The Worldwide Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ

ECCLESIA CATOLICA ECUMENICA CHRISTI
Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
Iglesia Católica Ecuménica de Cristo
Ökumenische Katholische Kirche Christi
Ecumenical Kanisa Katoliki la Kristo
Œcuménique Église catholique du Christ
კონსტანტინეპოლის კათოლიკური ეკლესია ქრისტეს
Вселенската католическа църква на Христос
Вселенский католическая церковь Христа
 كنيسة المسيح الكاثوليكية المسكونية 
Igreja Catolica Ecumenica De Cristo
Chiesa Cattolica Ecumenica Di Cristo
Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, 
Latin America New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, 
Ukraine, The Caribbean, The Philippines, USA 


Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
International Headquarters
5247 Sheridan Street
Detroit, MI 48213

http://www.cathedralofstanthonydetroit.org 

Our worldwide website: www.ecumenicalccc.org

New Order Saint Francis and St. Clare: www.theneworderofsaintfrancis.org 


St. Anthony Liturgical House of Studies:

 https://www.stanthonysliturgicalhouse.org


For a visit of our famous historical Glas Stained Windows, visit the Link below:

http://www.michiganstainedglass.org/collections/building.php?id=17-83-2BD

Credit and Special thanks to Mr. Michael Surdyk


On Radio: http://www.wbcq.com

Biblical Perspectives WBXQ 7490 Short Wave Radio. 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time North America and around the world. Special thanks to Fr. Tom!

Facebook:  Karl Rodig

e-mail: cathedralst.anthony@yahoo.com



From the office of the Ecumenical Primate

+Dr. Karl Rodig

Easter A. D. 2018

Christus resurrexit vere! Alleluja!
(Please share with all, Thank you! Compartir con todos, Gracias!)
The Peace of the Risen Christ be with you all, dear brothers and sisters of our worldwide church communion!

‘We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song.’ (St Augustine)

    I would like to share with you three Ways we can walk in our lives with Jesus:
First: Toward the old Jerusalem: Discover who we are, and whom to follow.
    As we walked through this year's Lenten Season, we searched for our commitment with Christ, our personal life history, seeing our weaknesses that we needed to correct, but moreover we have discovered our strength in faith. We have might come to a new understanding how we see Christ in our life, in our church family, He, our Savior and Guiding Light. 
    We find ourselves on a journey toward the New Jerusalem, our destiny. Along the way, we need to find the answer: how can we better declare our love for Jesus through word and deed? What is therefore the real meaning and purpose for us Christians in this world?
    One situation we face every day is that we are drawn between the world immanent matters and a real spiritual awareness/awakening. We often exchange these two to reward ourselves as it is only up to us, and not to God who is above everything...
    How can we reconcile the world in which we live with the demands of our faith in God? It feels to us that there is a struggle going on within us: I cannot leave my lifestyle that I am so used to, yet I do want to be closer to God with all my existence...The early church fathers wrote quite a bit of this struggle and they knew that the answer is Christ who is all in all for us.
    For us as Christians, it is the focus on the Life, and the mysteries of Christ Jesus, His Suffering and Resurrection that will help us to conquer our disbelieves, our status quo, our self inflicted wounds, our own misery that cries out to God. If we only seek the answer through our own making, we will end up nowhere...If we start believing and understanding more deeper Christ in our life, he will provide for us, and we join the millions and millions of Christians who found and experienced throughout history a joy that is beyond all this world can offer!
    We have to realize that Christ Jesus is not against this world, "He came into his own..." This world is God's creation. Christ, the Son of God, "took on human flesh" in order to be one of us and he lived among us, human and divine. Jesus's words, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" is the ultimate answer how to live in HIS creation. We realize that Christ in his earthly life walked toward Jerusalem, the Temple, the Holiest place in Judaism. There he declared that HE is the New Temple...As he entered Jerusalem, he knew the crowds  would shout the "Hosanna" to the King of Kings, but he knew this will end in human catastrophe because they were not seeking the heavenly kingdom, but to foster the earthly kingdom of Israel. So, it was for the majority not about the Messiah, the spiritual and Divine Grace that was present in Jesus, it was their self-seeking way. 
And here we find ourselves, we love to walk toward the heavenly Jerusalem to meet Christ, the eternal King, yet we are easy to fall into the trap of self-deceiving ways, thinking we are on the right way, but missing out when it comes to change that a few saw necessary, like Mary the mother of Jesus, John the beloved, and Mary Magdalene who stood with him till the dying on the cross...This image has to enter our heart and mind in order to find HIM...

Second: Leave the old Jerusalem and walking toward Golgotha.
    Where do we stand right now in our lives? Are we still walking toward the old Jerusalem, shouting "Hosanna", and not knowing we need to leave the old Temple, finding Jesus who is the New Temple, and made us all a holy temple through the Holy Spirit?
    It is the uncomfortable, the miserable No we still carry in our hearts, not wanting to face the cross, not feeling right to carry it, because it is a burden, because  the world again tells us otherwise, like you don't have to do this, leave it alone, live the high life that makes you happy, and do not care about the poor, do not feel for the suffering, and curse God when illness befalls you, or one in your family...and on and on...So we keep walking toward the earthly Jerusalem, and not toward the heavenly Jerusalem, we keep looking for other spiritual means of superstition, astrology, and so on, indulging ourselves with material means...
    It is only when we say yes to the Cross that Jesus carried, and died on it, that we can say yes to our own cross and walk with Him toward Easter! Again, only this Yes to Jesus, His life, suffering, and resurrection is the most precious word we can utter within our hearts, because it is God's Grace that will help us to live it! 
    What else is there to look forward in this short earthly life as to find this deep inner fulfillment in the Life of Jesus that lasts for eternity!
    "No one can come to the Father except through me", Jesus says this with the same breath to the sentence earlier, "I am the way, the truth and the life"...And Paul confirms it, "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me".
    Through this awareness, we are leaving the old Jerusalem toward the Crucifixion of Christ, the Son of God, and not shying away from it through intellectual arguments, through the deceit of the modern world that wants us be trapped in disbelief...Again, the cross is indeed the only reality of Jesus not having died in vain, but being the Son of God, brutally murdered for our salvation! This is God's ultimate declaration of Love for each one of us! It is the sign of victory over death! Facing this Cross of Jesus and caring on our own cross, will bring us closer to the light of the resurrection and Life eternal. 

Third: Walking as Easter People
    
    Having worked as a chaplain for 11 years in hospitals and nursing homes, I always saw people who through their faith found themselves more under the cross of Jesus, seeing beyond their own suffering, and finding inner peace that the bystanders might not easy accept, especially in the suffering of a child. I would like to mention the little story of a 7 year old girl that was dying of brain cancer, and with enormous pain, there was one day that the parents came to visit her, and the girl was so calm, saying with a smiling face, "do not worry so much I am going to God"...The parents were outraged and could not understand such uttering, and asked me if I or a doctor told the girl she was dying, which we did not. Only after a while, the parents came to see that the girl was trying to comfort them through her love, feeling that God will welcome her...
    We find ourselves often as the disciples who walked to Emmaus, grieving, talking, and not understanding what happen outside the old city of Jerusalem...And there it was Jesus joined them, walking with them and open their eyes, and after the meal they realized their hearts were burning, because their love for Jesus just found the answer!  

    We enter with Jesus the old Jerusalem seeing the man made world as it is, driven by greed, deceit, false promises, and mayhem..., we finally realize, we need to take on our own cross with Jesus present, leaving the old temple of Jerusalem, walking with HIM toward Golgotha, encounter his crucifixion, death, and seeing the light of His glorious resurrection!
    We are strengthen in our faith for our earthly journey toward the heavenly Kingdom, the heavenly Jerusalem, because it is Him who opens our eyes, and by grace shows us the way, and in the Holy Spirit we find this deep joy that sings the Easter Alleluia. 
Yes, ‘We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song.’ (St Augustine)

    Let our hearts keep burning for Christ with the fire of love, because He walks with us, and if you still looking for him, let's remind us "But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee'...
    Indeed, we find Jesus within ourselves, everywhere we go, in our neighbor, in the peace we create, in the love for His creation, in the love for the poor, in working toward a just society, in our suffering, in our joys, and in our longing for seeing HIM in God's eternal Kingdom.

    Wishing you all a Blessed and Joyous Easter! May the Risen Lord shine through us, and lead us as we, the Easter People sing, Alleluia!

With my prayers and apostolic benedictions
yours in Christ
+Karl


ECCC Church World News:

Mexico: Bishop Rodolfo had a good meeting with the Roman Catholic Apostolic Nuncio for Mexico talking about our Church.

Asia:
India: Bishop Suny and his priests working hard to spread the good news of our Church with success !

Pakistan: Our Ministers working very hard for the poor!

The Philippines: Bishop Armando, and Bishop Manuel reaching out to more people, and the congregations are growing!

Latin America: 
Costa Rica: Peru: Colombia: Panamá: Our Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio for Latin America is spreading the ECCC deeper into Central and South America with our Presence in Peru and Colombia expanding!  Our Archbishop in Brazil, Dom Lucas will be the Contact person for the Catholic Church Reform international meeting in Brazil this year.

Europe: Thanks to our Apostolic Nuncio in Europe, Archbishop Hristo, in Bulgaria for his commitment to dialog with other churches.
Our Bishop Agostino from Italy had a good meeting with the Roman Catholic Reform movement, Catholic Church Reform International in Rome. 

Ukraine: and Russia: Our Orthodox Priests are spreading the good news and living a true ecumenical spirit among the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and the major Orthodox Churches.

USA: Thanks to our tireless members of the new Seminary online, it is also going on the airwaves with a radio show. 

Please to all of you: 
Reach out and recommend to people: seminarians, men and women, young and old, anyone who is interested for going online to study in biblical or theological matters! Thank you! 
Here is the Seminary Website again where you can see the different study programs, and needed contacts:


We are still working on a Spanish Language for the seminary, hopefully more languages to come.
 


Pascua

Christus resurrexit vere! Alleluja!

(Por favor, comparta con todos, ¡Gracias!) 


¡La Paz de Cristo resucitado sea con todos Uds., queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo de nuestra comunión mundial de la iglesia! 

'Somos un pueblo de Pascua y nuestra canción es el aleluya' (San Agustín) 

Me gustaría compartir con ustedes tres maneras en que podemos caminar en nuestras vidas con Jesús: 

Primero: Hacia Jerusalén: descubra quiénes somos y a quién seguir. 
  
    Mientras caminábamos a través de la Temporada de Cuaresma de este año, buscamos nuestro compromiso con Cristo, nuestra historia de vida personal, viendo nuestras debilidades que necesitábamos corregir, pero además descubrimos nuestra fortaleza en la fe. Podríamos llegar a una nueva comprensión de cómo vemos a Cristo en nuestra vida, en nuestra familia de la iglesia, Él, nuestro Salvador y Luz Guía. 

    Nos encontramos en un viaje hacia la Nueva Jerusalén, nuestro destino. En el camino, necesitamos encontrar la respuesta: ¿cómo podemos declarar mejor nuestro amor por Jesús a través de las palabras y los hechos? ¿Cuál es, por lo tanto, el verdadero significado y propósito para nosotros, los cristianos en este mundo? 

    Una situación que enfrentamos todos los días es que estamos atraídos entre los asuntos inmanentes del mundo y una conciencia / despertar espiritual real. A menudo intercambiamos estos dos para recompensarse a nosotros mismos, ya que depende solo de nosotros, y no a Dios que está por encima de todo ... 

    ¿Cómo podemos reconciliar el mundo en el que vivimos con las demandas de nuestra fe en Dios? Nos parece que hay una lucha dentro de nosotros: no puedo dejar mi estilo de vida al que estoy tan acostumbrado, sin embargo, quiero estar más cerca de Dios con toda mi existencia ... Los primeros padres de la iglesia escribieron bastante de esta lucha y sabían que la respuesta es Cristo, que es todo en todos nosotros. 

    Para nosotros como cristianos, es el enfoque en la Vida, los misterios de Cristo Jesús, Su Sufrimiento y Resurrección lo que nos ayudará a conquistar a nuestros incrédulos, nuestro status quo, nuestras heridas autoinfligidas, nuestra propia miseria que clama a Dios. Si solo buscamos la respuesta por nuestra propia cuenta, no terminaremos en nada ... Si comenzamos a creer y entender a Cristo más profundo en nuestra vida, él nos proveerá, y nos uniremos a los millones y millones de cristianos que encontraron y experimentado a través de la historia, una alegría que está más allá de todo lo que este mundo puede ofrecer! 

    Debemos darnos cuenta de que Cristo Jesús no está en contra de este mundo, "Él entró en lo suyo ..." Este mundo es creación de Dios. Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, "tomó carne humana" para ser uno de nosotros y vivió entre nosotros, humano y divino. Las palabras de Jesús, "Yo soy el Camino, la Verdad y la Vida" es la respuesta definitiva sobre cómo vivir en SU ​​creación. Nos damos cuenta de que Cristo en su vida terrenal caminó hacia Jerusalén, el Templo, el lugar más santo en el judaísmo. Allí declaró que ÉL es el Nuevo Templo ... Al entrar en Jerusalén, sabía que la multitud gritaba "Hosanna" al Rey de Reyes, pero sabía que esto terminaría en una catástrofe humana porque no buscaban el reino celestial, pero para fomentar el reino terrenal de Israel. Entonces, era para la mayoría no sobre el Mesías, la Gracia espiritual y divina que estaba presente en Jesús, pero un camino egoísta para ellos. 

    Y aquí nos encontramos, amamos caminar hacia la Jerusalén celestial para encontrarnos con Cristo, el Rey eterno, pero somos fáciles de caer en la trampa de engañarnos, pensando que estamos en el camino correcto, pero perdiéndonos cuando viene a cambiar lo que algunos vieron necesario, como María, la madre de Jesús, Juan el amado, y María Magdalena, que estuvo con él hasta la muerte en la cruz ... Esta imagen tiene que entrar en nuestro corazón y mente para poder encontrarlo a él. 

Segundo: abandonar la antigua Jerusalén y caminar hacia el Gólgota.

    ¿Dónde nos encontramos ahora en nuestras vidas? ¿Todavía estamos caminando hacia la vieja Jerusalén, gritando "Hosanna", y sin saber que tenemos que abandonar el antiguo Templo, encontrar a Jesús, que es el Nuevo Templo, y hacernos a todos un templo santo a través del Espíritu Santo?

    Es lo incómodo, lo miserable que aún cargamos en nuestros corazones, no querer enfrentar la cruz, no sentirnos bien al cargarla, porque es una carga, porque el mundo nuevamente nos dice lo contrario, como si no tuviéramos que haz esto, déjalo en paz, vive la gran vida que te hace feliz, y no te preocupes por los pobres, no sientas por el sufrimiento, y maldigas a Dios cuando te sobreviene la enfermedad, o uno en tu familia ... y sigue y en ... Así que seguimos caminando hacia la Jerusalén terrenal, y no hacia la Jerusalén celestial, seguimos buscando otros medios espirituales de superstición, astrología, etc., entregándonos con medios materiales ...

    ¡Solo cuando decimos Sí a la Cruz que Jesús cargó, y morimos en ella, podemos decir sí a nuestra propia cruz y caminar con Él hacia la Pascua! De nuevo, solo este Sí a Jesús, Su vida, Sufrimiento y Resurrección es la palabra más preciosa que podemos pronunciar en nuestros corazones, ¡porque es la gracia de Dios la que nos ayudará a vivirla!

    ¡Qué más hay que esperar en esta corta vida terrenal para encontrar esta profunda realización interna en la Vida de Jesús que dura por la eternidad!

    "Nadie puede venir al Padre sino por mí", Jesús dice con el mismo aliento a la frase anterior, "Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida" ... Y Pablo lo confirma, "He sido crucificado con Cristo, pero yo vivo, ya no soy yo, sino que Cristo vive en mí ".

    A través de esta toma de conciencia, estamos dejando la vieja Jerusalén hacia la Crucifixión de Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, y no nos alejamos de ella mediante argumentos intelectuales, a través del engaño del mundo moderno que quiere que quedemos atrapados en la incredulidad ... De nuevo, ¡la cruz es de hecho la única realidad de que Jesús no murió en vano, sino que es el Hijo de Dios, brutalmente asesinado por nuestra salvación! ¡Esta es la máxima declaración de amor de Dios para cada uno de nosotros! ¡Es el signo de la victoria sobre la muerte! Enfrentar esta Cruz de Jesús y cuidar nuestra propia cruz nos acercará a la luz de la resurrección y la Vida eterna.

Tercero: caminar como gente de Pascua
    
    Después de haber trabajado como capellán durante 11 años en hospitales y hogares de ancianos, siempre vi personas que por su fe se encontraban más bajo la cruz de Jesús, viendo más allá de su propio sufrimiento y encontrando una paz interior que los espectadores no podían aceptar fácilmente, especialmente en el sufrimiento de un niño. Me gustaría mencionar la pequeña historia de una niña de 7 años que se estaba muriendo de cáncer cerebral, y con un dolor enorme, hubo un día que los padres vinieron a visitarla, y la niña estaba tan tranquila, diciendo con una cara sonriente "No te preocupes tanto, voy a ir a Dios" ... Los padres se indignaron y no podían entender tales expresiones, y me preguntaron si un médico o yo le dijimos a la niña que se estaba muriendo, cosa que no hicimos. Solo después de un tiempo, los padres llegaron a ver que la niña estaba tratando de consolarlos a través de su amor, sintiendo que Dios la recibiría ...
    Nos encontramos a menudo como los discípulos que caminaron hacia Emaús, afligidos, hablando y sin entender lo que sucede fuera de la ciudad vieja de Jerusalén ... Y allí estaba Jesús, se les unió, caminando con ellos y les abrió los ojos, y después de la comida se dieron cuenta de que sus corazones ardían, ¡porque su amor por Jesús acaba de encontrar la respuesta!

    Entramos con Jesús en la vieja Jerusalén viendo el mundo hecho por el hombre tal como es, impulsado por la avaricia, el engaño, las falsas promesas y el caos ..., finalmente nos damos cuenta, tenemos que tomar nuestra propia cruz con Jesús presente, dejando el viejo ¡templo de Jerusalén, caminando con ÉL hacia el Gólgota, encuentra su crucifixión, muerte y viendo la luz de Su gloriosa resurrección!

    Estamos fortalecidos en nuestra fe para nuestro viaje terrenal hacia el Reino celestial, la Jerusalén celestial, porque es Él quien abre nuestros ojos, y por gracia nos muestra el camino, y en el Espíritu Santo encontramos esta alegría profunda que canta la Pascua Aleluya.
Sí, 'Somos un pueblo de Pascua y el aleluya es nuestra canción' (San Agustín)

    Que nuestros corazones sigan ardiendo por Cristo con el fuego del amor, porque Él camina con nosotros, y si aún lo buscas, recordemos "Pero el ángel les dijo a las mujeres: 'No tengan miedo; yo sé que ustedes son buscando a Jesús que fue crucificado. Él no está aquí, porque él ha sido resucitado, como él dijo. Vengan, vean el lugar donde yació. Luego ve rápido y dile a sus discípulos: 'Él ha resucitado de los muertos, y de hecho él va delante de ti a Galilea '...

    De hecho, encontramos a Jesús dentro de nosotros mismos, dondequiera que vayamos, en nuestro prójimo, en la paz que creamos, en el amor por su creación, en el amor a los pobres, en el trabajo hacia una sociedad justa, en nuestro sufrimiento, en nuestras alegrías, y en nuestro anhelo de verlo en el Reino eterno de Dios.

    ¡Les deseo a todos una Pascua Bendita y Feliz! ¡Que el Señor Resucitado brille a través de nosotros y nos guíe mientras nosotros, la Gente de Pascua cantan, Aleluya!

Con mis oraciones y bendiciones apostólicas
tuyo en Cristo
+ Karl


ICEC: Noticias Mundial:

Pacífico Sur: ¡A medida que nuestra Unión de la Iglesia crece, tenemos nuestro primer Seminarista de la Iglesia, Rex en la isla de Vanuatu! ¡Bienvenido!

México: el Obispo Rodolfo tuvo una buena reunión con el Nuncio Apostólico Católico Romano para México hablando sobre nuestra Iglesia.

Asia:
India: ¡el Obispo Suny y sus sacerdotes están trabajando arduamente para difundir las buenas nuevas de nuestra Iglesia con éxito!

Pakistan: Nuestros ministros trabajan duro por los pobres.

Las Filipinas: Obispo Armando y obispo Manuel tienen nuevas misiones y más gente viene!

América Latina: 
Costa Rica: Peru: Colombia: Panama: ¡Nuestro Arzobispo y Nuncio Apostólico para América Latina está expandiendo el ICEC más profundamente hacia Centro y Sudamérica con nuestra Presencia en Perú y Colombia expandiéndose! 

Brazil: Nuestro lider para Brazil, arzobispo Dom Lucas será la persona de contacto para la reunión internacional de la Reforma de la Iglesia Católica en Brasil este año.

Europa: 
Bulgaria: Gracias a nuestro Nuncio Apostólico en Europa, el Arzobispo Hristo en Bulgaria por su compromiso de dialogar con otras iglesias.

Italy:Nuestro Obispo Agostino de Italia tuvo una buena reunión con el movimiento de Reforma Católica Romana, Catholic Church Reform International en Roma.

Ukaraine y Rusia: Nuestros sacerdotes ortodoxos están difundiendo las buenas nuevas y viviendo un verdadero espíritu ecuménico entre la Iglesia Católica Romana, la Iglesia Luterana y las principales Iglesias Ortodoxas.

EE.UU.: Gracias a nuestros incansables miembros del nuevo Seminario en línea, también se transmitirá por radio con un programa de radio.

Por favor a todos ustedes:
Llegue y recomiende a las personas: seminaristas, hombres y mujeres, jóvenes y ancianos, y laicos que tienen interés para conectarse para estudiar asuntos bíblicos o teológicos en el sitio web! ¡Gracias!
Aquí está nuevamente el sitio web del Seminario donde puede ver los diferentes programas de estudio y los contactos necesarios:



Todavía estamos trabajando en un idioma español para el seminario, ojalá haya más idiomas por venir.


 

Lent - Cuaresma 2018

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

     As we are in the Lenten Season, reflecting and meditating on the Mysteries of our salvation, we walk with Jesus into the desert of our lives. We deepen our prayer life, and like Jesus, we train ourselves to resist temptations of all kinds. We ask ourselves, what are the temptations that keep us from God? Are we strong enough to walk with Jesus as He showed us that there is no way around the Cross, but caring our own crosses we are closer to him than the world wants us to believe.

    Right there is our biggest temptation, by following the world with all its empty promises making us believe that it is easier, that this is more comfortable, and so many feel better consciously making everything permissible even when it goes against God's commandments, therefore insulting HIS Love. 

    Today we see a new insult against the Love of God as our young people are frustrated when they see that leadership by example is eroding in some Churches, and especially when it comes to politicians who betray the sacred trust given to them by the people!

    We all long for a time of healing and inner growth, and this Lenten Season is giving us the opportunity for a new spiritual focus in our life: to see what is really important living in this temporary world? and what do I need in order to serve others?...The Gospel opens our heart towards the life of Jesus, his words, his actions, his compassion, his endless love, his mercy, his guidance toward God who is all in all..."Show us the Father", the disciples ask Jesus..."What do I need to do to gain the kingdom of heaven", the young man is curious with Jesus..."I will follow you where ever you go, Master, even when I have to die for you", says Peter...And what happened with all these people, they either walked away, or failed to put in action when confronted with the truth and seriousness of saying fully YES to Jesus! For the Apostle Peter, his faith needed to be renewed, and he became the great Saint.
    Therein lies our personal approach to see our faith in a renewed light. Are we the ones who say yes to all, but do not really follow through in what God is asking us to do. "Not everyone who says, Yes, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but who does the Will of my Father"...
    Faith is trusting God all the Way, believing that Jesu Christ is a reality in our lives that can change us upside down.

    A little example from our own Church congregation's life, and I am more than sure you see similar behaviors in the people whom you serve as well. Sometimes we have people coming to church, and they impressed with the Sanctuary, and the diversity of our people, but then it looks like that's all they see, and then after coming one or two times to church, they feel like it is not their place, because they don't get what they want, and they walk away. They miss music that has to be disco like, or they looking for things they have in a social club...Yet, by talking to some, I found out, it is sometimes the lack of listening to the Word of God, and accepting Jesus into ones life, because that can make the change, and that brings commitment.

    Yes, we need to learn what we have heard and read from of old through Sacred Scriptures finding our spiritual path toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Also, the examples of people in our lives who were true role models ..The lives of Saints that show us such rich diversity in the Christian experience with Jesus.

    I want to encourage you to seek in these coming weeks a new spiritual awareness and little retreats for your lives in a wise manner. To discern what it means to live in the world but to be not of the world, so your life can be more enriched through the Word of God, and that you may feel it's soothing and healing power for your souls!

I would like to conclude with a letter from Clement of Rome written around 90 A. D.

    "Do not be irritated or angry when someone corrects you, turning you from evil to goodness. Sometimes we do wrong without knowing it because we are double-minded: we can deceive ourselves into thinking that evil is good. Equally do not be irritated or angry you when you see sinful people enjoying great wealth and luxury. They are winning the contest for this world's prize. The righteous person does not win his reward quickly, but must wait for it. This is because we have to train hard and long in order to win his reward quickly, but must wait for it. This is because we have to train hard and long in order to win the race. After all, the crown of eternal life cannot be won easily with little effort; the person who wins it must have every spiritual muscle at the peak of fitness. It does not matter if you are weak in the affairs of commerce and trade and to live in poverty. What matters is that you are strong in the affairs of the soul." (2nd Epistle to the Corinthians Chapter 19/10)

Wishing you all a joyous Lent!

With my apostolic benedictions,
Yours
+Karl

News:

It is with great joy to announce our Seminary online thanks to the tireless work of so many, especially, our Fr. Dr. Tom Roberts and Mr. Gary Staszak. I have asked some of you to join the advisory board which you have answered. If more of you want to join the advisory board for the Faculty team, or if you feel you could contribute as a faculty member in you respected country around the world, serving as an extension of the Seminary, this would be a wonderful idea!

Please take a look at the Website:  https://www.stanthonysliturgicalhouse.org/
It is designed to enroll students who seek ministry, also for people who want to deepen their knowledge through  different biblical and theological studies.


Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo!

    Como estamos en la época de Cuaresma, reflexionando y meditando sobre los misterios de nuestra salvación, caminamos con Jesús al desierto de nuestras vidas. Profundizamos nuestra vida de oración, y como Jesús, nos entrenamos para resistir las tentaciones de todo tipo. Nos preguntamos, ¿cuáles son las tentaciones que nos alejan de Dios? ¿Somos lo suficientemente fuertes para caminar con Jesús como él también nos mostró que no hay manera alrededor de la Cruz, pero cuidando nuestras propias cruces estamos más cerca de él, y no que el mundo quiere que creamos.

    Justo ahí está nuestra mayor tentación, siguiendo al mundo con todas sus promesas vacías haciéndonos creer que es más fácil, que esto es más cómodo, y que muchos se sienten mejor haciendo conscientemente que todo sea permisible incluso cuando va en contra de los mandamientos de Dios, por lo tanto, insultando Amor.

    Hoy vemos un nuevo insulto contra el amor de Dios. Muchos de los jóvenes se sienten frustrados cuando ven que el liderazgo está erosionado en algunas iglesias, y especialmente cuando se trata de políticos que traicionan la sagrada confianza que les ha dado del pueblo.

    Todos anhelamos un tiempo de sanación y crecimiento interior, y esta temporada cuaresmal nos está dando la oportunidad de un nuevo enfoque espiritual en nuestra vida: ¿ver qué es realmente importante viviendo en este mundo temporal? ¿Y qué necesito para servir a los demás?... El Evangelio abre nuestro corazón hacia la vida de Jesús, sus palabras, sus acciones, su compasión, su amor infinito, su misericordia, su guía hacia Dios, que es todo en todos...  "Muéstranos al padre ", los discípulos le piden a Jesús...  "¿Qué necesito hacer para ganar el Reino de los cielos ", el joven es curioso con Jesús... "yo te seguiré donde quiera que vayas, maestro, aun cuando tenga que morir por ti", dice Pedro... Y lo que pasó con toda esta gente, o bien se alejó, o no puso en acción cuando se enfrentó a la verdad y la seriedad de decir plenamente sí a Jesús! Para el Apóstol Pedro era necesito una renovación de su fe, y al fin él era un gran Santo.

    Ahí radica nuestro enfoque personal para ver nuestra fe en una luz renovada. ¿Somos nosotros los que decimos sí a todos, pero no seguimos realmente a través de lo que Dios nos está pidiendo que hagamos.  "No todos los que dicen que Sí entrarán en el Reino de los cielos, pero quién hacen la voluntad de mi padre "...
    La fe confía en Dios todo el camino, creyendo que Jesu Cristo es una realidad en nuestras vidas que nos puede cambiar al revés.

    Un pequeño ejemplo de la vida de nuestra Congregación de la iglesia, y yo más que soy seguro que usted ve comportamientos similares en la gente a la que usted sirve también. A veces tenemos gente que viene a la iglesia, y ellos impresionados con el Santuario, y la diversidad de nuestra gente, pero entonces parece que eso es todo lo que ven, y luego después de venir una o dos veces a la iglesia, se sienten como que no es su lugar, porque no consiguen lo que quieren, y se alejan. Se pierden la música que tiene que ser discoteca..., o que buscan cosas que tienen en su club social... Sin embargo, al hablar con algunos, me enteré, a veces es la falta de escuchar la palabra de Dios, y aceptar a Jesús en la vida de los seres, porque eso puede hacer el cambio, y eso trae compromiso.

    Sí, necesitamos aprender lo que hemos escuchado y leído del viejo a través de las Sagradas Escrituras, encontrando nuestro camino espiritual hacia el Reino de los cielos. También, los ejemplos de personas en nuestras vidas que eran verdaderos ejemplos de la vida... La vida de los Santos que nos muestran una diversidad tan rica en la experiencia cristiana con Jesús.

    Quiero alentarlos a buscar en estas próximas semanas una nueva conciencia espiritual y pequeños retiros para sus vidas de una manera sabia. ¡Para discernir lo que significa vivir en el mundo pero no ser del mundo, para que tu vida pueda enriquecerse más a través de la Palabra de Dios, y que puedas sentir que es un poder sanador y calmante para tu alma!

Me gustaría concluir con una carta de Clemente de Roma escrita alrededor de 90 A. D.

 "No te irrites ni te enojes cuando alguien te corrige, volviéndote del mal a la bondad. A veces hacemos mal sin saberlo porque somos de doble ánimo: podemos engañarnos a nosotros mismos al pensar que el mal es bueno. Igualmente no te irrites o usted está enojado cuando ve gente pecadora disfrutando de gran riqueza y lujo. Ellos están ganando el concurso para el premio de este mundo. La persona justa no gana su recompensa rápidamente, pero debe esperarla. Esto se debe a que tenemos que entrenar duro y durante mucho tiempo. Para ganar su recompensa rápidamente, pero debe esperar, porque debemos entrenar duro y largo para ganar la carrera. Después de todo, la corona de la vida eterna no se puede ganar fácilmente con poco esfuerzo; la persona que gana debe tener todos los músculos espirituales en la cima de la aptitud física, no importa si eres débil en los asuntos del comercio y el comercio y si vives en la pobreza. Lo que importa es que seas fuerte en los asuntos del alma ". (Segunda Epístola a los Corintios Capítulo 19/10)

¡Desearles a todos una Cuaresma gozosa!

Con mis bendiciones apostolicos
Suyo
+Karl

Noticias:

Es con gran alegría anunciar nuestro seminario en línea con la pagina de web. Gracias al trabajo incansable de tantos, especialmente, nuestro Padre Dr. Tom Roberts y el Sr. Gary Staszak. He pedido a algunos de ustedes que se unan a la Junta Consultiva a la que han respondido. Si más de ustedes quieren unirse a la Junta Asesora del equipo de la Facultad, o si sienten que pueden contribuir como un miembro de la Facultad en su país respetado en todo el mundo, sirviendo como una extensión del seminario, esto sería una idea maravillosa!
Por favor, eche un vistazo a la página web:  https://www.stanthonysliturgicalhouse.org/
Está diseñado para inscribir a los estudiantes que buscan el Ministerio, también para las personas que quieren profundizar su conocimiento a través de diferentes estudios bíblicos y teológicos.




Hodie, Christus Natus est, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. 
Pax Hominibus bonae voluntatis. 
Gloria in Exelsis Deo! 
  
Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Peaceful New Year!
  
 Afrikaans:
Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian: Gëzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
                                                                                 Arabic:  ميلاد مجيد 
Armenian:  Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Janunt
Basque: Eguberri eta Urte Berri zoriontsua
Esturian:  Bones Navidaes & Gayoleru anu nuevu! 

Belgium:  Zalige Kertfeest  
Bulgaria:  Весела Коледа и Честита и благословена Нова година
Catalán:  Bon Nadal i feliç any nou!
Chinese: 聖誕快樂，新年快樂
Croatia:  Sretan Bozic
Danmark: Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
English:  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 
Esperanto:  Gajan Kristnaskon & Bonan Novjaron
Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi ja Head uut aastat
Finland:  Hauskaa JouluaFrance: Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année! 
France: Joyeux Noël et bonne année
         Galic: Nadolig Llawen
 Gallego: Bon Nadal e Bo Ani Novo
Georgian: გილოცავთ შობა-ახალ წელს 
                       Germany: Fröhliche und Gesegnete Weihnachten, ein Gesundes und Friedvolles Neues Jahr.       
The Netherlands:  Hartelijke Kerstroeten
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew:  חג מולד שמח
               Hindi:   
क्रिसमस और नया साल मुबारक हो
Hungary: Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket és Boldog újévet!
Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
Indonesia: Selamat Hari Natal & Selamat Tahun Baru  
   Irland: (Gaelic)
Nollaig shona duit. Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit 
Italy:  Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japan: メリークリスマス 
Latin: Pax Hominibus bonae voluntatis
 Lituania: Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu
Luxemburg:  Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer
Malaysia:  Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Norway:  Gledelig Jul 
                       Navajo:Yáʼátʼééh Késhmish dóó Baa Hózhǫ́ǫgo Nee Nínáadoohah
Pashto: کریسمس او نوی کال مو نیکمرغه

Philippines: (Tagalog): Maligayang Pasko
Poland:  Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!
Portugal: Boas Festas e um Feliz Ano Novo
Romania:  Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit! 
         Russian: веселого Рождества и счастливого Нового года s Rozjdyestvom i s Novym Godom!
Samoan: Manuia le Kerisimasi, ma le Tausaga Fou
Serbia: Hristos se rodi 
Slowenia: Vesel božič in srečno novo leto
Somalia: ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican. 
Spain: Feliz Navidadl! Feliz Año Nuevo! 
Que Cristo La Luz del Mundo sea presente in sus corazones por siempre!
Sri Lanka: Subha Nattalak Veva  

Swahili: Krismasi nzuri na Mwaka Mpya Mpya na Furaha
Sweden: God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Tahiti:  La ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti 'a
Tamil:Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Turkey:  Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Valencia: Bon Nadal i feliç any nou 
Thai - Suk san wan-krit-maat lae sa-wat-dee bpee mai 
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun; Yeni Yilnizi Kutar, saadetler dilerim 
Ukrainian - Srozhdestvom Kristovym 
Vietnamese - Mung Le Giang Sinh. Cung Chuc Tan Nien 
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! 

 
On this Holy Feast of the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I wish 
you, your families, and all who are in your care, a very blessed Celebration, and our best Wishes for a Peaceful, and Healthy New Year!!

    We celebrate with deep Joy this solemn Season because we have reflected and meditated throughout Advent the meaning of Christ's entering in our World.  Every Year, we are waiting with a deep sense of longing for His coming among us. Christmas is not about having a good time and expecting our material gifts from each other  (they are rather just be a little sign of mutual appreciation for each other). Yet, a deeper happening is to celebrate: Christ is born for each one of us to save our lives and to lift up our souls to God! Christ's birth is not a far and past event we remember as we remember our own birthdays..., it is the greatest happening in our humanity, a new beginning in time, a new focus on our salvation history, heaven meets earth, the divine meets us, God declares HIS last and everlasting covenant for us!
    That's why this is not just a sweet "jingle bell", but the most serious and eye-opening Gift that God ever has shown for us in History!
    God's Love which we never can ever grasp in its entirety, comes to us in the Incarnation of HIS only begotten Son! What joy is this that we cannot describe, what Grace is this that our Souls encounter anew, what care does God show for us so everlasting.

    Today's world is driven by greed, injustice, the rise of new dictators, the grab of power by those who want to enrich themselves, and adding more to the rich, governing by deceit -using false pretense of helping the poor; furthermore thinking that the environment -God's creation- can be exploited, adding to the global warming at the cost of the health and safety of future generations; then the abandonment of providing everyone in society access to decent health care; the new oppression of people by fanatics, including a new way of slavery as humans being sold again (like in Libya) on the markets. 
    The threat of war that is ever more looming through the selfish behavior of leaders who have become blind to the value of the human dignity.

    Yes, in this world of ours, the Newborn King is rising above all the daily horror and madness that we facing throughout the world. It is Christ, the Savior, that also has to be born into our hearts and minds in order to live as children of God, and to give witness to the Good News of the Gospel heading His words: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 
because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

    And to those who are rich and oppress, exploit, deceit, and live by greed and selfish behavior, these words shall be said: 
     “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now,  for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,  for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." Luke 6:24-26  
    "Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you. For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” Jeremiah 5:25-29  
    "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!" PS 72:4

    Christmas is about true Love, and the encouraging Hope for Justice that God cares here and now for His people. Christmas is about Course correction of our Lives, turning our hearts back to God, "For God so loved the World that HE gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life."  John 3:16

    May this, our true King, Christ Jesus, born in Bethlehem in a cold and poor stable, and who died as our Savior on the Cross, -condemned by a greedy and power hungry world, be your Lord for ever and ever! Hallelujah!

Thank you all for your service in Christ!

With my Prayers and Apostolic Benedictions,
+Karl


ECCC Church News:

-St. Anthony's Cathedral House of Liturgical Studies.
We welcome the Faculty members of our New Online Seminary, "St. Anthony's Cathedral House of Liturgical Studies"! We thank their tireless leaders, Fr. Tom Roberts, Ph.D., and Director, Sr. Gary A. Staszak, M.A., C.A.S., including all the Faculty members. The Website will be up and running soon.
We also have an advisory board who will be consulters to the House of Studies: so far we have Archbishop Godfrey, Kenya; Archbishop Kimo, USA; Bishop Marc, USA; Vicar General, Fr. Nicholas, Sri Lanka. I hope we can add a few more consulters to advise the Faculty.
The "St Anthony's Cathedral House of Liturgical Studies" is designed to help those who prepare themselves for the ministry around the world in the ECCC, and also from other church denominations. It also gives courses for people from the Laity who would like to advance in their biblical and theological education as teachers, and for private enrichment. 
We encourage you all to help those who are interested to be able to enroll in the student programs. At this moment we have the Seminary on line in English, but we hop that we will have it also in Spanish in the near future!

-Recent Consecration, Ordinations and Incardinations:
Congratulations to the consecration of our new Auxiliary Bishop, +Marc Angelo, Archdiocese ECCC of Los Angeles, California.
-Incardination: Archbishop Tony Scuderi, Ph. D., Fr. Tom Roberts, Ph. D. USA
-The Ordinations of our new Priests of the Archdiocese in Costa Rica, and our diocese in Colombia. Ordination to the Diaconate of Rev. Pedro, Hawaii. 
-India: Expansion of pastoral programs in India under the Leadership of Bishop Sunny and his priests! 
-Kenya: Expansion of the orphanage and schools in Kenya!
-Pakistan: increase work for the poor.
-The Philippines: Expansion of pastoral services, prayer groups, and construction of a local seminary of formation 
-Ukraine: Active Ecumenical dialogue and relations with the Lutheran Church and other denominations.
-Russia: Active Ecumenical relations with other Orthodox Churches.
-Brazil: Completion of the construction of the Cathedral of Dom Lucas, congratulations!


Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo: 
 
En esta santa fiesta del nacimiento de Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador, quiero desearles a ustedes, a sus familiares y a todos aquellos bajo su protección y cuidado, una celebración rica en bendiciones.  ¡Les deseo lo mejor, paz y salud, en este Año Nuevo!

   Después de haber meditado y reflexionado sobre el significado de la entrada de Cristo al mundo, durante el adviento, celebramos con gran alegría esta solemnidad. Todos los años esperamos con grandes ansias su venida gloriosa entre nosotros. La navidad no esperar regalos y pasarla bien (aunque los regalos son signos de nuestro amor fraterno); sino que es celebrar su verdadero sentido: Cristo nace por ti y por mí, para salvar nuestras vidas y elevarnos a Dios.  El nacimiento de Cristo no es un evento distante en el pasado, como lo es celebrar nuestros cumpleaños, sino que su nacimiento es el mayor evento que acontece en nuestra humanidad; es un nuevo comienzo en nuestro tiempo; un nuevo enfoque en la historia de la salvación: el cielo y la tierra se encuentran, lo divino se hace uno con nosotros; Dios declara para siempre su último convenio. 
Es por eso que no se trata de un lindo “cascabel, cascabel, suena el cascabel”, sino del regalo más sagrado que Dios nos haya mostrado en nuestra historia, que nos abre los ojos a su realidad.  
    El amor de Dios, que no se puede entender en su totalidad, viene a nosotros en la encarnación de su hijo unigénito.  ¡Qué júbilo inefable! ¡Qué gracia tan virgen que nos toca el alma!  ¡Qué eterno y tierno cuidado el que nos da Dios!  
    El mundo de hoy es dominado por la codicia, la injusticia, el avenimiento de nuevos dictadores y el deseo de poder de aquellos que buscan enriquecerse y enriquecer a los ricos. Gobiernan con la mentira y se esconden bajo el pretexto de ayudar a los pobres; en realidad solo saben explotar el medio ambiente, la creación de Dios, y acelerar el calentamiento global; sin importarles la salud y la seguridad de las generaciones futuras.  Han abandonado la misión para el cuidado de la salud en nuestra sociedad.  Son fanáticos y buscan oprimir al pueblo. Han creado una nueva esclavitud en el mundo: la del ser humano que se vende en el mercado para ganancia de los ricos, como en Libia.  La amenaza de la guerra, que se escucha cada día más, es alimentada por el comportamiento de esos líderes egoístas y ciegos que ignoran el valor de la dignidad humana. 

    Así es este mundo nuestro, donde nace Cristo.  El Rey, recién nacido, se eleva por encima de todas esas locuras y circunstancias horribles en las que vivimos. Es Cristo, el salvador, quien tiene que nacer en nuestros corazones y en nuestras mentes, para así convertirnos en hijos de Dios y dar testimonio del anuncio de la buena noticia en la que el evangelio nos dice: “El Espíritu de Dios está sobre mí, porque me ha ungido para proclamar su palabra a los pobres.  Él me ha enviado a proclamar libertad a los cautivos, y dar la luz a los ciegos, y dejar libre a los que son oprimidos, y pregonar el año del favor del Señor” (Lucas 4:18-19). 

    Para aquellos que son ricos y oprimen, explotan, engañan y viven bajo la codicia y el egoísmo, el Señor les dice: “Pero ¡ay de ustedes los ricos, porque ya han recibido su consuelo! ¡Ay de ustedes los que ahora están saciados, porque sabrán lo que es pasar hambre! ¡Ay de ustedes los que ahora ríen, porque sabrán lo que es derramar lágrimas! ¡Ay de ustedes cuando todos los elogien! Dense cuenta de que los antepasados de esta gente trataron así a los falsos profetas" (Lucas 6:24-26). 

   “Las iniquidades de ustedes les han quitado estos beneficios; sus pecados los han privado de estas bendiciones. Sin duda en mi pueblo hay malvados, que están al acecho como cazadores de aves, que ponen trampas para atrapar a la gente. Como jaulas llenas de pájaros, llenas de engaño están sus casas; por eso se han vuelto poderosos y ricos, gordos y pedantes. Sus obras de maldad no tienen límite: no le hacen justicia al huérfano, para que su causa prospere; ni defienden tampoco el derecho de los menesterosos. ¿Y no los he de castigar por esto? ¿No he de vengarme de semejante nación?-afirma el Señor” (Jeremías 5:25-29). 

    "El rey hará justicia a los pobres del pueblo y salvará a los necesitados;¡él aplastará a los opresores! (PS 72:4). 

    La navidad es el amor verdadero que nos anima a esperar en la justicia de Dios quien cuida hoy y siempre de su pueblo. La navidad es también el corregir nuestro rumbo y regresar en nuestros corazones a Dios. "Porque Dios amó tanto al mundo que dio a su hijo unigénito para que todo el que crea en él no se pierda y tenga vida eterna” (Juan 3:16).  

    ¡Qué el verdadero Rey, nuestro señor Jesucristo, nacido en Belén en un establo frío y pobre, y quien murió como nuestro Salvador en la cruz, -condenado por un mundo hambriento de poder y codicia- sea vuestro Señor siempre por toda la eternidad! ¡Aleluya!

Gracias a todos por su Servicio en Cristo!

Con mis oraciones y bendición apostólica, 
+Karl

Noticias ICEC 

- La Casa de los Estudios Litúrgicos de la Catedral de San Antonio:
Damos la bienvenida a los miembros de la Facultad de nuestro nuevo seminario en línea, "La Casa de los Estudios Litúrgicos de la Catedral de San Antonio! Agradecemos a sus líderes incansables, Padre Tom Roberts, PH. D., el Director, Sr. Gary A. Staszak, M.A., C.A.S.
Director  y todos los miembros de la Facultad. El sitio web estará en marcha pronto.
También contamos con una Junta Consultiva que será consultante de la casa de los estudios: hasta ahora tenemos: al Arzobispo Godfrey, Kenia; Arzobispo Kimo, Estados Unidos; Bishop Marc, Estados Unidos; Vicario General, Padre Nicholás, Sri Lanka. Espero que podamos añadir algunos consultantes más para asesorar a la Facultad.
La "Casa de la Catedral de San Antonio de los Estudios Litúrgicos" está diseñada para ayudar a los que se preparan para el Ministerio alrededor del mundo en la ICEC, y también de otras  Iglesias. También da cursos para personas de los laicos que desean avanzar en su educación bíblica y teológica como maestros, y para enriquecimiento privado.
Los animamos a todos a ayudar a aquellos que están interesados en poder inscribirse en los programas estudiantiles.
A esto momento es un Seminario enn Ingles. Esperamos que en el futuro tenemos también este Seminario para la idioma en Español! 

-Consagración reciente, ordenaciones e incardinaciones:
Felicitaciones a la consagración de nuestro nuevo Obispo Auxiliar, + Marc Angelo, archidiócesis ICEC de los Angeles, California.
-Incardinación: Arzobispo Tony Scuderi, Ph. D., Padre Tom Roberts, PH. D. EE.UU.
-Las ordenaciones de nuestros nuevos diáconos y sacerdotes de la Arquidiócesis en Costa Rica, y nuestra diócesis en Colombia. Ordenación diaconal para Hawai.
-La India: la expansión de los programas pastorales, bajo el liderazgo del obispo y a sus sacerdotes, soleado!
-Kenia: la expansión del orfanato y las escuelas de Kenya!
-Pakistan: la expansión de los programas pastorales.
-Filipinas: la expansión de los programas pastorales en varias areas, y nuevo construcción de un seminario de la formación.
-Ucrania: activa el diálogo ecuménico y en las relaciones con la Iglesia luterana y otras denominaciones.
-Rusia: activo en las relaciones ecuménicas con otras iglesias ortodoxas.
-Brazil: Compleción de la Catedral del Arzobispo Dom Lucas, felicidades! 


Consecration of our new auxiliary bishop, +Marc Angelo Santiago in Los Angeles, CA,                   and Rev. Deacon Pedro Lemasa, Jr. for the ECCC in Hawaii, on November 18th,A. D. 2017                                             God's richest blessings to you all in your pastoral care!












Prayers for our Synod in Latin America, held in Costa Rica, starting November 17th, A. D. 2017








Easter A. D. 2017

Christus resurexit vere, Hallelujah!

The Peace, Irene, Pace, Paix, Mir, Friede of the risen Lord be with you all
 in our worldwide missions of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ!
  This year's Paschal celebrations are overshadowed by many evil forces seeking the destruction of the world in which we live, and that can lead inevitably to the annihilation of the human race. 
    But as Christians we are reminded that the death of Jesus, the Son of God and the Messiah brought salvation to all of humanity, and this is the solemn promise we have to carry on in our faith lives: to live with Jesus in our hearts, no matter what. 
    We shall not be frightened and succumb to new deceiving world powers who seek their own interests, but abandon the basic principles of humanity: the care and outreach for all in need, the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the suffering of millions living in famine, the widespread epidemics of illnesses that plague millions in this world. The threat of new wars, the massacres of so many civilians by brutal and corrupt regimes. The coldness of modern societies that are driven by egocentric and selfish behaviors that live as there is no God, the new wave of destruction of the environment only for the profiteering of a few...
    The powerlessness we feel is a sign that our faith needs to hear the message of Christ and that by following him, we are with him in the experience of his agony in Gethsemane, his torture and humiliation under Pilate, the abandonment by his followers, the suffering and dying on the Cross shedding his last drop of blood sealing the salvivic moment once and for all in History...
    Therefore we can never avoid to take on our own Cross, seeing in it Christ, and giving our assistance for so many to find HIM.
    Yet Salvation is not complete if the brutal experience of HIS death leaves no hope. And this is the difference we see in the light of Faith that we are called to eternal life because of the resurrection of Christ, the Firstborn. 
    The new and everlasting covenant that Christ sealed for us is once and for all. There will be no other covenant, there is only one life and one resurrection for each one of us. 
    Let us all live toward this goal of our faith in which God shows us the Love that surpasses all that the eye can see, of which we have heard, and of which our heart is filled with this deep joy that no one ever can take from us.
    Let us all live as a Christian people to seek always the best in everyone given into our care, to understand always with the eyes of faith, to see through the darkness of this world toward the Light that Christ is among us, to await the Glory of God that will be given to us one day as we walk in the Holy Spirit eagerly forward.
    Let us live as Church families encouraged by the Good News that HE is risen and alive, not only going ahead of us to Galilee, but moving us as a community of faith that will not cease to trust in God, and to do all the good work for all those given into our care.
    And let us not be silenced by the evil forces in this world, but to make our voices heard toward injustice, and inequality, for peace, and to resist the forces in society that discriminate and destroy the lives of minority families, to speak up against war, but to support the suffering everywhere...
                             Be not afraid, God is with us as we love and care for each other!

May we also live more toward reforms in the Church and seek more Unity among the Christian Churches. 
Below is letter that was written to Kevin Cardinal Farrell.

I wish you an all your loved ones, a Blessed and Joyous Easter!
With my prayers and love for you all,
+Karl
   
Official Letter to:     
Cardinal Kevin Farrell
Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
Palazzo San Calisto
00120Vatican City State
Hand-delivered by Sr. Filo Hirota

Your Eminence:
A very Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you! Since writing to you in September of last year (letters enclosed), we’d like to update you on our work and seek a way of collaborating with you and your office. We understand that you’ve hired some 75 people to staff your office and are encouraged by this step taken by you.

We are pleased by Pope Francis choice of you as one of the new Cardinals. We are gratified to know that you share the Holy Father’s pastoral vision for the church and have long pushed for a greater involvement of the laity in the life of the church. With the understanding that your dicastery will “have responsibility for lay associations and movements in the church,” we would like to begin by offering our support for the event you are planning.

We understand that your office will be organizing an international meeting from the 5th to the 8th of April of this year on the theme From Krakow to Panama: the Synod journeying with the young. We would like to offer support for this event through online technology thereby facilitating the participation of those who cannot be physically present in Rome. Being a global movement, we see our role as connecting people and events worldwide that support Pope Francis’s vision of a more welcoming, nurturing, inclusive church – whether lay or clergy initiated. By way of example, on the night of April 7 you plan to host a concert by GEN Rosso e Verde in the Sala Sinopoli of the “Parco della Musica” Auditorium in Rome. If your hope is for this to serve as a dialogue between young believers and all their peers, we could extend that dialogue by inviting more young people outside of Rome to participate through our online gathering. If you would be agreeable to allow us to broadcast your presentation online via Zoom technology, we could in turn invite other university students and young people from around the world to see, hear, and, if appropriate, share in the dialogue. 

In addition, a questionnaire is anticipated to be released by the Vatican as the first part of the Preparatory Document, “Young People in today’s world” and that a study seminar is planned for the month of September to which specialists will be invited from various countries. Not only do we plan to promote the questionnaire among young people but, if it is true that this meeting will be open to all those who wish to participate, again we could widen the participation by inviting online guests to join in the meeting. These are just two examples of possible ways that we could offer our support to you. 

There are some programs being organized by various Conferences of Bishops such as the National Gathering of Base Christian Communities (Intereclesial das Comunidades Eclesiais de Base) in Londrina Brazil in January 2018 and the Plenary Synod in Australia in 2020. We are currently exploring the possibility of increasing the attendance for these by adding online guests who cannot be physically present. One of our team members will be in Rio de Janeiro next week and plans to meet with the staff of Iser Assessoria, the planning office of this event. We understand that this NGO was created at the ISER - Institute for Religious Studies- in 1982 and is dedicated to supporting participative democracy in the political and ecclesial areas of society.

In addition, there are several lay-initiated conferences which we hope to support and add participants through online technology: 
  • April 1 – 6, 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia: organized by the Asian Lay Leaders (ALL) Forum, an umbrella organization composed of five groups in Asia. We are working with Paul Hwang, director of All Forum, who will be hosting this Youth Forum with theologians addressing the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) in Indonesian Ecological Sustainability, Genuine Human Development, Triple Dialogue of FABC, EvangelliGaudium and Laudato Si.
  • July 19-23, 2017 in Bangalore, India: a gathering of the International Network of Societies for Catholic Theology (INSeCT) who, for the last 3 years, have focused their discussion on Gender and Ecclesiology and will discuss here the future of INSeCT.
  • November 15 – 18, 2018 in Aparecida, Brazil: Forum of the People of God organized by Global Council Network to be structured in a synodal type format.
  • 2021 Africa: Forum of the People of God (time and place to be determined)
But, your Eminence, how much more successful such gatherings could be if your office and our organizations worked in collaboration with one another to promote all events of this kind – whether clergy or lay initiated.

Sr. Filo Hirota, co-director of Catholic Church Reform Int’l, has kindly agreed to hand-deliver this letter to your office. We look forward to hearing back from you and exploring possible ways that we can build the reign of God on earth through our joint effort.

Extending our prayers and support for the success of this newly established Dicastery of the Laity and looking forward to working with you, 
Catholic Church Reform International
Kochurani Abraham, Kerala, India
Clyde Christofferson, Virginia, U.S.
Barbara Dreher, CSJ, U.S.
Paul Hwang, Korea
Paschal Kearney CSSp, Australia  
Peter Mbuchi Methu, Kenya
Alloys Nyakundi, Kenya
Don Pribor, Mexico and Brazil
Rene Reid, Nevada, U.S.
Michael Redfearn, Canada
Christina Reymer, New Zealand
Virginia Saldanha, India
Ed Schreurs, Netherlands
Nessan Vaughan,  Ireland 
Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ, International
Eastern Africa Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Training Team, Nairobi, Kenya
Indian Women’s Theological Forum, India
Church Citizen's Voice(CCV), India
Order of Franciscans Ecumenical, U.S.
Global Council Network, International
Tol Ardor, France


December 6th, Saint Nicklaus, A. D. 2016

Please share with all your people 

Peace, and Greetings to you, brothers and sisters in Christ of our Worldwide Church Communion!

As we prepare ourselves for the Birth of Christ and His Second Coming in Glory, we look more inwardly through reflection and meditation. We seek a deeper relationship with Christ, so He will find us not asleep, but awake.
The Gospel and Scripture readings in this Season showing what the People of old were yearning for, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the Savior, the King of Kings, and that Christ is that Person, divine and human. In prayerful reflection, we experience in our faith life a newness that brings changes for our daily life and our actions as Christians!
How can the Newborn King lead us to God? What great Joy that comes from our Love for God's Son, a love and peace the world in itself is unable to give. How can our longing for this ultimate Union with God be more rooted within us?

As I was writing, I received a nice letter of reflection from our Vicar General in Sri Lanka, Fr. Nicholas. I would like to share his letter with you! Also I share below with you a letter from our Bishop in India, +Dr. Sunny!

"LANGUAGE OF GOD IS CHRISTMAS
Communication is an indispensable component of human history. Communication could be vary, but in this varied pattern, language occupies the prominent place. It is not an exaggeration to say, all what we are and what we have today are due to the language people have been using in different forms in history. This is the human dimension of the language. But there is also a divine dimension of the language.
People of the Old Testament experienced God’s language in sundry ways. It is the People of New Testament who began to experience the language of God in human form. As John the Evangelist records God’s word becomes flesh at Christmas. From the very beginning of Jesus event, it is the divine communication that continues to speak to mankind in Jesus. Hence the language God addressed to man through Jesus is CHRISTMAS. God’s word that became flesh is an eternal language. Wherever and whenever such language is spoken JESUS IS BORN. Let us understand what this language is:
It is the language of good news to Mary and her Fiat to it.
It is the language of dispelling Joseph’s doubts.
It is the language of sharing of joy with Elizabeth.
It is the language of joy at the birth of Jesus.
It is the language of facing challenging threats to life of baby Jesus in the life of Joseph.
It is the language of Peace spoken by Jesus.
It is the language of reconciliation in Jesus
It is the language of loving acceptance in prodigal son.
It is the language of forgiveness in Mary Magdalene.
It is the language of loving enemies in Jesus.
It is the language of service in the washing of the feet.
It is the language of “OUR FATHER”.
It is the language of “YOUR WILL BE DONE”.
It is the language of CRUCIFIXION”.
It is the language of “RESURRECTION”.
Christmas is to speak this language. Unless and until we speak this language from our heart we will not experience birth of Jesus; what we will experience is our own Ego and selfishness.
Today when the whole world celebrates Christmas I begin to wonder, whether Jesus is being born in the present context. It is only in the communication of the language God spoke to man through Jesus, we could rediscover Jesus and experience His birth.
We wish you a Christmas that you will experience the language of Jesus and keep on speaking it in your own life situation."

May all of you around the World wherever you are experience this Christ in you!
Angelus Silesius said it very well when he wrote: "Though Jesus Christ were born a thousand times in Bethlehem by his Mother, if he is not born again in you, then you are lost for evermore."

May Christ be born in your hearts, and reign there for His Love will be everlasting!
May the Joy of His Birth renew the Love for HIS Kingdom, and may the coming year bring all of us closer to God!

From Bishop Sunny in India:

Most Rev. Fr. Karl and Loving Brothers in Jesus Christ,

As I am meditating on "The message on Christmas", the wonderful answer popped into my mind as I read over this gospel on Christmas, the greatest beginning of the greatest story ever told. So much of the Christmas story is, truly, about listening.

When Gabriel arrives to bring Mary the news that she will bear a child…she listens.
When the angel tells Joseph in his dreams what is about to happen…he listens.
The shepherds listen when the angel announces the “good news of great joy.”
In the passage immediately following this, they go out and tell the world what they have seen. And the world listens.

Christmas invites us to listen.

To listen for God’s messengers. To listen for His good news.
And what good news it is: that God is with us! That we are no longer alone. That He has come into our lives, and into our world. “The grace of God has appeared,” Paul writes. Or as Isaiah puts it so beautifully: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

Listening about True Love.

Then I start to contemplate the mystery of our God who became man. He is born in silence, poverty, simplicity and purity in Bethlehem, the house of bread. The sacred mystery of His Incarnation continued for us in the mystery of the Eucharist, God made real for us. God becomes man. Bread and wine becomes God-man. Each time we come to the Eucharist, we come to a new Bethlehem. He, who rested once in a manger, now rests in our entire being, as we receive him in the mystery of the Mass. "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man" (Roman Missal, 3rd edition, Profession of Faith).

Tragedies exist; evil exists; bad things happen precisely because man rejects God. Our modern times are marked by a general rejection of God thus causing the terrible chaos that we see in the news each day. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils" (Isaiah 9: 1-2).

While Christmas is undoubtedly a time of great joy, it is also an occasion for deep reflection, even an examination of conscience. Whatever language we may speak as we contemplate the Christ child lying in the manger of Bethlehem, God speaks only one language and that language is the language of love.

Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may we too, with eyes full of amazement and wonder, gaze upon the Child Jesus, the Son of God. And in his presence may our hearts burst forth in prayer: “Show us, Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation” (Ps 85:8).

Think of how Christmas comes to us – if only we listen for it.

With my prayers and Blessings,
+DR SUNNY ALAPPAT

With my prayers for you all
yours
+Karl 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            November 5th, A. D. 2016
Contact: Rene Reid
Rene.Reid@CatholicChurchReformIntl.org

www.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org


Reformers Hold Out Hope for Women’s Ordination

People representing reform organizations from North America, India, Africa, Europe and Oceana have responded with care to what Pope Francis is saying. Knowing that a part of the Church is not ready to “receive” the ordination of women in the present form of priesthood, Pope Francis merely confirmed the teaching of Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter of 1994. When asked if he saw the ordination of women as something that would “never, ever” happen, he indicated that it seemed to “be moving in that direction.” These reformers saw his words as still another in a long series of invitations for the “grassroots” to follow through on their heritage as full members of the People of God.

Francis has a fiduciary responsibility for a worldwide Church which includes both progressives and traditionalists.  He is not an oracle nor does he want to be a dictatorial leader. He represents himself first and foremost as a pastor who has repeatedly invited the people to speak up, to share their wants and needs with their pastors, and have their bishops bring those desires to him. Then and only then will there be change to address the needs of our times in the Church.

Virginia Saldanha, an advisor to CCRI and a member of the Indian Women’s Theological Forum said: “Pope Francis has decided not to rock the conservative boat on the issue of women's ordination. Yet he is taking steps covertly in that direction.  Inclusion of women in the Maundy Thursday washing of the feet liturgy; calling for a study of women deacons; and in several ways encouraging women to take their place among the people of God and exercise their baptismal call to a common priesthood.” Further, he openly greeted Antje Jackelen, the female Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala, during an ecumenical Service in Lund at the occasion commemorating 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. And earlier this year, Francis elevated the Memorial of St Mary Magdalene to the Feast of Mary Magdalene to be at the same level with her male Colleague-Apostles.

Peter Mbuchi of Kenya sees the response of Pope Francis as contextualized within Ecclesia in Africa. The core agenda of the church is evangelization: “I see the need to call for the thorough formation of the lay faithful. Since evangelizing means ‘bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new,’ Christians must be formed to live the social implications of the Gospel in such a way that their witness will become a prophetic challenge to whatever hinders the true good of the men and women of Africa and of every other continent.”

“The ordination of women and of married clergy may be coming sooner than we expect” said Clyde Christofferson, a CCRI advisor and member of the U.S. based Nova Eucharistic Community. “It’s what resonates with the Spirit within us.  Francis recognizes the problem, and has done what he can in Amoris Laetitia and Evangelii Gaudium to help with the needed conceptual tools. The rest is up to the People of God to band together, to speak up, and to bring this initiative forward.”

Having in mind  that a large majority of the biblical commission appointed in 1976 by Pope Paul VI  were “in favor of the view that scriptural grounds alone are not enough to exclude the possibility of ordaining women and that Christ’s plan would not be transgressed by permitting the ordination of women,” the reformers continue to pray for guidance as they seek grass roots local gatherings of the people of God, to be followed in the next several years by larger gatherings to share and celebrate new ways of being church, ever more responsive to the Spirit of Christ.

 The reformers continue to pray for guidance as they seek grassroots local gatherings of the people of God, to be followed in the next several years by larger gatherings to share and celebrate new ways of being church, ever more responsive to the Spirit of Christ. A website has been established for this purpose: www.ThePeopleSpeakOut.org. The People of God from around the world are invited to gather together, explore the kind of Church needed for our times, and share the outcome of their discussions on this site. These reports will be used to set the agenda for forthcoming Synods of the People of God being established by Council 50, who will be holding a meeting in Rome this weekend to discuss these matters.

***End***


                                                     October 28th, St. Jude, A. D. 2016                                              

    Peace, brothers and sisters in Christ!

We had a meeting with the worldwide Roman Catholic Reform Movement: Catholic Church Reform International.
They wrote that we as a worldwide Church Communion, the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ, have a vital role in the Reform for Rome. They see in our ECCC vital ideas which we have demonstrated and lived for since 1998.

They wrote: "The purpose in having Archbishop + Karl Cathedral of St. Anthony  in the meeting today was to connect the ecumenical work and to join their communities with our efforts in bringing about reform in the Roman Catholic Church through the series of Synods of the People."
In our collaborative work with Council 50, the following issues were suggested to be included as agenda topics for the Brasilia Synod of the People:
1.       Laity involved in the decision-making of the Church
2.       The role of women addressed
3.       Equality both men and women in the ministry of the Church
4.       Inclusiveness of the LGBT community in the Church
5.       Optional Celibacy for priests
6.       Ecumenism – the Roman Catholic Church continuing to reach out to other Christian denominations emphasizing what 
          we share in common
7.       Greater autonomy of dioceses to work out their own needs for their community
 
The People Speak out website for Reforms is now live:  www.ThePeopleSpeakOut.org

You are all an inspiration for the struggle we have been through! I urge you to make an effort for the sake of Christ's beloved Church. We have now the opportunity and the blessings to be more involved in an worldwide effort to let the Holy Spirit speak through you, and bring about very needed reforms!

Please have group meetings wherever you are around the world in our ECCC, participate, invite other groups from other Churches as well, and bring your recommendations to improve the Forum and the task for Reforms to this website: www.ThePeopleSpeakOut.org. 
This will be vital in order to create the agenda for a series of People's Synods around the World, and the big one in Brasilia in 2018! 

We are counting on you all!
Thank you for participating!!

Letter of information n°1 12 September 2016

Global Council Network

Towards a Church- Inspired by the Gospel-for the world
Por uma Igreja inspirada no Evangelho - para o mundo
Rumbo a una Iglesia inspirada en el Evangelio-para el mundo
Vers une Eglise-inspirée par l’Evangile-pour le monde
Verso una Chiesa ispirata dal Vangelo per il mondo

To all signatories of the Declaration and to the participants of the Council 50 Gathering of delegates on 20-22 November 2015 in Rome.

Dear All, 

By your endorsing the “Council 50 declaration” you are part of the “Global Council Network”. It is a pleasure to write to you to think and work together on what should be this network. To recall the spirit of our endeavor, the first part of this letter is an update on the last gathering of delegates that took place last November in Rome. Then, a second part will describe the main activities for the forthcoming years planned during this gathering and finally the last part is an invitation for you to contribute to the preparation of the first synod of the people of God that will take place in 2018 in Brasilia. This synod will be a major activity of the forthcoming years.
1) Update on the Gathering of delegates 20-22 November 2015 in Rome
First of all, let me briefly update those of you who did not attend the gathering of Rome.
Although the Council Vatican II renewed the Catholic Church, the stride for expressing the Gospel message in a way that the contemporary men and women can understand was stopped. The election of Pope Francis and the spirit he gave in the early days to his pontificate, his renewed attention to Synods, his attitudes, calls, gestures aroused great hope and encouraged a large part of the Church to support him in his efforts to turn the Church from a dogmatic attitude to a pastoral and evangelic approach, and to respond to his exhortations, in particular that in "Evangelii Gaudium1", recommending to the bishops "in certain circumstances to walk behind the people because the herd possesses itself an intuition to find new paths ".
In order to respond to this call, to be faithful to the message of Vatican II2 and to the Gospel and to give an opportunity of expression to the sensus fidelium/fidei3, a gathering of delegates of reform movements, associations and communities around the world was organized in Rome on November 20-22 2015 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the close of the Council Vatican II, and of the Pact of Catacombs. About 100 delegates from 28 countries spread within 5 continents met together and bring the views of their groups, movements, and countries on reforms to be undertaken by our Church towards both:
i) the being of the Church (the people including the hierarchy), her functioning and her organization in order to improve her, so that she is in 21th century what she says to be,
ii) the saying it and the doing of the Church in order to allow her members to illuminate, with the Spirit of Jesus, our evolving world and to contribute to its transformation into a world of peace, social and economic justice, solidarity, a world fighting against poverty in which every man and every woman can develop him/herself in all the dimensions of his/her being. Hence the leitmotiv "Council 50, towards a Church inspired by Gospels for the world ".
A book on this event is in progress and will be published as soon as possible. Meanwhile you might read the article that Miriam Duignam wrote in the March 2016 issue of the magazine RENEW on the gathering of Rome and that is posted on the Council 50 website (http://www.council50.org/c55/ )
A first expression resulting from this gathering was the “Council 50 declaration” that most of you did endorse. This declaration was submitted to Pope Francis on the 8th of December 2015, the 50th anniversary of the close of Vatican II.
(http://www.council50.org/c55/declaration-2015 ).

Very much motivated by this gathering, participants demanded that the process thus initiated in Rome be pursued. Therefore, right after the last plenary session of the gathering, a new meeting was organized in the afternoon of November 22 2015 in order to satisfy this demand. During this meeting, a plan was established and agreed upon to proceed along the same lines.

2) Actions agreed to be undertaken?
These actions are particularly aiming at
- give a new impulse to the great spectrum of movements fighting in favor of the renovation of Catholic Church and give them the possibility to express themselves, as members of the people of God;
- consolidate proposals of the people of God in favor of the renovation of Catholic Church, and particularly those of the Council 50 declaration;
- expand the network with reform organizations, movements, communities, groups which didn't participate in Rome and which work for a more democratic Church inspired by the Gospel and the openings of the Council Vatican II, committed with peace, economic and social justice, solidarity, integrity of creation, with equality in rights and responsibilities between women and men in the Church.
You are therefore invited to undertake the following actions and to pray the Holy Spirit for inspiring us the best way to accomplish them:
i) Endorsement of the “Council 50 declaration” by as many people as possible, and development of the “Global Council network”. This network is composed of all those who endorsed the declaration. This is easily done via the website:
(http://www.council50.org/…/declarat…/endorse-the-declaration.

You are invited to contact your friends and present them the declaration. If you want to be informed on the actions to be undertaken along these lines, and eventually to contribute to these actions, do not hesitate to contact me or a member of the Global Council network.
ii) work with local groups, associations, movements, communities, parishes for thinking at the needed reforms to introduce both in the Church and the world in the spirit of the “Council 50 declaration”, and the best ways to implement them. A possible way to proceed is to organize in your own territories forums, thematic discussions, etc. for contributing to the building-up of a common agenda of issues to address, having in mind the principles and directions of the Medellin Document and of the Council 50 declaration in order to contribute to the preparation of the forthcoming “Synod of the people of God” presented below.
iii) Organization of a series of “Synods of the people of God” on topics chosen along the lines of the Council 50 declaration, taking into account its necessary improvement, and the specificities of the culture and particularities of the regions where they will take place. The first one in Latin America in 2018, presented below and the second one in Africa in 2021.

3) The First Synod of the people of God in Brasilia in 2018 and its preparation
Following the very interesting proposal of Lula Ramires, Edson G.P.O. Silva and Daniel Seidel from San Paulo in Brazil, the first Synod of the people of God will take place in Brasilia in 2018, at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Conference of Latin American Bishops that took place in Medellin where the option for the Poor was reinforced and the base communities recognized. This is the opportunity for every community, group; movement all around the world to participate and contribute to make its voice heard for reforms in the Church and the society in order to transform our 21st century world in the light of the Spirit of Jesus and the Gospel into a world of peace, social and economic justice, solidarity, a world which respects human rights and preserves our planet..
An international organizing committee composed of delegates of reform networks or movements, including a local committee particularly in charge of the practical local organization, is being set-up. It is in charge of launching the process of elaboration of the content of this Synod and to prepare the program in cooperation with all groups, movements, communities interested. The first meeting of the international committee preparing this synod will be held on 6-7 November 2016 in Rome.
It has been suggested that this Synod should
- emphasize the shortcomings of the present organization of our Church and of its behavior;
- present alternatives in the light of the Council Vatican II, the Gospel and results from theological approaches including the theology of liberation;
- express a vision, based on the message of Jesus, that is able to inspire the whole world for social and economic justice, solidarity, human rights, preservation of our planet and peace.
- restore the hope that the good spirit laid down in documents more than 50 years ago, as well as in the papers, talks and practice of our Pope Francis, is going to break through anyway.
What do you think?

It is very important in this venture to benefit from the support and contributions from all reform groups and movements throughout the world in order to build a synod that will express the views of the People of God.

This is why you are invited to sign with your name, email and association, group, movement, network, communities, etc., the letter of invitation to this synod which will be finalized during the meeting of the organizing committee in Rome.

Therefore, if you agree to sign the letter of invitation to the 2018 synod, you will receive the draft for review.
Furthermore, if you are interested to be part of the organizing international committee, if you want to make suggestions for the synod, regarding its aims, key points to address, ideas to convey, proposals of reforms to be undertaken, particular activities to organise, please send me an email (Francois.Becker@council50.org ).

With my best regards
François Becker
Secretary General of the European Network Church on the move
Coordinator of Global Council Network




 September 8th, Nativity of  Mary  A. D. 2016
Peace, dear brothers and sisters of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ, 
and all Christians near and afar!
    The past unholy experiences that some of you, including I had, and will continue to have with some of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, shall not diminish our Spirit for a New Face of Christ's Church that needs renewal and reforms. 
    We shall pray and be moved in the Holy Spirit to actively follow Christ and seek HIM in all things. He is the one who will set you free, not some Roman bishops who see this as a power game out of their own misery of church politics.
    When Christ faced the authorities of his time, HE was full aware of the insult he would face, the total disconnect of those who yield power for their own sake...Christ born into a historical time of unrest, fear, and social injustice, faced the ignorance, the abuse of authority in the religious hierarchy, the betrayal through so many, the hate toward his message of Love. It was the hypocrisy of so many leaders who showed no  faith in the God of Love and Mercy, and they hated him to death, and so He faced the agony of being rejected and abandoned till the end with only a few around him. 
    The experience of our sincere heart that searches for a liberating faith coming closer to Christ is our call. Let us be truthful to HIM and ourselves, and may we bless those who raise their voices against us out of hate and ignorance, may we pray for those who find pleasure and satisfaction in persecuting us, and love them through the eyes of Christ.

 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commandments and remain in His love." (John 15:9-10)


“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).

The Love of Christ compels all of us to love and care for each other as Christ has shown it in his earthly life, and as HE continuous to show His Love toward us sitting at the right hand of God the Father. Yes, we are called to follow Him with our heart and soul, and see in the Gospel the true treasure for our life's journey that helps us to seek Him and find Him. God's Spirit is the moving force for our pilgrimage on earth.

 "But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7).
 
It is indeed sad that we still see so many hypocritical Christian Church leaders, being political, obsessed with secrets...how far they have moved from the Good News of the Gospel of Joy to the Bad News of Power and Greed. How many modern Pharisees are we dealing with condemning others because of their love for Christ who follow in His footsteps with all their hearts, caring and serving all of God's Children.

"I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With I in them and you in me, may they be so perfected in unity that the world will recognize that it was you who sent me and that you have loved them as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see my glory which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:22-24)
Let us seek this Unity in our Love for Christ. If you from the Roman Catholic Rite, please do not live with a false pride, but always seek the best in your fellow Christians from other Catholic Churches and Protestant Churches, and do not judge them, but try to understand each other better through the love of Christ. 

Some of these Q&A thoughts shall make us aware when we are driven by fundamentalism, or being religious fanatics, just to go to extreme attitudes in only judging others... How can we let ignorance repeat bad church history over and over again...

-Are Roman Catholics the only ones who go to heaven?
Answer: No
-Is the Roman Catholic Church the only Catholic Church?
Answer: No
-Is the Roman Catholic Church a Catholic Rite among other Catholic Rites?
Answer: Yes
-Are Catholics who are not Roman Catholics therefore less Catholic or bad Catholics?
Answer: No
-Are Roman Catholics better Christians than none Roman Catholic Christians who follow Christ with heart and soul?
Answer: No
-Are independent Catholic bishops and priests who have true apostolic succession less valid than their Roman Catholic counterparts?
Answer: No
-Are the sacraments performed by Apostolic Valid Independent Catholic Bishops and Priests are valid sacraments?
Answer: Yes
-Are the words "illicit performed sacraments" used by the Roman Catholic Church in reference to independent valid Catholic Churches who serve the Gospel Christian? (This is legalistic and canonical political pondering. One of the most unchristian attitudes)
Answer: No
-Is the Love of a none Roman Catholic less before God?
Answer: No
-Does it serve Christ and the people of God that many in the church hierarchies play with power and exclusive attitudes?
Answer: No
-Have Roman Catholic faithful in the Laity found really a voice in the hierarchy's decisions?
Answer: Not yet
-Is the decision to elect bishops by Rome without people having a say in it Christian? (In the early church it was customary that the people elected bishops by acclamation).
Answer: No
-Is the exclusion of women in Roman Catholic Church Ministry Christian? (St. Mary Magdalene was called the Apostle of the Apostles. There were women deacons, and women clergy in the early church)
Answer: No
-Is the exclusion of Gay Catholics who want to participate fully in the Roman Catholic Church or other Church Denominations true Christian?
Answer: No
-Is optional celibacy a more dignified choice for priests (in the Catholic Church for more than thousand years there were married clergy including 39 married popes; the Roman Catholic Church does have married clergy with families converting as clergy of the Anglican, Lutheran, and other Churches to the Roman Rite). Celibate and married priests can live side by side.
Answer: Yes

Let us keep our hearts always open to the Holy Spirit who moves us in a dynamic way, who has always changed the church when it became static, and who will continue to renew the Church through the fire of the Holy Spirit with Love and needed reforms: to give the faithful a stronger voice in the Church; to be inclusive; to allow women ordinations; to have optional celibacy; to have a more transparent church administration that is filled with lay people from all walks of life; to find a kinder spirit within all of the church; to see in the poor and needy, the ostracized, the abandoned, the jailed... Christ himself; to experience in the fullness of nature all our brothers and sisters, straight and LGBT as complimentary. 

Be rest assured as it has my experience for so many years to let you know that many roman catholic priests, including bishops love our Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ as they see in us what they are unable to do, because being ruled and not free to express more deeply their desire for reforms...

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner human, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

At this occasion, we would like to welcome our new bishops, priests, and Arch-deaconess into our Worldwide Church Communion. 
We also wanted to congratulate our Church Synod for the South American Continent under the Leadership of Archbishop ++Mons. Sebastián Herrera Plá, Nuntius for Latin America. Please keep them all in your prayers!

May the Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus, to whom we all belong be our true liberator, and may he lead us all toward a better tomorrow of God's Holy Church, seeking this Unity of love and Peace. May He at the end of our lives, reward each one of us with the heavenly Kingdom which we shall seek first.

With my prayers and benedictions,

Your servant of Christ
+Karl
 
ECCC NEWS:
We welcome into the ECCC: 
+Bishop Suny Alapat for our Church in India
+Bishop Dr. Michael Mar Melchizedek, Nebraska, USA 
+Bishop Michael Hillis, Michigan, USA
Fr. Dr. Rogelio Carrera, Kentucky, USA
Fr. Dr. Thomas Roberts, Nebraska, USA 
Archdeacon Elizabeth Brown, Nebraska, USA.

In Process for incardination:
Fr. Shajiu Thomas, India
Fr. Cyrill, Nigeria-California, USA
Fr. Edio Menghini Zuech, Switzerland, Europe

La paz, queridos hermanos y hermanas de la Iglesia católica de Cristo Ecuménico, y todos los Cristianos cerca y lejos!
Las pasadas experiencias impía que algunos de ustedes, incluido yo, y seguirán teniendo con algunos de la jerarquía de la Iglesia Católica, no deberá disminuir nuestro espíritu para un nuevo rostro de la Iglesia de Cristo que necesita renovación y reformas.
Vamos a orar y ser movido por el Espíritu Santo a participar activamente en el seguimiento de Cristo y lo buscan en todas las cosas. Él es quien os hará libres, no algunos obispos romanos que ven esto como un juego de poder fuera de su propia miseria política de la iglesia romana.
Cuando Cristo ante las autoridades de su tiempo, fue plenamente consciente del insulto correría, el total desconexión de aquellos que producen energía para su propio beneficio...Cristo nace en un momento histórico de disturbios, el miedo y la injusticia social, ante la ignorancia, el abuso de autoridad en la jerarquía religiosa, la traición a través de tantos, el odio hacia su mensaje de amor. Es la hipocresía de muchos dirigentes que no mostraron la fe en el Dios del amor y de la misericordia, y le aborrecieron a la muerte y, de este modo, se enfrentó a la agonía de ser rechazado y abandonado hasta el final con sólo unos pocos alrededor de él.
La experiencia de nuestro corazón sincero que busca una fe liberadora acercarse a Cristo es nuestra llamada. Seamos sinceros, a él y a nosotros, y nos bendiga a aquellos que alcen sus voces en contra de nosotros fuera del odio y la ignorancia, oramos por aquellos que encuentran placer y satisfacción en perseguir a nosotros, y el amor a través de los ojos de Cristo.
"Como el Padre me amó, yo también os he amado a vosotros. Permanezcan en mi amor. Si obedecen mis mandamientos, permaneceréis en mi amor, como yo he obedecido los mandamientos de mi Padre y permanezco en su amor." (Juan 15:9-10)
"Por el amor de Cristo nos obliga, porque juzgamos así: que si uno murió por todos, luego todos murieron; y por todos murió, para que los que viven ya no vivan para sí, sino para aquel que murió y resucitó por ellos" (2 Corintios 5:14, 15).

El amor de Cristo nos obliga a todos nosotros el amor y el cuidado de los unos a los otros como Cristo lo ha demostrado en su vida terrena, y como EL todavía mostrar su amor hacia nosotros, sentado a la diestra del Padre. Sí, estamos llamados a seguirlo con todo nuestro corazón y alma, y ver en el Evangelio el verdadero tesoro para nuestro camino de vida que nos ayuda a buscarlo y encontrarlo. El Espíritu de Dios es la fuerza que mueve nos en nuestra peregrinación en la tierra.
"Pero cuando la bondad y el amor generoso de Dios nuestro Salvador apareció, no a causa de cualquier actos justos que habíamos hecho, sino por su misericordia, él nos salvó por el baño de regeneración y de la renovación por el Espíritu Santo, a quien él ricamente derramada sobre nosotros a través de Jesucristo nuestro Salvador, para que fuésemos justificados por su gracia y ser herederas en la esperanza de la vida eterna." (Tito 3:4-7).
Es realmente triste que todavía podemos ver tantos hipócritas líderes de la Iglesia Cristiana, ser político, obsesionado con la secreta...hasta qué punto se han trasladado de la Buena Noticia del Evangelio de alegría a las malas noticias del poder y la codicia. Cómo muchos fariseos modernos se trata de condenar a los demás a causa de su amor por Cristo que seguir sus pasos con todo su corazón, cuidar y servir a todos los hijos de Dios.
"Yo les he dado la gloria que me diste, para que sean uno como nosotros somos uno. Con yo en ellos y tú en mí, para que sean perfeccionados en la unidad que el mundo reconozca que tú me has enviado y que los has amado a ellos como me has amado a mí. Padre, quiero que los que me has dado estén conmigo donde yo estoy, para que puedan ver siempre mi gloria, la que me has dado, porque me has amado antes de la fundación del mundo." (Juan 17:22-24)
Busquemos esta unidad en nuestro amor por Cristo. Si fieles desde el Rito Católico Romano, por favor, no viven con un falso orgullo, pero siempre buscan el mejor de tus hermanos cristianos de otras Iglesias Católicas y Protestantes, y no juzgar, sino intentar comprender mejor unos a otros a través del amor de Cristo.
Algunos de estos Preguntas & Respuestas en pensamientos se nos hacen conscientes cuando nos sentimos atraídos por el fundamentalismo, o ser fanáticos religiosos, sólo para ir a actitudes extremas sólo en juzgar a otros... Cómo nosotros podemos permitir que la ignorancia repita el mal de la historia de la Iglesia una y otra vez...
-Los Católicos romanos son los únicos que van al cielo?
Respuesta: No
-la Iglesia Católica Romana es la única iglesia católica?
Respuesta: No
-la Iglesia Católica Romana es un rito católico entre otros ritos católicos?
Respuesta: Sí
-son católicos que no son católicos romanos, por lo tanto, menos católico o malos católicos?
Respuesta: No 
-son católicos romanos mejor que los otros Cristianos Católicos que siguen a Cristo con el corazón y el alma?
Respuesta: No
-son independientes Obispos y sacerdotes que tienen la verdadera sucesión apostólica menos válida que sus homólogos Católicos Romanos?
Respuesta: No
-son los sacramentos -realizada por sucesión apostólica- en independiente válidos Obispos y sacerdotes válidos sacramentos?
Respuesta: Sí
-Son las palabras "ilícita realiza los sacramentos" utilizada por la Iglesia Católica Romana en referencia a independiente iglesias católicas válido servir el Evangelio? (Esto es legalista y canónica ponderando político. Uno de los más actitudes anticristiano)
Respuesta: No
-es el amor de un Católico Non Romano menos ante Dios?
Respuesta: No.

-Se sirve a Cristo y al pueblo de Dios en la iglesia Romana y otras cuando muchas jerarquías juegan con poder y con actitudes exclusivos?
Respuesta: ningún
-Los fieles católicos romanos han encontrado realmente una voz en las decisiones de la jerarquía?
Respuesta: Aún no
-Es la decisión de elegir a los obispos romanos católicos sin la voz de las laicos un error? (En la iglesia primitiva era costumbre que el pueblo eligió por aclamación a los obispos).
Respuesta: Si
-Es la exclusión de las mujeres en la Iglesia Católica Romana del ministerio una actitud cristiano? (St. María Magdalena fue llamado el Apóstol de los Apóstoles. Hay mujeres que son diáconos, y mujeres sacerdotes en la iglesia temprana)
Respuesta: No
-Es la exclusión de los católicos homosexuales que desean participar plenamente en la Iglesia Católica Romana o de otras confesiones religiosas Cristiano verdadero?
Respuesta: No
-Sea el celibato opcional una opción más digna entre de los sacerdotes y obispos (en la Iglesia Católica durante más de mil años hubo clero casado casado incluyendo 39 papas; la Iglesia Católica Romana tiene clero casado con familias convertido de clérigo de la Iglesia Anglicana, luterana y otra Iglesia de Rito romano). Célibes y sacerdotes casados puedan vivir lado a lado.
Respuesta: Sí

Mantengamos nuestros corazones siempre abiertos al Espíritu Santo que nos mueve de una manera dinámica, quien siempre ha cambiado la iglesia cuando se convirtió de una situación estático, y que continuará a renovar la Iglesia mediante el fuego del Espíritu Santo con amor y reformas necesarias: para dar a los fieles una voz más fuerte en la Iglesia; ser incluyente; permitir a las mujeres ordenaciones; tener el celibato opcional; para que haya una mayor transparencia de la administración de la iglesia que se llena con los laicos de todas las caminatas de la vida; encontrar un mas gentile espíritu dentro de la iglesia; ver en los pobres y necesitados, el ostracismo, abandonados, encarcelados... Cristo mismo; experiencia en la plenitud de la naturaleza a todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas, incluido plenamente los homosexuales con cortesía.

Están seguro de como yo lo ha hecho en mi experiencia durante 30 años del ministerio activo que muchos sacerdotes católicos romanos, incluidos obispos aman nuestra Iglesia Católica Ecuménica de Cristo porque ellos ven en nosotros lo que son incapaces de hacer, porque ser gobernado y no libres para expresar más profundamente su deseo de reformas...

"Por esta causa doblo mis rodillas al Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, de quien toda familia en el cielo y la tierra se llama, para que os dé, conforme a las riquezas de su gloria, el ser fortalecidos con poder por su espíritu en el hombre interior, que Cristo habite por la fe en vuestros corazones; que, arraigados y fundados en el amor, pueden ser capaces de comprender con todos los santos cuál es la anchura y la longitud, la profundidad y la altura, de conocer el amor de Cristo, que supera el conocimiento; que pueden estar llenos de toda la plenitud de Dios" (Efesios 3:14-19).
Que el Buen Pastor, Cristo Jesús, a quien todos pertenecemos ser nuestro verdadero libertador, y que él nos conduzca a todos hacia un mañana mejor de la santa Iglesia de Dios, la búsqueda de esa unidad de amor y de paz. Puede que al final de nuestra vida, recompensa cada uno de nosotros con el reino celestial que trataremos en primer lugar.

A este momento, bienvenidos los nuevos obispos, sacerdotes, y diaconisa en nuestra Iglesia. 

Felicitamos también a nuestra Iglesia en America Latina para su inicio de su Sínodo Continental, entre el lidre, Arzobispo ++Mons. Sebastián Herrera Plá, Nuncio Apostólico por America Latina. Rezan los todos para ellos!

Con mis oraciones y bendiciones,

Su siervo de Cristo
+Karl


Please share this with the people wherever you are. Thank you!

September 1, 2016
Today we released the following press release as the newly created department for the Laity, Family and Life is officially launched. We offer this for your reading and, if you agree, we invite you to send this out to your local news media. 

If reform is going to come in our Church, it will be because the people are speaking out and being heard. If you want to join in the reform movement, we encourage you to start or join a small local gathering.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rene Reid
Work phone: 775-825-9196; Cell phone: 775-772-1210
Rene.Reid@CatholicChurchReformIntl.org 
www.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org 
Catholic Reform Group Urges 
New Department for the Laity, Family, and Life 
to Actively Collaborate with Lay-led Initiatives

Catholic Church Reform Int'l urges newly appointed Bishop Kevin Farrell to welcome and support lay-led initiatives as he launches the Dicastery for the Laity today.

While acknowledging disappointment that a lay person, a family man or woman, was not assigned to head the department for the laity, family and life, through an Open Letter, Catholic Church Reform Int'l congratulates the recently appointed head, Bishop Kevin Farrell, for having long pushed for a greater involvement of the laity in the life of the church. The Reform Group asks specifically for these actions to be part of the new department:
In filling your 35-member staff, set as a goal that the majority of staff members will be made up of qualified `lay Catholics from various parts of the world who share Pope Francis's vision for the pastoral care of the Church.
Staff members will have - not only an advisory role but - an influential and deliberative voice in the proceedings of this department.
When the vision of your department aligns with lay-led initiatives, that you offer your full support and willingness to collaborate with such movements.
"Pope Francis continues to call for the laity to 'play a major role in the life and mission of the church,'" says CCRI director, Rene Reid. "He seems to recognize that the reform needed will not come without the people speaking up and assuming some leadership. With this new department being launched today, we fully expect lay-led initiatives to be welcomed and supported." A case in point: In 1968 South American bishops held a conference in Meddellin Columbia where the principles of the Second Vatican Council were emphasized. Now 50 years later in 2018, a group of lay-led Catholics calling themselves Council 50 are calling for a People's Synod to be held in Brazil to carry on the work still left undone by the Vatican Council. "We've had two recent synods attended primarily by bishops. The time is right to call a People's Synod and we hope to see this new dicastery support us in our efforts," says Ed Schreurs, a member of both CCRI and Council 50. The group is currently in process of collecting an opinion poll and calling local dialogue meetings for the purpose of producing statements that will be placed on the agenda of the 2018 Synod. Agreeing with the critical importance of calling local gatherings where the people can share their opinions with one another, Catholic Church Reform Int'l is currently encouraging these small local gatherings in communities in various cities around the world. All are welcomed to participate and let their voice be heard.


Easter  A. D. 2016
From your Ecumenical Primate

Please share with those of whom I have no e-mails. Thank you!
Por favor comparta con todos aquellos de los cuales no tengo e-mails. Gracias!


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ near and afar!
From the bottom of my heart, I want to wish you all a very blessed and joyous Easter! 
Each year, the celebration of the Salvation Mysteries in the suffering, dying, and resurrection of Christ Jesus brings our faith closer to the enduring power of God’s Love toward humanity.

As we reflected in the Lenten Season our own journey of faith with the Lord, we saw our weakness in many ways, we rediscovered the moment of grace that God shows us through Mercy forgiving us because we have turned away from HIM. That forgiving Grace pours out from HIS loving heart. 

Yes, it is this very experience with God that we need to get closer to HIM in our daily lives, seeking HIS will and learning from Jesus' way of Life which many of us have known since our childhood. 
Our image of God might have changed throughout the years, and yet we try to mature in our faith, nurturing this unbroken hope that God is al-present, almighty, all loving, all-merciful, and forgiving, leading us all in the Holy Spirit who emanates continuously from the Love of the Eternal Father with HIS Son.

Oh glorious Mysteries in the wounds of Thy suffering, the redemption brought through thy death that dies no more, oh eternal Love that caused you rising, and now awaits our own new life in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

My dear brothers and sisters, may the power of the Love of God - that only the heart will ever know -,    fill us all with the Joy of the Risen Lord be with you all now and forever. AMEN.

Yours in the risen Christ,
+Karl


Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, cerca y lejos!
Desde el fondo de mi corazón, quiero desear a todos un muy bendecido y feliz Pascua!
Cada año, la celebración de los misterios de la salvación en el sufrimiento, la muerte y la resurrección de Cristo Jesús trae nuestra fe, más cerca del poder perdurable del amor de Dios hacia la humanidad.

Como se refleja en el tiempo de Cuaresma, nuestro propio itinerario de fe con el Señor, vimos a nuestra debilidad de muchas maneras, hemos redescubierto el momento de gracia que Dios nos muestra a través de la misericordia de perdonarnos porque nos hemos alejado de él. Que perdonar la gracia derrama desde su corazón amoroso.

Sí, es precisamente esta experiencia con Dios que debemos acercarnos a Él en nuestra vida diaria, buscar su voluntad y aprender de la forma de vida de Jesús, que muchos de nosotros hemos conocido desde nuestra infancia.
Nuestra imagen de Dios podría haber cambiado a lo largo de los años, y sin embargo tratamos de madurar en nuestra fe, alimentar esa inquebrantable esperanza de que Dios está al presente, todopoderoso, todo amor, todo misericordioso, y perdonando, llevándonos a todos en el Espíritu Santo, que emana continuamente desde el amor del Padre eterno con su Hijo.

Oh misterios gloriosos en las heridas de tu sufrimiento, la redención realizada por tu muerte que no muere más, oh Amor eterno que provocó que van en aumento, y ahora espera nuestra propia vida nueva en el Reino de los Cielos.

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, que el poder del amor de Dios, -que sólo el corazón sabrá siempre-, nos llene a todos con la alegría del Señor Resucitado esté con todos vosotros ahora y siempre. Amén.

Suyos en Cristo Resucitado,
+Karl


Queridos irmãos e irmãs em Cristo de perto e longe!
Do fundo do coração, quero desejar a todos vós um muito abençoado e alegre Páscoa!
Cada ano a celebração dos mistérios da salvação no sofrimento, morte e ressurreição de Jesus Cristo traz a nossa fé para mais perto do poder duradouro do amor de Deus para com a humanidade.

Como temos refletido no tempo da Quaresma o nosso próprio caminho de fé com o Senhor, vimos a nossa fraqueza de muitas maneiras, redescobrimos o momento de graça que Deus nos mostra através da misericórdia de nos perdoar porque temos se desviou dele. Que perdoa a graça efunde a partir de seu coração amoroso.

Sim, é precisamente esta experiência com Deus que temos de nos aproximar mais a Ele em nossa vida diária, buscando a Sua vontade e a aprendizagem a partir de Jesus de uma forma de vida que muitos de nós têm conhecido desde nossa infância.
Nossa imagem de Deus podem ter mudado ao longo dos anos, e ainda tentamos a amadurecer na nossa fé, cultivando esta intacta a esperança de que Deus é al-presente, omnipotente, todos amoroso, todo-misericordioso e perdoar, levando-nos a todos no Espírito Santo que emana continuamente do Amor eterno do Pai com seu filho.

Oh mistérios gloriosos nas feridas do teu sofrimento, a redenção através de tua morte que não morre mais, oh Amor eterno que lhe provocou a subir e agora aguarda a nossa própria vida nova no reino dos céus.

Meus queridos irmãos e irmãs, a potência do amor de Deus - que somente o coração jamais vai saber - encha todos nós com a alegria do Senhor ressuscitado esteja com todos vós agora e para sempre. Amém.

Seu em Cristo ressuscitado,
+Karl


Уважаеми братя и сестри в Христа, близо до и отдалеч!
От дъното на сърцето ми, искам да желаем всичко много благослови и щастливи Великден!
Всяка година, на честването на мистериите спасение в страдание, на умиране, и възкресението на Христа Исуса носи ни вяра, по-близки до трайна мощност на Божиите любов към човечеството.

Като ние отразени в постни сезон нашите собствени пътуването на вяра с Господа, видяхме нашите слабост по много начини, ние преоткри любовта към момента на гратисен период, че Бог ни показва чрез милост великодушен сащ, защото имаме завърти далеч от него. Че великодушен гратисен избликват от неговата миролюбиви сърцето.

Да, това е много опит с Бога, че ние трябва да се приближи към него в ни живот, иска неговото ще и обучение от Исус" начин на живот, която мнозина от нас са известни, тъй като нашето детство.
Нашите изображение на Бога, може да са променени през годините, и още, ние се опитваме да зрели в нашата вяра, отглеждащи този здрав надежда, че Бог е ал-представи, Всемогъщият, всички миролюбиви, всички-жалостив, и щадящо, водещи всички нас в Светия Дух, който излъчвано непрекъснато от любовта на вечен отец с сина си.

Oh славни мистерии в раните на Твоите страдание, изкупването изправени чрез твоята смърт, почине не повече, oh вечен любов, причинени растящите ви, и сега очаква нашата собствена нов живот в небесата.

Драги братя и сестри, може мощността на Божията любов - че само сърцето някога ще знаете -, напълнете всички ни с радост на нараснало Господ се с всички вас сега и завинаги. Амин.

Ваш в възкръснал Христа,
+Karl



Cari fratelli e sorelle in Cristo vicino e lontano!
Dal fondo del mio cuore, voglio augurare a tutti voi un felice e gioiosa Pasqua!
Ogni anno la celebrazione dei misteri della salvezza nella sofferenza, morte e resurrezione di Cristo Gesù porta la nostra fede più vicino al perenne potere dell amore di Dio verso l umanità.

Come abbiamo riflettuto nel tempo quaresimale il nostro cammino di fede con il Signore, abbiamo visto la nostra debolezza in molti modi, abbiamo riscoperto il momento di grazia che Dio ci mostra attraverso la misericordia perdona a noi perché ci siamo allontanati da Lui. Che perdonando grazia riversa dal suo cuore amorevole.

Sì, è proprio questa esperienza con Dio che abbiamo bisogno di avvicinarsi a lui nella nostra vita quotidiana, cercando la sua volontà e imparare da Gesù " modo di vita che molti di noi hanno conosciuto fin dalla nostra infanzia.
La nostra immagine di Dio potrebbe aver cambiato nel corso degli anni e ancora ci prova a maturare nella nostra fede, di nutrire questa speranza ininterrotta che Dio è al-presente, onnipotente, tutti amorevole e pieno di misericordia e di perdono e ci conduce tutti nello Spirito Santo che emana continuamente dall amore del Padre Eterno con suo figlio.

Oh misteri gloriosi nel le ferite della tua sofferenza, la redenzione operata attraverso la tua morte che non muore più, Oh amore eterno che ha causato è in aumento, e ora si attende la nostra nuova vita nel regno dei cieli.

Miei cari fratelli e sorelle, Possa la potenza dell amore di Dio - che solo il cuore potrà mai sapere -, riempire tutti noi con la gioia del Signore Risorto siano con tutti voi ora e per sempre. AMEN.

Vostro nel Cristo Risorto,
+Karl


ECCC Worldwide NEWS:

It is with great Joy to welcome into our Worldwide Church our new Members!
May your ministry serve all of God's Children wherever they are.  


Incardinations into the ECCC in the last few month.


Europe

Italy - Diocese of Sicily

+Bishop Agostino De Caro
Rev. Deacon Riccardo Saitta
Seminarian Leonardo Patti

 
Spain - Archdiocese of Catalonia

++Archbishop Dr. Francisco Jose Adillon Bausells


Asia

India
Fr. Augustine Nunna


Central America

El Salvador 

Fr.  Mario Luna
Diácono Nestor Moreno


Guatemala

Fr.  Elder Santos Reyes
Fr.  Eddy Divas Mejias


Nicaragüa 

Fr.  Juan Francisco Pérez Cano Misioneros Franciscanos de la Redención
Fr.  Juan Emilio Vázquez Ruiz    Misioneros Franciscanos de la Redención
Fr.  Osmar Dávila
Fr.  Luis Alberto Salmerón
Fr.  José Alonso Hernández

Seminaristas
Alier de Jesús Hernández
Maikol 


South America

Argentina

+Bishop Marcelo Alejandro Soria Martin


Brazil  

Concordat of Full Union of the Latin Anglican Communion in Brazil with The ECCC

Archdiocese and Dioceses 

++Archbishop Lucas Macieira
+Dom Izaias
+Dom Frei Antonio Santana Neto, OFMDP
+Dom Joao de Deus da Silva
+Dom Jorge dos Santos Costa
Fr. Pedro de Paulo
Rev. Jonas Dominus Jesus 


Colombia 

+ Bishop Leonardo Valencia Obispo de Manizales
+ Bishop Wilder Javier Posada Obispo de Medellin
Fr. Lisandro González
Fr.  William Guevara
Fr.  Gabriel Cunillos


Venezuela

+Bishop Dr. Luis Andrade Rosales Obispo de Venezuela
Fr.  Sergio David Edwards Juárez




ICEC Noticias Mundial:

Es con grande Alegría para decir un Bienvenido Cordial a todos nuestras nuevos miembros en nuestra Iglesia Mundial! 
Vuestro ministerio pueda servir a todos los hijos de Dios dondequiera que estén.

Incardinaciones en la ICEC desde algunos meses.


Europe 

Italia   Diocesis de Sicilia

 +Mons. Agostino De Caro
Rev. Deacon Riccardo Saitta
Seminarian Leonardo Patti

Espana   Arquidiócesis de Cataluña 

++Arzobispo Dr. Francisco Jose Adillon Bausells


Asia

India
Fr. Augustine Nunna

América Central

El Salvador  

Presbítero. Mario Luna
Diácono Nestor Moreno


Guatemala

Presbítero Elder Santos Reyes
Presbítero Eddy Divas Mejias


Nicaragüa 

Presbítero Juan Francisco Pérez Cano Misioneros Franciscanos de la Redención
Presbítero Juan Emilio Vázquez Ruiz    Misioneros Franciscanos de la Redención
Presbítero Osmar Dávila
Presbítero Luis Alberto Salmerón
Presbítero José Alonso Hernández

Seminaristas
Alier de Jesús Hernández
Maikol 


Argentina

+  Mons. Marcelo Alejandro Soria Martin  


Sur America

Brazil: 

Concordado de Union Plena con la Igreja Catolica Latina Anglicana en Brazil con La ICEC
Arquidiócesis y Dioceses 

++Arzobispo Dom Lucas Macieira
+Dom Izaias
+Dom Frei Antonio Santana Neto, OFMDP
+Dom Joao de Deus da Silva
+Dom Jorge dos Santos Costa
Fr. Pedro de Paulo
Rev. Jonas Dominus Jesus


Colombia

+ Mons Leonardo Valencia Obispo de Manizales
+ Mons Wilder Javier Posada Obispo de Medellin
Pbro. Lisandro González
Pbro. William Guevara
Mons. Gabriel Cunillos


Venezuela

+Mons. Dr. Luis Andrade Rosales Obispo de Venezuela
Pbro. Sergio David Edwards Juárez


Nativity, Navidad A. D. 2015

Peace to you brothers and sisters in Christ!

    I am sending you all near and afar my Greetings and Blessings for this Holy Feast of Christmas as we celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Second Coming in Glory.

    May the Grace of God that comes from this High Feast come upon all of us and bring us closer to the Kingdom we seek.

This is the occasion that gives us also pause to see that Christ came to us to bring not only a Correction to the Lifestyle of Humanity that is drifting away from God, but also it reminds us to realize that this life here on earth has a sacred meaning, it is precious from the moment of its conception, it is holy because God is the ultimate creator of it.
     The birth of Jesus in a poor manger is the great contradiction to the worldly glamour we are drawn to. Jesus coming into this world is the true answer how to be before God, like a helpless baby, surrounded in poverty, exposed to the elements, but loved so dearly and cared for in such manner that a new way of life has come from it, the Christian Way.
    What joy is this that is so pure and enduring, what love is this that gives it all, what life is this that sees God in all first, seeks the Will of the Almighty, lives toward the promise of Heaven! 
    What started in Bethlehem became the true face of the earth: God sanctified our human life once and for all as HE came into our midst taking on human form. What divine Love that He showed us in the Savior therefore, what was long awaited through the voices of the prophets, what has not been recognized by the worldly powers in their blind fashion.

    O wonder of divine Love that meets the human, O Love that does not walk away from the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross, the moment of Salvation. O divine Love that does not end on the Cross, but calls for new life eternal.

    This Birth of Christ gives hope for a humanity that has come close to the abyss, and needs to be brought back to the path of God's Love that Cares, that shows mercy and forgives, and lifts us up to a purpose for all our lives.

    May we all see and find this divine Love in this Child born to us, this baby Jesus that brought hope and a peace to so many hundred of millions of Christians around the world throughout history. This Child that is our true King, the Prince of Peace, and our Redeemer, and He will be on our side till we see Him again with God the Father in the Holy Spirit.
Wishing you all this divine Love.
With my prayers,
yours
+Karl

We want to welcome also to our Worldwide Church our new brothers and sisters:
-From our new Church in Colombia under the leadership of the bishops, +Wilder and +Leonardo
-Our new 5 priests and deacons from the Franciscan Order in Peru.
-Our new Bishop in Spain +Bauselles

                                                Paz a vosotros hermanos y hermanas en Cristo!

    Estoy enviando usted todo cerca y de lejos mi saludos y bendiciones para esta Santa fiesta de Navidad que celebramos el nacimiento de nuestro Señor y Salvador, Jesús Cristo y su segunda venida en gloria.
      Que la gracia de Dios que viene de esta gran fiesta venga sobre todos nosotros y acercarnos al Reino De Dios que buscamos.
     Esta es la ocasión que nos brinda también pausa para ver que Cristo vino a nosotros para traer no sólo una corrección en el estilo de vida de la humanidad que se está distanciando de Dios, pero también nos recuerda a darse cuenta de que esta vida aquí en la tierra tiene un significado sagrado, es preciosa desde el momento de su concepción, es santo porque Dios es el creador máximo de él.
     El nacimiento de Jesús en un pesebre pobre es la gran contradicción el glamour mundanos a que estamos dibujados. Jesús viene a este mundo es la verdadera respuesta cómo ser delante de Dios como un niño indefenso, rodeado en la pobreza, expuestos a los elementos, pero amó tan entrañablemente y se cuida de tal manera que una nueva forma de vida ha llegado de él, el camino cristiano.   
    Qué alegría es esto que es tan puro y duradero, lo que el amor es el que lo da todo, lo que la vida es lo que ve Dios en primera todos, busca la voluntad del Todopoderoso, vidas hacia la promesa del cielo!
     Lo que comenzó en Belén se convirtió en la verdadera cara de la tierra: Dios santificado nuestra vida humana una vez por todas como él entró en medio de nosotros en forma humana. Lo que el amor divino le nos mostró en el Salvador por lo tanto, lo que era esperado a través de las voces de los profetas, lo que no ha sido reconocido por las potencias mundanas en su manera ciega.
     Oh maravilla del amor divino que cumple el ser humano, O amor que no se aleje el último sacrificio en la Cruz, el momento de la salvación. Oh divino amor que no termina en la Cruz, pero llamadas de nueva vida eterna
     Este nacimiento de Cristo nos da esperanza para una humanidad que ha llegado cerca del abismo y debe ser devuelto a la ruta del amor de Dios que se preocupa, que muestra misericordia y perdona y nos eleva hasta un propósito para nuestras vidas.
     Se pueden todos ver y buscar este divino amor en este niño nacido para nosotros, este niño Jesús que trajeron una paz y esperanza a tantos cientos de millones de cristianos alrededor del mundo a lo largo de la historia.
    Este niño es nuestro verdadero rey, el príncipe de la paz y nuestro Redentor y él estará a nuestro lado hasta que lo vemos otra vez con Dios el padre en el Espíritu Santo. Que este amor divino. Con mis oraciones,
suyo
+Karl

Queremos dar la bienvenida también a nuestra iglesia en todo el mundo nuestros nuevos hermanos y hermanas:
-De nuestra nueva iglesia en Colombia bajo el liderazgo de los obispos, +Wilder y +Leonardo y sus fieles
-Nuestros nuevos sacerdotes y diáconos de la orden franciscana en Perú.
-Nuestro nuevo obispo en España Bauselles




December 2nd, Blessed Charles de Foucauld, A. D. 2015
From your Ecumenical Primate

(Please share share with as many people all, compartir con todos)

Peace to you brothers and sisters in Christ!

With Advent, preparing and awaiting the Second coming of Christ, but moreover Christ in our lives here an now, and with the beginning of a new Church year, we are compelled to get closer to Christ. How can we do this? We shall take more time, read and reflect in prayerful ways on the Gospel. Christ is not a far away entity that has no meaning to us humans in the here an now. Far be it. Only the world of total consumption, of instant gratification, wanting everything immediately, contradicts the world of Christians living toward compassion, giving, and sharing that divine Love that God has bestowed on us in His beloved Son, Jesus the Christ. Only by focusing on the life of Jesus with our hearts and minds, his message of compassion, and the way he cares for all of God's people, as he crosses the local religious boundaries to reach also none-Jews, will open our eyes to a new dimension that we live in this world but we are not totally left in it.
Christ's first coming in poverty, helplessness, exposed to danger, was the first eye-opener of the known local world. In the light of his life of poverty -not being attached to earthly things, and living in the Spirit of God, his teaching, his sacrifice, that was in a way ordinary, but extraordinary in his expressions, his deeds, his human and divine love, was also the discovery of a new way of life of millions and millions of people throughout their short existence on this earth...
Let us learn from Jesus, let us live and imitate him in our lives, so we may draw others toward the Kingdom of God which we shall seek first and foremost.
And for this Christ needs to be born in our hearts, our little Bethlehem, that includes the foretaste of Golgotha, and will see beyond the mystery of suffering and death the vision of eternal life.
Wishing you all a blessed and joyous Season of this Adventus Domini, which will also one day be our last, yet in the light of the Glory of God that awaits us for we have been faithful to HIS Word and Sacraments.

Your servant of Christ
+Karl
Bishop

Paz a vosotros hermanos y hermanas en Cristo!

Con el advenimiento, preparando y esperando la segunda venida de Cristo, pero por otra parte Cristo en nuestra vidas aquí y ahora, y con el inicio de un nuevo año de iglesia, estamos obligados a acercarnos a Cristo. ¿Cómo podemos hacerlo? Debemos tomar más tiempo, leer y reflexionar en formas de oración sobre el Evangelio. Cristo no es una entidad lejana que no tiene ningún significado para nosotros los seres humanos en el aquí y ahora. Lejos esté! Sólo el mundo del consumo total, de gratificación inmediata, queriendo todo inmediatamente, contradice el mundo de Cristianos que viven hacia la compasión, dar y compartir ese amor divino que Dios ha regalado a nosotros en su hijo amado, Jesús el Cristo. Sólo centrándose en la vida de Jesús con nuestros corazones y mentes, su mensaje de compasión y la forma que él cuida de todo el pueblo de Dios, como él cruza las fronteras religiosas locales para llegar también a no judíos, abrirá nuestros ojos a una nueva dimensión que vivimos en este mundo pero no somos totalmente izquierdas en él. De Cristo primero en la pobreza, desamparo, expuesta al peligro, fue al primero un abridor de de los ojos para el mundo local conocido. A la luz de su vida de su pobreza -no cosas apegadas a lo terrenal, y viviendo en el Espíritu de Dios, sus enseñanzas, su sacrificio, aparece a una manera normal, pero extraordinario en sus expresiones, sus obras, su amor humano y divino, fue también el descubrimiento de una nueva forma de vida de millones y millones de personas a lo largo de su corta existencia en esta tierra... Aprender de Jesús, nos dejó vivir e imitarlo en nuestras vidas, por lo que podemos llamar otros hacia el Reino de Dios que vamos buscamos ante todo.
Y para esto Cristo necesito de ser nacido en nuestros corazones, nuestra pequeña Belén, que incluye el anticipo de Gólgota, y ve más allá el misterio del sufrimiento y la muerte la visión de la vida eterna.

Deseándoles a todos una temporada alegre y bendecida de este Adventus Domini, que también un día será el último para nosotros, sin embargo, a la luz de la Gloria de Dios que nos espera porque hemos sido fieles a su palabra y los sacramentos.

Su siervo de Cristo
+Karl

Below some expressions over the Synod and the more reform-work that needs to be done!
A continuación, algunas expresiones sobre el Sínodo y el trabajo de reforma más que hay que hacer!

"...We shall be having a serious conversation about our priorities for 2016 at our last meeting for this year... One of those priorities will be to advocate for regional meetings between bishops, priests and interested laity. Now that Pope Francis has succeeded in getting 250 bishops to talk to one another and even to use the imagery of ‘walking with...’, we will be asking the local episcopate to talk and walk with their people. So far, most have not done either mainly because they don’t know how to go about it.
In short, well be doing a great deal of thinking over the Summer about what was actually achieved at the Synod. There was one stand out: Francis succeeded in getting the bishops not only to start thinking outside the prepared script but actually to talk with one another and with a handful of non clerics too. But the Pope’s principal accomplishment was, with the help of the German group, to persuade the bishops to accept Thomas Aquinas’ eight hundred year old theology of the primacy of conscience, Aquinas’ Moral Theology which is grounded in the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope and Love and not based on the Ten Commandments or Ecclesiastical Law.
In anyone’s language, this was a break through because most of the Synodal bishops were probably taught not Moral Theology but positive law based ethics taught by Canon Lawyers and fixated on sin and sinful actions. We are very keen to engage with our bishops on these points but this may take years not weeks or months but at least Francis has made a crack in the jar for us.
The Synod is just over, there is no deep perspective which comes with time but the thoughts of two Australian voices probably speak clearly enough for most of us right now
Best wishes
David Timbs, Australia


Paul Collins’ assessment of the Synod:

“I was talking recently about the Synod with a very experienced parish priest. He said that if the bishops thought we were all waiting with bated breath for their decision regarding the divorced remarried receiving Communion, then they really do live in cloud cuckoo-land. Nowadays divorced Catholics don’t just hang around waiting for a bevy of bishops to decide. They follow their consciences and do what they think is right, especially if they have talked to a sensible, pastoral priest. Sure, many have understandably walked away from the church, but many have stayed having made their own decisions about going to Communion – the internal forum solution.
So really it’s irrelevant what the Synod decided. Even on the gay issue sensible Catholics already understand that talk about people being ‘intrinsically disordered’ is not only utterly insensitive; it is also ‘intrinsically’ un-Christ-like and evangelically ‘disordered’! But that doesn’t mean the Synod was a failure. It was a success because it recovered something of the church’s Catholicity. Genuine Catholicism implies a universal, multi-ethnic, non-sectarian church, a community of many parts and differing views. My major criticism of the two popes before Francis is that they were essentially ‘uncatholic’; they promoted a narrow, ‘pure’, sectarian church, the antithesis of Catholicity. That’s why they loved outfits like the Neo-Catechuminate and Opus Dei; they are sectarian in structure and intention. But the bishop of Rome, as Francis likes to be called, encouraged the synod to be genuinely Catholic and, unlike his predecessors, called on participants to express views that differed from his own. For the first time since Paul VI revived the Synod in 1965, this gathering was actually free. Bishops could speak their minds and weren’t constantly second-guessing the pope.”

Eric Hodgens, a retired Melbourne Archdiocesan priest who is highly respected throughout the country recently wrote a short piece on the Synod: “One of Francis’s objectives has been to restore genuine consultation to the synod. He has achieved this. They did talk together. Their consolidated opinions achieved a two thirds majority on every paragraph of the final document. A contentious issue was admitting divorced and remarried to the sacraments. Could this be softened? In Greek epeikeia means gentleness or leniency. In church canon law it means a modified interpretation of the law when the law does not fit the circumstances of a case.
The “internal forum” stands in contrast to the external forum of a court where evidence can be proved. When this is not possible a conscientious judgement can be made in the internal forum. This has been a long held procedure in moral theology, but making use of it was authoritatively discouraged and policed under Wojtyla and Ratzinger. Between epeikeia and internal forum people can work out a solution in their own case. This opens a way to approval of Communion for divorcees. By taking this path the synod bishops saw themselves as opening a door. The trouble is that the horse had bolted long ago. Most remarried divorcees who really want to go to Communion do so – and with their pastor’s encouragement. But restatement of the embargo has been so alienating that many no longer even want to receive. And any decent pastor knows that once they go, they go forever.”

Here are some Ideas you can use to promote and spread the reform ideas :

Use Twitter and Facebook
Write invitational letters to Bishops
Create guidelines for how to conduct a meeting
Invite our supporters to talk to their pastors and local bishops
Invite our organizations who are part of us
Share this idea with key leaders
How to identify and empower people to go talk to their church leaders
Invite everyone into this dialogue
Invite leaders of reform groups to join in a teleconference call to discuss how to facilitate organizing people to set up local meetings.
Reach out to reform group leaders to get their ideas for how to support Francis’s desire to set up local meetings with their pastors and bishops.
An article from Joan Chittister that helps us accomplish this and focus the conversation.
How to flush out the key issues in the final document
How to get details of each meeting back to us? Have one shared website used by all reform groups.
Do we need to narrow the focus down? And, if so, how?
How do we go about getting the ball rolling to start up local meetings?
Tell Joan our intent. How do we get lay people to talk to their pastors and bishops? If not Joan, who can help us?


October 25th

Peace, brothers and sisters in Christ.
A little update since the Synod ended in Rome.
Blessings
+Dr. Karl Rodig
Presiding Bishop ECCC

                                                         Paz, hermanos y hermanas en Cristo.
      Una pequeña actualización desde el Sínodo terminó en Roma.
                                                             Bendiciones
                                                         Obispo Presidente
                                                          +Dr. Karl Rodig


To all CCRI (Catholic Church Reform International) Advisors:
Thank you for your enlightening and heartfelt discussion. Like the Synod Fathers, we too have varying degrees of opinions about how we should move forward.
 
In the end, while Francis sought the wisdom of bishops and a few families, the final decisions rest with him. So let’s look closely at his closing remarks as he described the Synod from his perspective:
“It was about bearing witness to everyone that, for the Church, the Gospel continues to be a vital source of  eternal newness, against all those who would “indoctrinate” it in dead stones to be hurled at others.
It was also about laying bare the closed hearts which frequently hide even behind the Church’s teachings or good intentions, in order to sit in the chair of Moses and judge, sometimes with superiority and superficiality, difficult cases and wounded families.
It was about making clear that the Church is a Church of the poor in spirit and of sinners seeking forgiveness, not simply of the righteous and the holy, but rather of those who are righteous and holy precisely when they feel themselves poor sinners.
It was about trying to open up broader horizons, rising above conspiracy theories and blinkered viewpoints [which means, narrow-minded viewpoints], so as to defend and spread the freedom of the children of God, and to transmit the beauty of Christian Newness, at times encrusted in a language which is archaic or simply incomprehensible.
We have also seen that what seems normal for a bishop on one continent, is considered strange and almost scandalous for a bishop from another; what is considered a violation of a right in one society is an evident and inviolable rule in another; what for some is freedom of conscience is for others simply confusion. Cultures are in fact quite diverse, and each general principle needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and applied. . . . Inculturation does not weaken true values, but demonstrates their true strength and authenticity, since they adapt without changing; indeed they quietly and gradually transform the different cultures.”

Further, note his remarks reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day, which sees Jesus give sight to a blind man named Bartimaeus who he has encountered on his journey to Jerusalem:

"Even though he has only begun his most important journey … he still stops to respond to Bartimaeus’ cry," said Francis. "Jesus is moved by his request and becomes involved in his situation. He is not content to offer him alms, but rather wants to personally encounter him."
"Jesus shows that he wants to hear our need," said the pope. "He wants to talk with each of us about our lives, our real situations, so that nothing is kept from him."
Then, outlining two temptations he said are encountered by those who follow Jesus, the pontiff said: "None of the disciples stopped, as Jesus did."
"If Bartimaeus was blind, they were deaf: his problem was not their problem," said Francis. "This can be a danger for us: in the face of constant problems, it is better to move on, instead of letting ourselves be bothered. In this way, just like the disciples, we are with Jesus but we do not think like him."
The pope made his remarks in a reflection on the Gospel reading of the day, which sees Jesus give sight to a blind man named Bartimaeus who he has encountered on his journey to Jerusalem.

Francis is so open and transparent about his desire for the Church. And, not fully but to a large extent, he is voicing the broad views of reformers worldwide.
So now, in light of Francis’s intentions and directions for the Church, let’s consider the proposals that have been put forth by our Advisors:
First, what to do immediately:
1.       A private letter of congratulations to each bishop is out of place at this point in time as nothing definitive has emerged, it is still a work in progress.  So perhaps a Press statement could be released stating how we as People of God feel as the Synod has closed. (Virginia Saldanha, India)
         2.     Prudent to wait on the Synod's Final Document before deciding what message to send to the Bishops. (Nessan Vaughn,
              U.S.) 
3.       Call a spade a spade! Don't speak sugar quoted  words to please people. Give the widest publicity to Francis’s talk and challenge the bishops, nay dare them to put it into practice.
4.       No real advantage in writing a letter to Bishops just to raise the profile of CCRI. Far more important to look inwards and develop CCRI. We need to explore the final document, see if the voting is made public and what the commentators say about it in their summing up. We need to carefully gain an understanding of the impact of these two meetings of the Synod on central Church governance. Things are changing. For example, acknowledge Francis for the  new Vatican department overseeing "laity, family and life" has been announced by Pope Francis.  He has decided to establish a new dicastery with competency for Laity, Family and Life, that will replace the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. (Scilla Stack, Australia)
5.       Include in a letter to bishops some encouragement along these lines: empower your people as Francis has empowered you.  Use the language that Francis has been using.  Do not shy away from the challenges of decentralization; encounter diversity as it is, in a messy field hospital.  Rely more on the Spirit, and less on the law. (Clyde Christofferson, U.S.)
6.       One member of the English speaking group D felt that the Church has forgotten Jesus in all this discussion and that the bishops and many laypeople may be perceived as Pharisees. CCRI could write a letter to the bishops supporting the person who said this, and the insight presented.  The letter could also take note of the difficulty, evident in the reports, of reconciling a) concerns in Africa about being a field hospital in a culture where polygamy is practiced, with b) concerns in the West about being a field hospital in a culture where divorce and remarriage is common.  The letter could echo the point made by the above intervention, and briefly reflect on how Christ was able to move beyond the law by saying, "let the one who is without sin cast the first stone." Because of what Christ said, the local community did not enforce the law and thereby -- perhaps unwittingly -- invited the woman caught in adultery on a journey toward following the law written on her heart by a loving God.
7.       Our letter, if written, would  not about “kissing up” or reneging on our commitment.  It’s about acknowledging that something has moved… and something still needs to happen – and we’re here to help make it happen! (Barbara Dreher, U.S.)
8.       We need to congratulate, encourage and support Francis and those who have "stuck their necks out" to help the dream of a "Jesus-like" Church become a reality. (Carol Harris, U.S.)
9.       Strong support for Clyde’s suggestions (Larry Carney, Canada)
10.   A letter of congratulations is in order - though it should be addressed directly to Cardinal Walter Kasper and Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher for their courageous statements and bold ideas around moving forward on the question of the divorced and remarried and re-imaging and re-constructing the critical role of woman in the Church. (Michael Redfearn, Canada)
11.  Send an Open Letter to Pope Francis, thanking him, and wishing him good health. (John Dayal, India)
12.   We should have an open letter addressed to the Pope alone and make sure he can read it, and supporting him in this crucial moment of the Church, and also letting him know that the faithful can never be ruled by an all-male dominated church body. (+Dr. Karl Rodig, U.S.)
13.   Wait for the final document of the Synod before making any official move or publication. Congratulations is not in order. But there will be a second chance. We mustn't forget that, after the publication of that final document by the Synod, the pope will utter the only text that will really matter. (Meneldil Palantir Talmayar, France)


Feast of the Guardian Angels, October 2nd, A. D. 2015

(Please share share with all people. Compartir con todos)

Peace and greetings to all in the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ around the World!

We approaching the Second part of the Synod on the Family.  As we have learned and experienced, the Family in today's world is broader than the past has shown. We do realize that it is a multi facet social entity that is also complex in its nature. Young people who grow up are thinking more inclusive and see society more critical. The decision to marry is tough as society is driven by consumerism and ego trips in many ways. Yet, the desire to love someone wholeheartedly is still alive and needs to be nurtured, especially through the true meaning and experiencing of love, faith, and the everlasting hope that God is always there for us.

Through the last century, theology has seen many changes in its view of who God is and we still have sometimes distorted and narrow minded views of God. As God is always the Other, we will never comprehend God fully, yet enough to make us loving him with all our hearts, mind and soul. 

As the bishops, priests, and lay representatives gather in Rome again, and as we see the Pope Francis desire to reach out to all who make up the family, -and all means all- we are part of this renewal in the Church, and also looking for change. 

I have attached the document in PDF Format, so you can all read it, it is in English, it shows a deeper understanding and also an insight what is happening with the Church, and where we need to be more constructive to work towards needed reforms!
Please read it yourself, sign it and send it our, help to publicize it where and whenever you can.

Be all blessed 
With my prayers for you all, and pray for me.
+Karl

Here is the message from our Chair for the Catholic Church Reform International:

Please send out the attached model email to bishops, clergy, and anyone who might have an influence on the Synod:
Knowing the challenge in getting people to open an attachment when sent from an unknown source, attached is a model email ready to go out to attendees of the Synod or anyone who might have an influence on them. We have included our survey summary in the body of the email with a link given to the full report: The People Speak. In the days remaining between now and the opening of the Synod (October 4, 2015), we encourage you to use this model email and send it out to anyone and everyone to make known the views of the people of God.

The Women’s Ordination Conference:
Several of us have just returned from the WOW Conference. It was a beautiful experience with about 500 reform-minded people from around the world. We gathered about 50 new individuals and five new organizations as supporters. We held a workshop called Speaking Out with a Common Global Voice to which over a hundred people attended. To read more about it and see a few of the photos that were taken, go to our homepage: www.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org and scroll down to the heading: CCRI Representatives attend WOW Conference.

A Pilgrimage for Reform leading up to a Worldwide People’s Synod
While we were in Rome last year, Janet Hauter made a presentation at our workshop introducing the idea of having a Pilgrimage for Reform in 2016 and a People’s Synod in 2017-18. The idea of a People’s Synod originally stemmed from a national VOTF conference in 2009. The concept continued to grow legs at this conference and to garner more support. We will keep you posted about this monumental project as further discussion continues.

Thanks to all for your support,
Rene

¡Paz y saludos a todos en la Iglesia Católica Ecuménica de Cristo alrededor del mundo! 

Nosotros acercándose a la Segunda parte del Sínodo en la Familia. Como hemos aprendido y hemos experimentado, la Familia en el mundo de hoy es más amplia que el pasado ha mostrado. Realmente realizamos que es una faceta multó-entidad social que también es compleja en su naturaleza. 
Los jóvenes que crecen piensan más globales y ven la sociedad más crítica. La decisión de casarse es resistente ya que la sociedad es conducida por protección al consumidor y viajes del ego desde muchos puntos de vista. Sin embargo, el deseo de amar a alguien sinceramente todavía está vivo y necesita ser nutridos, especialmente a través del verdadero significado y experimentar del amor, la fe y la esperanza eterna de que Dios siempre está ahí para nosotros.
Durante el siglo pasado, la teología ha visto muchos cambios de su opinión de a quién Dios es y todavía hemos deformado a veces y visiones dispuestas estrechas de Dios. Como Dios siempre es el Otro, nunca entenderemos a Dios totalmente, aún bastante para hacernos amándole con todos nuestros corazones, mente y alma. Como los obispos, sacerdotes, y están los representantes se juntan en Roma otra vez, y ya que vemos a Papa Francisco desear tender la mano a todos que arreglan a la familia, - y todos los medios todo-somos la parte de esta renovación en la iglesia, y también buscamos un cambio.

¡He atado el documento en el Formato de PDF, por tanto lo puede leer todo, está en inglés, muestra un entendimiento más profundo y también una perspicacia lo que pasa con la iglesia, y donde tenemos que ser más constructivos para trabajar para conseguir reformas necesarias! Por favor léalo usted mismo, fírmele y envíelo a sus locales obispos, y a todos que desean un cambio en la Iglesia; así ayude a hacerlo público donde y siempre que pueda. 

Sean todos bendecidos
Con mis rezos de todos ustedes, y también rezan por mí. 
+Karl 

Aquí está el mensaje de nuestra Silla para Catholic Church Reform International: Por favor envíe el correo electrónico modelo adjunto a obispos, clero y cualquiera que podría tener una influencia en el Sínodo: Saber el desafío en conseguir de la gente abrir un accesorio cuando enviado de una fuente desconocida, atada es un correo electrónico modelo listo para salir a asistentes del Sínodo o cualquiera que podría tener una influencia en ellos. Hemos incluido nuestro resumen de la revisión en el cuerpo del correo electrónico con una relación dada al informe lleno: La gente Habla. En los días restante entre ahora y la apertura del Sínodo (el 4 de octubre de 2015), le animamos a usar este correo electrónico modelo y enviarlo a cualquiera y cada uno para hacer conocido las visiones de las personas de Dios. La conferencia de la ordenación femenina: Varios de nosotros acaban de volver de la Conferencia WOW. Era una experiencia hermosa con aproximadamente 500 personas dispuestas a la reforma de todo el mundo. Juntamos a aproximadamente 50 nuevos individuos y cinco nuevas organizaciones como partidarios. Creímos que un taller llamó Hablar claro con una Voz Global Común a la cual más de cien personas asistieron. Para leer más sobre ello y ver algunas de las fotos que fueron tomadas, vaya a nuestra página de inicio: www.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org y voluta abajo al título: los representantes de CCRI asisten a la Conferencia WOW. Una Peregrinación para Reforma que conduce a un Sínodo de una gente Mundial Mientras estábamos en Roma el año pasado, Janet Hauter hizo una presentación a nuestro taller que introduce la idea de tener una Peregrinación para la Reforma en 2016 y un Sínodo de una gente en 2017-18. La idea de un Sínodo de una gente al principio provino de una conferencia VOTF nacional en 2009. El concepto siguió cultivando piernas en esta conferencia y recoger más apoyo. Le guardaremos fijado sobre este proyecto monumental mientras que la discusión adicional sigue. 
Gracias a todos para su apoyo, 
Rene

September XX, 2015Name of person being addressed Via Electronic mailDear Bishop:Below please find a summary of responses to a global survey conducted by Catholic Church Reform International. The vast majority of survey respondents are active Catholics and people who are searching for the Lord – people who have good will but for whom particular Church teachings regarding the family have proven to be a stumbling block. Pope Francis has called for pastoral responses that do not simply bind the wounds but address root causes.We commend this summary for your consideration. We pray for you and for the guidance of the Spirit so that the members of the Synod will be overcome with the joy of the Gospel to find a way forward for families.

THE PEOPLE SPEAKA Jubilee Year Research InitiativeAs a tribute to Pope Francis’s call for a Jubilee Year of Mercy, we began a collaborative project with two reform communities, Catholic Church Reform International (CCRI) and the American Catholic Council (ACC), addressing the same thematic questions targeted by the Lineamenta questionnaire but offered in more comprehensible language. 

Respondents self-identified as Active Catholics (78%), Former Catholics (9%), Other Christians (1%), Other Faiths (9%) and unidentified (3%). Involving over 5000 participants, our focus was to provide real responses from lived experiences drafted by a global Catholic population, noting the comparisons and contrasts across the regions of the world.Respondents were asked to rate the effectiveness of the pastoral care of the Church on 14 issues providing additional comments or recommended solutions, if desired. 
In our most recent survey, responses, expressed in English, came from 44 countries globally. The areas of greatest discontent with the Church’s pastoral care are: 

TopicFavorable Effectiveness Poor or Ineffective

Cohabitation 9% 71%
Inter-faith Marriage35%38%
LGBT6%76%Contraception12%76%
Single Parent Families 30%40%

Mixed Family 20%29%
Divorced/Remarried 13%81%
Left the Church 15%77%
Women 19%72%
Troubles in Families 23%64%
Children in Difficult Situations 31%37%
Clerical Sex Abuse 11%70%
Women/Children 20%47%
Marriage Preparation 46%26% 
Divorced/Remarriage--81% ineffective 

Left the Church—77% ineffective 

LGBT—76% ineffective 
Contraception—76% ineffective
Women—72% ineffective 
Cohabitation—71% ineffective  
Sex Abuse---70% ineffective

If there were one word exemplifying the grace-filled responses of our research, it would be woundedness. Deeply hurt by the execution of a “pathology of power” (words used by Pope Francis himself) in our Church many were unable to experience faith in its fullest. The “field hospital” described by Pope Francis was imagery offering hope that mercy and healing were actually possible and may have influenced responses.In the comments offered, there were many passionate pleas asking for compassion from a rigid, legalistic Church that lost Jesus’ core message of love. Our research was both not surprising and surprising. Not surprising because it reiterated what we already knew and conversely surprising in the raw honesty that was shared. The quick, honest responses gathered were, no doubt, prompted by Pope Francis’s never-before invitation to hear from the people directly. As the world watches this pope, we are being vicariously influenced and empowered to find our voices and respectfully speak truth through our stories akin to the method used by Jesus in His teaching.The People of God recognize that we are a Church groaning in pain with an institutional Church judging us punitively for life-altering decisions with no understanding of contemporary lived experiences made under undue stress. As the Pope models Christ’s values inviting us to do the same in being more welcoming, inviting and nurturing, our survey responses expressed consistent calls for institutional reform: Welcome the Divorced and Remarried to the Sacraments: The People of God commend Pope Francis for offering a “life-giving” solution to the issue of divorced people receiving Eucharist and we encourage the bishops to embrace this position. Reach out to and make every effort to embrace Catholics who’ve left: The Church at all levels must adopt a more pastoral Christ-like presence to become more just, welcoming, inviting, and nurturing of those who have left, compassionately make contact through a visit, survey, etc. to learn their reasons. We may learn something and those that left will feel as though someone cares. Leave decisions regarding artificial contraception to personal conscience: By far, the majority of Catholics have followed the Doctrine of Reception that states that if the people do not accept a particular church teaching and it is ignored, the teaching is not valid. This is clearly the case with the Church’s stance on artificial contraception. Responsible Parenthood must be recognized as a value among families today. Treat the LGBT community with respect:: There is great concern with the disrespectful language [e.g. “disordered state”] and abhorrent behavior dealt toward the LGBT community. Households with such children find the Church’s treatment of their children reprehensible. Radical, humane changes in church behavior and pronouncements must occur mirroring scientific discoveries, compassion and tolerance. Recognize the equality of women in the Church: The Church must drop the myth and pretense of prohibiting women’s assent to authority and offices. This corrupt distortion of justice does not mirror historical precedent, as women were once deacons. Women can no longer suffer the discriminatory gender bias in an institution that chooses to be unjust
The survey report reveals that the People of God believe change is imperative in order for the Church to reflect Jesus’ values of love, inclusion, and compassion. In keeping with Pope Francis’s directive to have the Bishops gather the concerns of the people, we call upon all bishops to prayerfully consider the outpouring expressed by these caring Catholics. Let us work together to build a Church that ever more fully reveals the eternal love of God our Creator, as revealed by Jesus, and enlivened by the Holy Spirit.The full survey report, called The People Speak, can be found at http://www.catholicchurchreform.com/…/Jubileepapersurveydat… in Christ,[Your signature]On behalf of Catholic Church Reform Internationalwww.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org




Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, A. D. 2015

(Please share share with as many people all)

Peace to you all, brothers and sisters in Christ.
I hope you all enjoying the time of Summer, and share the many gifts God provides in the Holy Spirit. The Lord has shown HIS Grace upon the people created in HIS love, we see this in many inspiring ways in our missions around the world. It is the little things that we do for others in need, be it in your pastoral care for others, be it through our orphanages, the poor, the education that you provide, the healing that you bring to others.
We are aware that Pope Francis is facing many obstacles from church forces within that try to block his loving heart to the world. We are here to support his efforts, and as he is listening to us, we pray in the Holy Spirit, that all will be according to God's Will.

As we approaching the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and as we will discuss more pertinent family issues for the Synod in Rome, I urge you to spread the following documents below to many people as possible, including all our clergy, and the faithful, and if you have connection with Roman Catholic clergy let them know as well.
Thank you!!

Catholic Church Reform International Press Release. Please you can. It is vital for the continuation of the Synod in Rome! Thank you!!

Below is the press release that we encourage you to disseminate to all of your media contacts and local media outlets

Attached are 3 items: (1) the draft cover letter that we offer as a model for sending to your bishops; (2) the survey data report; and (3) reflections and recommendations regarding the Jubilee Paper. In this last section, it is a most appropriate place to add your own comments regarding any unique cultural issues pertinent to your region of the world.

Much work has gone into the survey, gathering of the data, and the drafting of this paper. Let’s join together to spread it far and wide around the world. As for CCRI, we will make every effort to get this paper to every attendee of the coming Synod. But it would not be a waste of effort, if some of the bishops received more than one copy. So let us now “go forth and multiply.” Let us use this time between now and the opening of the Synod to get this paper into the hands of every Catholic, every former Catholic, every pastor, every bishop, and Pope Francis himself. This paper is truly the voice of the People who have spoken out loudly and clearly in our surveys and regional gatherings throughout the world.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CATHOLICS WORLDWIDE OVERWHELMINGLY ECHO POPE FRANCIS'S CALL FOR CHURCH TO CHOOSE PASTORAL PATH OF MERCY IN MINISTERING TO THE FAITHFUL

A few days after his election, Pope Francis, when speaking to his first Sunday audience in St. Peter's Square, recalled Jesus's striking attitude toward the woman taken in adultery, "We do not hear words of scorn, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, that invite us to conversion. Neither do I condemn you: go and sin no more!" It is within the context of this generous spirit of mercy that Catholic Church Reform International and the American Catholic Council have united to mark the Jubilee Year of Mercy by releasing The People Speak, a global report based on the feedback of over 5000 participants, who rated the efficacy of Church teaching on the Baptized and often added personal comments giving context to their ratings. In many areas of family life, significant majorities of respondents rated Church teachings as ineffective or extremely ineffective.

The report contains the painful stories of ordinary people, the vast majority of whom identify as committed, active Catholics, who struggle to maintain dignity and authenticity in situations not honored in Church doctrine or Canon Law. "The Church has betrayed children of her own family and, with no allowance for communication, has cut off all who are unable to live within its rules," said Rene Reid, director of Catholic Church Reform Int'l. "The wounded, the hurting, those in greatest need of the Sacraments are banned from the Eucharistic Table. This is unconscionable!" The survey respondents call for the Church to show some understanding for families who seek God and have good will, but who are nonetheless judged unworthy and marginalized. The CCRI-ACC coalition sees this not as a call for the cheap mercy of less stringent doctrine, but rather as witness to the priority which Christ gave to responding more closely to what is written on the human heart. The survey results identify areas in which this priority needs further attention by church hierarchy, including: divorce and remarriage without annulment, cohabitation, and issues related to Gay-Lesbian respect and equality.

It is the hope of the CCRI-ACC coalition that the integrity of The People Speak, containing the thoughts, feelings, opinions, experiences, hopes and faith of Catholics throughout the world, will help our leaders from the Pope through to local pastors prepare for the October 2015 Ordinary Synod of Bishops taking place in Rome in October, 2015. "We are committed to building a welcoming, inviting, and nurturing Church and to work side by side with Pope Francis to transform our Church into one that lives and practices the joy of the Gospel," said Janet Hauter, director of the U.S. based American Catholic Council.

Please go to the documents, "the People speak"
The People Speak (link to the Jubilee Paper posted on our CCRI website)

If needed, please contact our Director:
Contact: Rene Reid, CCRI Director
Phone: 775-772-1210; Email: rene.reid@CatholicChurchReformIntl.org


Catholic Church Reform  If you are interested in joining with reform-minded people to support Pope Francis in transformoing our Church from an institution of prescriptive rules into an inclusive and welcomng community, please take a moment to share a bit of...
catholicchurchreform.com




Easter, A. D. 2015

From your Ecumenical Primate
 (Please share with all)

Christus resurexit vere, Hallelujah!
                               
                                                                 The Peace of the Risen Lord be with you all!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
  
     With the celebration of Holy week, following Jesus in his suffering, seeing the despair of his followers, we come to realization that Easter is the answer to all their loss and our Quest for life. His Resurrection is needed in order to find life restored. It is the faith since the early Church that when we follow Jesus to the Cross, the light that emerges behind the Cross shows God's presence toward the resurrection. With this, God has acted and spoken once and for all in the history of mankind. Death where is your sting? Salvation has entered the world anew in an unheard manner, in a new Covenant that was sealed with the blood of Christ, the Love of God, that binds us toward HIS Kingdom.  

    In this faith in our loving God we can change our lives in a world around us that lives by hate, discrimination, social injustice, climate change, wars and famine; indeed we realize the deeper meaning of being connected with God who proclaims in Jesus the new way of Life according to the Gospels. Only in the change of our lives can we serve a better humanity that lives not world immanent, but seeks constantly the divine in order to find true humanity.

    May we all follow Jesus with eagerness until we see him one day in HIS Glory through the resurrection granted to us through him.

Christ is risen! We are saved through the Love that the Father has shown to us through his Son.
Let our Faith be a sign for others to find Christ in their lives as we all give witness to the Gospel, HIS Testament to us, because HE is with us till the end of times!

I wish you all from the bottom of my heart a very blessed Easter!
With my prayers and benedictions.
Yours,
+Karl
Presiding Archbishop
ECCC


ECCC News

USA, California
We welcome our new Parish in California with its Pastor, Fr. Jacob Nissim Levy, the parish name is:
Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles Archangels and Seraphim Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
8201 Grimsby Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045
He was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on March 14th, 2015 by our Apostolic Nuntius for the Western United States and the US Territories in the Pacific, Archbishop ++Dr. Kimo Keawe.

USA, Cathedral of St. Anthony in Detroit
Fr. Emmanuel Pillai has been appointed Assistant Pastor at the Cathedral and Spiritual director for the Monastery.

Europe, United Kingdom
Welcome to our new Priest, Archimandrite, Father Georges von Abel Bikhazi! who will start the Ecumenical Mission of St. John Chrysostom in the UK. He was received through our Nuntius for Europe, Archbishop ++Hristo Pissarov from Bulgaria.

Europe, Bulgaria
We also like greet the growing clergy for our Orthodox Church in Bulgaria under Archbishop ++Hristo Pissarov:
Fr. Georgi Dimitrov, Fr. Mihail Novak, Fr. Stefan Rusev, Fr. Stefan Vasilev, Fr. Svetlozar Arabadjiev.  Deacon Alfred Foskolo, Deacon Grigor Paskov,  Deacon Yordan Marchev, Subdeacon Aleksandar Cenov, and Subdeacon Emilian Georgiev.

Ukraine
We welcome our new Deacon Naxim Stavitzky in Donbas who will assist Fr. Yury Prikotenko

                     Many blessings to you all in your service of the Lord.
                 May the Eternal Shepherd reward you all in His Kingdom!




February, 18th, Ash Wednesday, A. D. 2015

(Please share this letter with all and beyond!)

Peace, and Greetings to you all on the Beginning of this Holy Season of Lent!

We take this time before Easter to reflect on the Life of Jesus, and his Suffering and Sacrifice of Redemption for Humanity. Without knowing him we are left alone in this world of indifference and destruction.

We see more and more Christians in the Middle East are being driven from their homes, entire Christian communities being wiped out, and as Christians also in Africa being slaughtered by extremists, we experience a new era of persecution of our brothers and sisters around the world. I urge you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ do not cease in your prayers for the churches in Africa and the Middle East. Only in the light of the Suffering of Jesus, his Cross and Resurrection on Easter are we able to be there for each other. Please pray for His Holiness, Pope Francis, as there are new threats against his life from the Islamist terrorist groups.

Our journey through the Lenten Season is a personal challenge. We shall take more time for prayer, seek meditation and imitate Jesus in our lives. These weeks and days of reflections will lead us closer to the Mystery of our own Salvation through HIM. Our faith needs nourishment. Our soul is journeying for its Creator, God, to rekindle our relationship with the Divine. We shall discover anew the Love for a God that loved us so much that he sacrificed HIS only begotten Son, so that we can live.
This mystery is so deep and overwhelming that our mind can never full comprehend the fullness of God's salvivic actions for us. When God loved us so much how much more are we compelled to love each other according to his holy Will.
I ask you all take time to read and meditate in Scripture, read good spiritual books of guidance, attend your local Churches every Sunday and show your commitment to your local Church Family. If we shall grow in our Faith, then your Church family is the place where you can grow, it is a testing ground of how strong your faith is, and how much more we have to grow with each other.

I do wish you all near and afar a blessed and joyous preparation for Easter when we celebrate the Resurrection of God's Son, but also see the predawn of our own resurrection, because he walked ahead of us home to the heavenly Father to share in HIS Glory, and to prepare a place for us.

With my prayers and benedictions to you all
+Karl

PS: Please see the attachments of the CRRI (Catholic Church Reform International), we are part of it, I am a consultor for them.
It contains a letter to Pope Francis, Press releases.

Please sign the letter to Pope Francis on the website link below. Thank you all!

The full letter to Pope Francis, to sign it, click:

http://www.catholicchurchreform.com/AlternativeLivingPoll.h….


Paz y saludos en el comienzo de este tiempo de Cuaresma Santa!

Tomamos esta vez antes de semana Santa para reflexionar sobre la vida de Jesús y su sufrimiento y sacrificio de redención para la humanidad. Sin conocerlo nos quedamos solos en este mundo de indiferencia y la destrucción.
Vemos cada vez más que cristianos en el Medio Oriente están siendo expulsados de sus hogares, comunidades cristianas se limpió hacia fuera y como cristianos también en África siendo masacrados por los extremistas, experimentamos una nueva era de la persecución de nuestros hermanos y hermanas alrededor del mundo enteros. Insto a que todos en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo no cesan en sus oraciones por las iglesias de África y Oriente Medio. Sólo teniendo en cuenta el Sufrimiento de Jesús, su Cruz y su Resurrección en la Pascua somos capaces de estar allí para el otro. Por favor oren por su Santidad el Papa Francis, ya que existen nuevas amenazas contra la vida de los grupos terroristas islamistas.
Nuestro viaje a través de la Cuaresma es un reto personal. Debemos tomar más tiempo para la oración, meditación buscamos e imitar a Jesús en nuestras vidas. Estas semanas y días de reflexiones nos conducirá al misterio de nuestra salvación a través de él. Nuestra fe necesita nutrirse. Nuestra alma es viajar por su creador, Dios, reavivar nuestra relación con lo divino. Descubriremos el amor por un Dios que amaba tanto que sacrificó a su hijo unigénito, para que podamos vivir nuevamente.
Este misterio es tan profunda y abrumadora que nuestra mente no puede nunca completo comprender la plenitud de las acciones salvivic de Dios para nosotros. Cuando Dios amó tanto, cuánto más nos estamos obligados a amarse mutuamente según su Santa voluntad.
Te pido que todo tome tiempo para leer y meditar en las escrituras, leer buenos libros espirituales de orientación, asistir a sus iglesias locales cada domingo y mostrar su compromiso con su familia de la iglesia local. Si nos vamos creciendo en nuestra fe, entonces su familia de la iglesia es el lugar donde usted puede crecer, es un campo de pruebas de lo fuerte que es tu fe, y cuánto más tenemos que crecer con el otro.

Deseo para todos cerca y lejos una preparación bendecido para la Pascua, cuando celebran a la resurrección del Hijo de Dios, pero también ven el amanecer de nuestra propia resurrección, porque El caminaba delante a la casa del padre celestial para compartir en su gloria y preparar un lugar para nosotros.

Con mis plegarias y bendiciones para todos
+ Karl





Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad 2014!
 
 Afrikaans:
 Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian:  Gëzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
Germany: Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein Gesegnetes Neues Jahr Euch allen Nah und Fern.
Möge der Friede Christi in Euere Herzen einziehen!
Arabic: ميلاد مجيد
Bulgaria: Весела Коледа и благословена Нова година
Armenian:  Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Janunt
Esturian:  Bones Navidaes & Gayoleru anu nuevu! 
Belgium:  Zalige Kertfeest   
Catalán:  Bon Nadal i feliç any nou!
Croatia:  Sretan Bozic
Danmark: Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
English:  Merry Christmas o Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year
Esperanto:  Gajan Kristnaskon & Bonan Novjaron
Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi ja Head uut aastat
Finland:  Hauskaa JouluaFrance: Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année! 
Galic: Nadolig LlawenGallego: Bon Nadal e Bo Ani Novo
Georgian: გილოცავთ შობა-ახალ წელს
Holand:  Hartelijke Kerstroeten

Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew:  חג מולד שמח
                 Hungary: Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket és Boldog újévet!
Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
Indonesia: Selamat Hari Natal & Selamat Tahun Baru 
   Irland: (Gaelic)
 Nollaig shona duit. Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit 
Italy:  Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japan: メリークリスマス
Latin: Pax Hominibus bonae voluntatis
 Lituania: Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu
Luxemburg:  Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer
Malaysia:  Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Norway:  Gledelig Jul
Navajo: Ya'at'eeh Keshmish
 Basque- Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Philippines: (Tagalog): Maligayang Pasko
Poland:  Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!
Portugal: Boas Festas e um Feliz Ano Novo
Rumania:  Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!
Russin: Pozdravlyenie s Rozjdyestvom i s Novym Godom!
Samoan: Manuia le Kerisimasi, ma le Tausaga Fou
Serbia: Hristos se rodi
Slowenia: Vesel božič in srečno novo leto
Somalia: ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican.
Spain: Feliz Navidadl! Feliz Año Nuevo!
Que Cristo La Luz del Mundo sea presente in sus corazones por siempre!
Sri Lanka: Subha Nattalak Veva 

Swahili: Krismasi Njema / Heri ya krismas. Heri ya mwaka mpya  Wapendwa, Noeli iko mlangoni! Nawatakieni wote heri sana na baraka kwa sikukuu hii ya Noeli. Aidha nawaombeeni mwaka mpya wa furaha, na mafaniko.
Sweden: God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Tahiti:  La ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti 'a
Tamil: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Turkey:  Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Valencia: Bon Nadal i feliç any nou
Thai: Suk san wan-krit-maat lae sa-wat-dee bpee mai
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun; Yeni Yilnizi Kutar, saadetler dilerim
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Vietnamese: Mung Le Giang Sinh. Cung Chuc Tan Nien Welsh - Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

                           Peace and Joy to you beloved brothers and sisters or of our Worldwide ECCC!

    Wishing you all from my heart a blessed and joyous Christmas with your loved ones, and your parish families! 
In the Advent Season, we all tried to reflect and live closer toward welcoming Jesus into our hearts. We realize much more has to be done to get closer to the heart of Jesus. Our prayers, our charitable deeds, and our longing to see more and more Christ in people who come along our way, are spiritual milestones towards reaching the Kingdom.

     We might have also listened close to the new actions that Pope Francis took toward Reforms within the Catholic Church Family, and the Catholic Reform Groups involved.He has also started the cleanup within the Vatican Curia, and his sharp tone toward the ailments that have intruded its bureaucracy, and behavior among its members.

    As we are an Ecumenical Catholic Church, we too long for reforms as we seek Unity among the Christian Churches.
Reform and Change starts within ourselves, how we perceive God, how we really listen to HIS Word, how we are willing to follow Christ first before seeking our own ways of life, how we treat each other, how we support our Church families in their struggles, how we always help the least in our society, the poor, the afflicted, the marginalized, the outcasts...

    Isn't it ironic that King David was expecting the Messiah to come in the Glory of a royal Palace, and yet God saw it fit to choose a young humble and faithful maiden in Mary to give birth to the King of our Lives, and low and behold he was not born in a Palace, but in a Manger, because people did not wanted to welcome him. This is what God shows us on Christmas: we think like King David, and yet we find ourselves full of the wondrous deeds that God is revealing to us.
We forget to welcome HIM, and as a human race think that we know it all, and we have the wisdom how to accomplish everything, and  in our pride we seek a self-fulfilling prophecy...And then we are more shocked when God intervenes in a humble and loving way that turns everything upside down. Our expectations are driven by our Ego, and it blinds us to see with the eyes of faith, to be humble, kind, merciful, and loving as HE is to us.

    Let us learn from Jesus life, words and deeds, let us see in Mary a model of life that reminds us always, I am the servant of the Lord...

    My heart is filled in this season with Joy and Peace as I see among you all God's wondrous Love present!
Let us pray for the protection of Pope Francis, let us pray for a world so much in need for Peace, let us pray for each others journey toward HIS Coming again in Glory in which we all shall partake.

With my prayers and benedictions to you all, wishing you a year 2015 that will be filled with health, and always Love for you all!
Yours in the Newborn King, Jesus, The Christ.
+Karl

Deseando a todos desde mi corazón una feliz Navidad y feliz con sus seres queridos y sus familias de la parroquia!

     En el tiempo de Adviento, todos tratamos de reflexionar y vivir más cerca hacia la bienvenida a Jesús en nuestros corazones. Nos damos cuenta de mucho más tiene que hacer para estar más cerca del corazón de Jesús. Nuestras oraciones, nuestras obras de caridad, y nuestro deseo de ver más y más a Cristo en las personas que vienen a lo largo de nuestro camino, son hitos espirituales para alcanzar el Reino.
Podríamos haber escuchado también cerca de las nuevas acciones que Francisco tomó hacia reformas dentro de la Iglesia católica de la familia, y hacia reformas que ha iniciado dentro de la Curia Vaticana, y su agudo tono de la limpieza de las dolencias que han invadido su burocracia, y comportamiento entre sus miembros.
Como somos una Iglesia Católica Ecuménica, tenemos demasiado tiempo para las reformas, mientras buscamos la unidad entre las Iglesias cristianas.

    La reforma y el cambio empieza dentro de nosotros mismos, cómo nos percibimos a Dios, cómo realmente escuchar su palabra, ¿cómo estamos dispuestos a seguir a Cristo en primer lugar antes de buscar nuestras propias formas de vida, la forma en que tratamos a los demás, cómo apoyamos a nuestras familias de la Iglesia en su luchas, cómo siempre ayudamos al menos en nuestra sociedad, los pobres, los afligidos, los marginados, los marginados ...

     ¿No es irónico que el Rey David esperaba que el Mesías vendrá en la gloria de un palacio real, y sin embargo, Dios no había motivos para elegir una joven humilde y fiel en María para dar a luz al Rey de nuestras vidas, y la baja y he aquí que no había nacido en un palacio, sino en un pesebre, porque la gente no quería darle la bienvenida. Esto es lo que Dios nos muestra en Navidad: pensamos como el rey David, y sin embargo, nos encontramos llena de las maravillas que Dios nos está revelando.

     Nos olvidamos de dar la bienvenida a él, y como raza humana pensar que lo sabemos todo, y tenemos la sabiduría cómo lograr todo, y en nuestro orgullo buscamos una profecía autocumplida ... Y luego nos son más sorprendido cuando Dios interviene de una manera humilde y amorosa que lo cambia todo. Nuestras expectativas son impulsados por nuestro ego y nos ciega a ver con los ojos de la fe, a ser humilde, bondadoso, misericordioso y bondadoso que es para nosotros.
     Aprendamos de Jesús la vida, palabras y acciones, vamos a ver en María un modelo de vida que nos recuerda siempre, soy la sierva del Señor ...
     Mi corazón está lleno de esta temporada con la alegría y la paz que yo veo entre vosotros maravilloso amor de Dios presente en todo!
Oremos por la protección de Francisco, oremos por un mundo tan necesitado de paz, oremos para cada demás viaje hacia su segunda venida en gloria en la que todos participaremos.

     Con mis oraciones y bendiciones a todos ustedes, que desean que un año 2015 que será llenado con la salud, y siempre amor para todos ustedes!
Suyo en el Rey recién nacido, Jesús, el Cristo.
+ Karl




                                            
     December 4th, Saint John of Damascus, A. D. 2014
From your Ecumenical Primate

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ around the World of our beloved Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ!

    As a worldwide church family we walk toward Christmas, we seek the conversion of our hearts toward Christ.
    The feast of the birth of Jesus, the Son of man, the King of kings, the humble servant, the child so poor and helpless
 is the chosen one to save  humanity. 
    We can never fully understand this mystery of God becoming man, His 
incarnation, yet we can see more closely with the heart of faith that is longing to share in his divinity. 
     All our worldly existence with all the  richness the world offers, will never reach the true pearl we find in this Child
 that is leading us to God, showing us the way to salvation.  On  my trip in Rome this past October, I shared 
with so many Roman Catholics from around the world seeking reforms, that we as Christians are compelled more than 
ever to live the Gospel of Christ, His Testament  of Love, Care, and Justice that sees all of humanity in a different 
light. We are all created in the image of God who dwells within our hearts waiting to be discovered. 
Christ was so eager to reach out to those in society who were abandoned, marginalized, condemned,
the very poor, the sick, and when he criticized the rich who are unwilling to share the burden in this world,
 when he cleansed the house of the Father from becoming a merchant hall,  so we as Christians also must walk 
in his footsteps, imitate His Life, and become like Him.
     We encounter a  suffering world, wars of hatred, religious extremism, and dictators that through relentless savagery
 causes destruction of whole human populations, consumerism that has left generations without a vision for a more just society,
 selfishness propaganda that is driving younger generations into despair not seeing a future with values. 
     We can continue the list, and yet there is light in the darkness coming our way, it is Christ Jesus who reaches out 
to us every day and moment of our lives, who wants us to live toward God's Kingdom. Let  us all accept this Child 
of Bethlehem, born to become our Savior, who suffers, dies, and rises from the death and pain, and lives among us
 in Word and Sacrament, in true Spirit and Love. 

    Let us go to seek him eagerly in this time of Advent, so that he finds us awake, and we are prepared to welcome him into our hearts, so that His Second Coming in Glory will be the beginning of the Eternal Celebration in His Kingdom.

    Wishing you all a reflective time of Advent, may the living Word of God, the Good News, handed over to us by the Apostles, become part of your daily Bread of Life.

With my prayers and benedictions

yours 

+Karl


                 For the year 2015, I encourage you,  if you with your local bishops, vicars or priests, have time to organize local meetings and report to the Catholic Church Reform International.
Here is the last meeting Report press release, and the List of Consultors, etc, including myself.

Here is the website:

For Immediate Release

18 November 2014

INTERNATIONAL REFORM NETWORK CALLS FROM MORE SYNOD OPENNESS

Catholic Church Reform International (CCRI), a network of groups and individuals in 65 countries committed to the renewal of the Catholic Church, is calling for more openness from the Synod of Bishops in its discussions on marriage and the family.

CCRI has recently written to Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, asking that the Vatican not only permit local Episcopal Conferences to make public the summaries of responses they prepare on Synod questionnaires, but actually encourage them to be more open.

Last year, when Cardinal Baldisseri sent a specially prepared Synod questionnaire to bishops across the world urging them to circulate it widely and get grass-roots feedback on the issues it raised, he also instructed that their summaries of the responses be kept secret.

Across the world almost all Episcopal Conferences and bishops acquiesced to the ban, with the notable exceptions of the German, Swiss, and Japanese Conferences and a few individual bishops, who decided that openness was the proper course and published their summaries. “The ban reinforced the impression that the Vatican still does not understand the importance of transparency,” said Rene Reid, CCRI convenor, “Nor is it in keeping with Pope Francis’s call for openness and involvement of all the People of God.

As preparations get under way for the Ordinary General Assembly in October 2015, the Catholic faithful are again to be asked to reflect, this time on the contents of the 62-paragraph