!
Alleluia!
May God bless and keep each of
you! May those who travel be safe. May those in conflict find
resolution and peace. May those in danger be protected. May
those who suffer from substance abuse seek help.
May all know love! May we all
be as one!
Your brother and servant in
Christ,
__________________________________________________________________
It is my pleasure to welcome
the following clergy into the family that is The Reformed Catholic
Church:
Please keep our new family in
your prayers. Please join me in welcoming our new Bishops and
Deacon!
Also, Please keep the Women's
Ordination Conference, a ministry that The Reformed Catholic Church
supports, in your prayers.
__________________________________________________________________
March 11, 2008
Please keep our brother, Niall
Sheridan of Ireland, in your prayers. Bishop-Elect Niall called to
inform me that he was under the weather and hospitalized for a day
or two. He has requested the prayers of our community for a speedy
recovery.
Please keep our family in Kenya,
most especially Bishop-Elect Bernard Wamalwa, in your prayers as
they launch a new feeding program called "Feed my Sheep". The
objective of this new program is to provide nutritional meals to the
orphan children of Nairobi. Your prayers and support are requested
and greatly appreciated. For those wishing to assist, please contact
me.
Andrew Nawab, of Islamabad,
Pakistan has requested assistance for the people of his community's
Easter celebration there. For those wishing to assist, please
contact me.
Please remember to inform your
diocesan bishop if you are making plans to attend the Synod in
Atlanta. We would like to have a confirmed number of attendees by
March 15, 2008. We strongly encourage ALL laity to join the clergy
and leadership at the synod.
Tempest Fugit! Time flies and
we are now preparing for Holy Week. May this week serve to
strengthen our faith, our vision, our purpose, our ministries. May
we recommit ourselves to seeing Christ in all His people... and May
all His people see Christ in US!
The King of Glory comes, the
nation rejoices... Open the gates before Him, lift up your voices!!!
Pray for peace and
reconciliation in this most Holy Season!
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OFFICE OF THE BISHOP OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST.
PATRICK
The Most Reverend
William
Quinlan, DD RCF |
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April 1, 2008
On Divine
Mercy Sunday March 30th, I visited our parish of Holy Cross in Toledo, Ohio,
to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to three of their parishioners.
During the Confirmation ceremony, the bishop asks what name they have
chosen, and then speaks the words "Be sealed with the Holy Spirit, who
claims you as his own on this day. In the name of the Father, The Son and
the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us Pray: Almighty God, pour out your Spirit
upon these, your children who have been confirmed in our faith. May they be
to all a right model of conduct. We ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus
the Christ. Amen."
Brother Brian
Halbison served as acolyte for the Mass. He was received into the RCC on
Friday night by ++Phillip Zimmerman, when he did his profession into the
Jesuit order. Please keep Brother Brian in your prayers as he begins his
journey toward the Diaconate.
After the Mass
and Confirmation Ceremony a reception was held in the parish room.
It is a great
joy to me as Diocesan Bishop, to visit our parishes and spend time with the
pastors and their flocks. Msgr. Heckman is a great pastor, and devotes
himself tirelessly working as the Vicar of Communications. In addition, he
serves as Chancellor for the Archdiocese of St. Patrick. As his bishop, I
wish to commend him on his excellent service to the Reformed Catholic
Church, and pray that God gives him strength and good health to continue
with his many duties.
God bless and
keep you all
Archbishop
William E. Quinlan
Bishop of the
Archdiocese of St. Patrick
___________________________________________________________________
He is risen,
He is risen indeed!
As we travel
with Jesus, walking in His footsteps this Holy Week, let us always be
thankful for the great love He shows toward us all.
On Holy
Thursday we commutate the last supper, the institution of the Eucharist, and
are once again made aware of the great gift He has given us. Through the
Eucharist we are renewed with strength and love each time we partake of it.
And as the supper ended, Jesus and the disciples go into the garden to
pray. If we look closely at this time, we can feel the pain and suffering
which Jesus goes through, knowing what is to shortly become a day of agony
for him. After he is betrayed by Judas and taken by the soldiers He is left
alone. The disciples cowering in fear have all left him and he stands alone
before the rulers who mock, laugh and torment him. Not only emotionally,
but physically as well, in the scourging and crucifixion on the cross on
Good Friday.
All have left
him, with the exception of a few woman, who loyally stand at the foot of His
cross, weeping, filled with sorrow.
As He hangs
bleeding upon the cross, we can not help but be moved, that He, who is love
personified, has arrived at this point in his life. During the liturgy and
services of Good Friday we live again His final hours, His suffering, and
yes, His great love. This love for His Father, and the love that He has for
all of us. As if the physical suffering was not enough, He had to go
through the emotional pain of feeling abandoned by all who promised to be
with Him to the end. No wonder that he cried out, "My God, My God, why have
you abandoned me?"
Each Good
Friday when I read the Passion, I am moved by the account of the two men who
were crucified with Jesus. When one man asks Jesus to save himself and
them, Dismas answers saying that they are hanging there due to their crimes
and rightly so, but Jesus has done no wrong. In all of sacred scripture we
have only this one story of Jesus promising a person that "This day you will
be with me in Paradise."
After Jesus'
death he is taken down from the cross, laid in the tomb and all are desolate
and sad.
But as He had
told the disciples, after three days the temple will be rebuilt. This
temple of his Holy Body, not a physical building. When Mary Magdalene
arrives at the tomb on Easter morning she is shocked and horrified that His
body is not there. She fears that someone has stolen it. Upon learning this
she runs to Simon Peter and the other disciples and informs them that "they
have taken Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." Peter
and the other disciples run to the tomb and Peter enters the tomb. He sees
no body, only the cloth that had covered his head which lies among the other
burial cloths. Another disciple goes into the tomb to check and the Gospel
tells us "that he saw, and he believed."
Herein lies
our faith, our belief, that God sent His only Son out of love for us, to
redeem us from our sins. What more do we need know, in order to comprehend
the overwhelming love of the Father for we his children? Whose heart can
not be filled with joy, at the understanding of this incredible love? What a
glorious gift!! Death has been conquered, and we no longer need fear.
The words of
the "Easter Sequence" say it well.
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praise,
A lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, Who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak Mary, declaring
What you saw wayfaring.
"The tomb of Christ, who is living
The glory of Jesus' resurrection
Bright angels attesting
The shroud and napkin resting,
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen,
To Galilee he goes before you"
Christ indeed from death is risen our new life obtaining,
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen.
Alleluia!
I wish you and
your families peace, joy and love at this great feast of the Resurrection.
Archbishop
William E. Quinlan
Bishop of the
Archdiocese of St. Patrick
___________________________________________________________________
On Sunday March 2nd, Archbishop
Bill Quinlan will celebrate a Memorial Mass for Fr. Harry B. Sherman at
St. Sebastian Church in Columbus Ohio at 10:00 AM. I ask that you all
remember him in your masses and prayers on this day.
Fr. Harry was the pastor of St.
Luke's Episcopal Church in Granville, Ohio for a number of years. He
was the epitome of what a priest should be. A very spiritual
man, loving, kind, a great sense of humor, and always open to helping
people. He was a special friend and mentor to me during the time that I
attended St. Luke's Church.
After reaching retirement age he
and his wife Joan moved to New Hampshire.
He is survived by Joan, three
sons, and a daughter, and his grandchildren.
Eternal rest grant unto him O
Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him.
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From the Office of the
Vicariate for Mediation and Reconciliation
Most Reverend Shane Price D.Min
Judicial Vicar |
In the last two months, I have been
humbled by my family within the Reformed Catholic Church. You recently
entrusted me with the Vicariate for Mediation and Reconciliation (VMR) and
it has already been quite the journey. I have been approached many times
by members of the clergy with questions regarding canon law or our
constitution. I have wrestled with how to answer these questions at times
in such a way as to be definitive. From now on, clergy of the RCC will
have the ability to request a "Opinion Letter of the Judicial Vicar."
Requests for these letters may be anonymously and will be published to the
whole RCC community. There is one major difference though...because an
opinion letter is being requested, these opinion letters will be just
that...opinions. They do not carry the force of canon law. This service is
being provided to the church for no other reason then to enhance
understanding of our constitution and Code of Canons while answering
specific canonical questions for the clergy.
To request such an opinion
anonymously...simply email me. Be sure in your request to indicate that
you are requesting an answer to your question anonymously. The question
will be researched and an opinion letter will be issued to you. The
college of bishops will also receive the opinion letter but NO indication
of who requested the opinion. Turnaround time for an opinion letter is
three to fourteen days depending on the current level of church business
being dealt with in the Vicariate. This service is the mainstay of our
plan to provide our clergy with Ease of Access to the VMR. It is hoped
that clergy of the church will use our services as a tool to dispelling
conflict and promoting unity within the Church. Much more on our
developing programs will be coming very soon. Keep your eye on the
PaxPress for more information.
Most Reverend Shane Price D.Min
Judicial Vicar
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Reformed
Catholic Church in Poland
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Who, being
in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be
grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as
human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was
humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. And for this God
raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names; so
that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should
bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should
acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians
2,6-11
Jesus Christ
trough his death and resurrection gives us new life. For Easter I wish You
gladness from the resurrection of Christ. God, give us faith, hope, love
and I wish we always can stand up from a sin with confidence in grace of
Savior.
In Christ
Church of Christians
RCC
Poznan and
Wroclaw - Poland
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NEWS
FROM THE DIOCESE OF
OUR LADY OF
PEACE
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Welcome Most Reverend James
Martino, RSJ
Effective Tuesday,
March 18, 2008 Bishop James Martino, of Denver, Colorado, has accepted an
appointment to the office of Diocesan Bishop for the Diocese of Our Lady of
Peace.
Most Reverend Fr. James Martino
Diocesan Bishop of Our Lady of
Pease
BishopMartino@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Welcome
St Dorothy's Parish to the RCC!
Littleton,
Colorado
We Come the New Parish of St.
Dorothy's Reformed Catholic Church to the Diocese of Our Lady of Peace.
Colorado
St. Dorothy’s
Most Reverend
Fr. James Martino
BishopMartino@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Rev. Deacon
Bunnie A Martino
RevBMartino@reformedcatholicchurch.org
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FROM THE DIOCESE OF ST.
JOSEPH THE WORKER |
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Welcome The New
Diocesan Bishop
Effective Tuesday,
March 18, 2008 Archbishop Michael Hillis has accepted an appointment to the
office of Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of St. Joseph the Worker.
Also, we would
like to welcome the new Chancellor Monsignor Eugene Young.
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Rev. Michael Hillis
Tel: (480) 649-0901
BishopHillis@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Chancellor:
Msgr. Eugene Young
Tel: (480) 227-7854
ChancellorSJ@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Welcome New Clergy and Parishes from Arizona
to the Diocese of St. Joseph the Worker.
Arizona
The
Community of Sts. Francis and Claire
2727 E. University Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(Montecito Community Clubhouse)
Rev. Fr. Stephen J. O'Meara, F.O.R.
FrOMeara@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Br.
Bruce J. Donegan, F.O.R.
BrDonegan@reformedcatholicchurch.org
(480) 964-5178
Cathedral of Christ The Reconciler
2727 E. University Dr. #
148 Tempe, AZ 85281
Most Rev. Michael J. Hillis, D.D.
BishopHillis@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Rev.
Fr. Lenn Cisneros
FrCisneros@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Tel:
(480) 649-0901
Community of Reconciliation
2041 W. Orange Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85015
Msgr. Eugene Young
MsgrYoung@reformedcatholicchurch.org
ChancellorSJ@reformedcatholicchurch.org
St.
Giles Friary
2727 E. University Dr.
#148 Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 649-0901
Skellig Brigid Friary
2727 E. University Dr. #
112 Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 964-5178
St.
Clares Mission
Director of Religious Education
Sister Mary Brigid, F.O.R.
(480) 585-8017
SrBridget@reformedcatholicchurch.org
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OFFICE OF THE BISHOP OF THE
DIOCESE OF ST. MICHAEL
The Most
Reverend Patrick Batuyong, DD |
RCC Spring 2008 Synod
Atlanta, Georgia
April 23 – 26, 2008
Tuesday April
22(Travel day)
Wednesday April 23 - 9am Opening Mass
Saturday April 26 - 2pm - Closing Mass
Synod Theme
‘TAKE AND
EAT…………[This is my body]”
[God’s Greatest Gift for Body and Soul]
Reflect for a moment
upon the spiritual, emotional and physical healing that is available
through the transforming power of this sacrament. Each of us can recount
miraculous, healing and stories with respect to Holy Communion.
Each time we celebrate Mass,
each time we as a priest, religious brother or sister, postulant or novice
or lay person carry out the Corporal Works of Mercy in our ministry and
daily lives, we bring to God’s children a transforming power, God’s greatest
gift for body and soul – His Body and Blood.
We have “Taken and Eaten” and
now we MUST become …”The Christ to all…… “
Ø
More information forthcoming on available accommodations and
rates………………….
Ø
Each parish, parish mission and oratory is authorized to have
a Lay Representative to vote the voice of the people.
Ø
Synod cost remains unchanged from previous years ………$125 per
person.
Fee should be sent to the Office of the
Presiding Archbishop no later than
March 15th, 2008.
Ø
The Local Diocesan Office is the POC for all clergy &
religious
attendees
St. Patrick Archdiocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend William Quinlan RCF
BishopQuinlan@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Chancellor: Very Reverend
Marcis Heckman RSJ
CancellorSP@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Divine Mercy Diocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend Barry A. Ferguson OSB
BishopFergusion@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Chancellor: Very Reverend
Michael Baremore RCF
CancellorDM@reformedcatholicchurch.org
St. Katharine Drexel
Diocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend Kenneth Denski
BishopDenski@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Chancellor: Very Reverend
Christopher Tobin
CancellorKD@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Holy Trinity Diocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend Phillip Zimmerman SJ
PresidingBishop@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Chancellor: Rev. Fr. Martin
Jordan RSJ
ChancellorHT@reformedcatholicchurch.org
St. Michael Diocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend Patrick Batuyong
VicarGeneral@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Holy Spirit Diocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend Shane Price RSJ
BishopPrice@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Our Lady of Peace
Diocese
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend James Martino RSJ
BishopMartino@reformedcatholicchurch.org
St. Joseph The Worker
Diocesan Bishop: Most
Reverend David Frazee RSJ
BishopFrazee@refomredcatholicchurch.org
Ø
Br. Stephen Wilson is the POC for all Lay Representatives
CollegeofLaity@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Ø
The Vicar General is the POC for all visiting and clergy
outside USA Diocese.
Most Reverend Patrick
Batuyong
VicarGeneral@reformedcatholicchurch.org
Ø
The Vicar of Communications is the POC for all Press and
Media Representatives.
Very Reverend Marcis
Heckman RSJ
Communications@reformedcatholicchurch.org
More information to follow
SEE YOU IN ATLANTA
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The Special Ministry
Department is pleased to announce a new program:
THE AGAPE
COMMUNITY PROJECT
The Reformed Catholic Church
has launched a new ministry entitled THE AGAPE COMMUNITY PROJECT (ACP).
This new ministry will reach out to the various ministries, programs,
missions, parishes and diocese of the church, seeking to ensure that each
RCC community is a welcoming community, inviting all people to share in
the sacraments of the church. The motto of the Agape Community Project
is: Caring, Compassion, Committed: ALL Are Welcome!
These are three very important qualities that makes our communities
successful in their outreach efforts.
The application that can be
completed online and transmitted to the ACP Officer. Once the application
is received, the ACP Director will send you, FREE OF CHARGE,
a certificate of membership and good standing in the Program.
As clergy members of the Agape
Community, we simply affirm the following:
2. The Constitution of the RCC
3. The Canons of the RCC
4. Your vows of ordination
5. The eight essentials of the
RCC
6. Contribute to the National
Church
Importantly,
this is an RCC Ministry, and it is open to ALL RCC
communities, large and small, long existing or newly formed. There are no
lengthy applications or reviews, just the need for a commitment from you
to ensure that you make every effort to be a welcoming community.
This is a voluntary project
and you may absolutely choose to not participate. It is not the purpose
or intention of the Agape Community Project to interfere with the local
parish/mission/ministry or the local diocesan bishop, but to offer
support when called upon. To terminate
participation in the ACP, simply send a note to the Director.
Contact the Agape Community Project at:
AgapeProject@reformedcatholicchurch.org
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