ECCLESIA CATOLICA ECUMENICA CHRISTI
Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
Ökumenische Katholische Kirche Christi
Chiesa Cattolica Ecumenica Di Cristo
Igreja Catolica Ecumenica De Cristo
كنيسة المسيح الكاثوليكية المسكونية
Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Georgia, Hong Kong, India,
Latin America New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia,
Ukraine, The Caribbean, The Philippines, USA
Holy See of The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ
International Headquarters
5247 Sheridan Street
Detroit, MI 48213
E-mail: cathedralst.anthony@yahoo.com
Cathedral Website:
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 Glass 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!
Church Sunday Mass live:
https://www.facebook.com/St.AnthonyECCC
Join Facebook: Karl Rodig
From the Office of the Ecumenical Primate
Archbishop Dr. Karl Rodig
Please share with all, and if possible translate in to your local language. Thank you!
Por favor, comparta con todos, y si es posible traduzca a su idioma local. ¡Gracias!
Si prega di condividere con tutti, e se possibile tradurre nella tua lingua locale. Grazie!
Моля, споделете с всички и, ако е възможно, преведете го на вашия местен език. Благодаря ти!
Будь ласка, поділіться з усіма, і, якщо це можливо, перекладіть на свою місцеву мову. Дякую!
Пожалуйста, поделитесь со всеми и, если возможно, переведите на свой местный язык. Спасибо!
Please share with all, and if possible translate in to your local language. Thank you!
Por favor, comparta con todos, y si es posible traduzca a su idioma local. ¡Gracias!
Si prega di condividere con tutti, e se possibile tradurre nella tua lingua locale. Grazie!
Моля, споделете с всички и, ако е възможно, преведете го на вашия местен език. Благодаря ти!
Будь ласка, поділіться з усіма, і, якщо це можливо, перекладіть на свою місцеву мову. Дякую!
Пожалуйста, поделитесь со всеми и, если возможно, переведите на свой местный язык. Спасибо!
March 12th, Saint Vindicianus, A. D. 2022
(Please share with all your people! Por favor compartir con toda su gente!)
Peace, and greetings, dear brothers and sisters in the service of the Lord, and all our beloved faithful in this Holy Season of Lent!
As we all have started our Lenten Season with reflection and renewal of our lives, especially our spiritual way of living and devotion to God, I would like to share with you some thoughts that came through my mind in this past days.
We have Lent, Quaresima, because in Scripture it is Jesus who leads us in our fight for not falling into temptation, resisting the forces of evil that can destroy body and soul! As clergy and as Christians we made a choice to follow Jesus and live through him as a shining light for this world.
Yet, we might be frustrated at times to see that there is so much of a broken world, a new war that massacres innocent people in the Ukraine, orchestrated by a madman who fell into the temptation of building an empire based on lies and deceit; we see how people are being exploited from their fair share on the common good, as quite a few have fallen into the temptation of greed and trying to control a never before seen wealth that puts more people into poverty...We see climate change is a reality that Nature is being polluted on all fronts, air, water, and our living space in this creation of God! We ask ourselves where will this end? How can we fast and reflect on our lives as we see all this destruction around us?
Many of us think that we are helpless, and we are not able to see a better world for tomorrow...
Yet it is the our faith that is tested here not to fall in the temptation to be controlled by hopelessness, it is our trust in God through our inner connection with Yahweh.
I saw on TV an old mother crying in the Ukraine saying, "I am not afraid of dying or being killed, I am afraid of my children and grant children..." And she repeated it. In her heart she knew that faith was stronger than the enemies at her door trying to kill her...
This reminds me on Psalm 18, 1- 30. We shall pray it more often. I will post the verses here as a reminder that this prayer is what we need to find ourselves again in harmony with God: " 1 I love you, Yahweh, my strength (my Saviour, you have saved me from violence). 2 Yahweh is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer is my God. I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield, my saving strength, my stronghold, my place of refuge. 3 I call to Yahweh who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my foes. 4 With Death's breakers closing in on me, Belial's torrents ready to swallow me, 5 Sheol's snares every side of me, Death's traps lying ahead of me, 6 I called to Yahweh in my anguish, I cried for help to my God; from his Temple he heard my voice, my cry came to his ears. 7 Then the earth quaked and rocked, the mountains' foundations shuddered, they quaked at his blazing anger. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils, from his mouth devouring fire (coals were kindled at it). 9 He parted the heavens and came down, a storm-cloud underneath his feet; 10 riding one of the winged creatures, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind. 11 His covering he made the darkness, his pavilion dark waters and dense cloud. 12 A brightness lit up before him, hail and blazing fire. 13 Yahweh thundered from the heavens, the Most High made his voice heard. 14 He shot his arrows and scattered them, he hurled his lightning and routed them. 15 The very springs of ocean were exposed, the world's foundations were laid bare, at your roaring, Yahweh, at the blast of breath from your nostrils! 16 He reached down from on high, snatched me up, pulled me from the watery depths, 17 rescued me from my mighty foe, from my enemies who were stronger than I. 18 They assailed me on my day of disaster but Yahweh was there to support me; 19 he freed me, set me at large, he rescued me because he loves me. 20 Yahweh rewards me for my uprightness, as my hands are pure, so he repays me, 21 since I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and not fallen away from my God. 22 His judgements are all before me, his statutes I have not put away from me. 23 I am blameless before him, I keep myself clear of evil. 24 So Yahweh repaid me for acting uprightly because he could see I was pure. 25 You are faithful to the faithful, blameless with the blameless, 26 sincere to the sincere, but cunning to the crafty, 27 you save a people that is humble and humiliate those with haughty looks. 28 Yahweh, you yourself are my lamp, my God lights up my darkness; 29 with you I storm the rampart, with my God I can scale any wall. 30 This God, his way is blameless; the word of Yahweh is refined in the furnace, for he alone is the shield of all who take refuge in him..."
As we walk in our faith with hope, and with that everlasting love that God keeps pouring out into our hearts through his beloved Son in the Holy Spirit I find myself in Luke 21, 9-28 as he is spot on, when all this things happen, in the end "stand upright...your liberation is near at hand", 9 And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.' 10 Then he said to them, 'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven. 12 'But before all this happens, you will be seized and persecuted; you will be handed over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name 13 -and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Make up your minds not to prepare your defense, 15 because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. 17 You will be hated universally on account of my name, 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 Your perseverance will win you your lives. 20 'When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you must realize that it will soon be laid desolate. 21 Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. 22 For this is the time of retribution when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. 23 Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! 24 'For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete. 25 'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; 26 men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand upright, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'
May we be faithful to our God, and may HE grant Peace to the People of the Ukraine and all people around the World.
Wishing you all a blessed remaining Lenten Season leading us to Easter.
In Christ's Love
Yours,
+Karl
ECCC NEWS
Please, I cannot urge you enough to find ways and channels to expand our St. Anthony's Cathedral House of Liturgical Studies: to enroll more students from around the world, to connect with other institutions that can cooperate with our school.
This letter from the Chancellor of our School, Msgr. Dr. Tom Roberts is an invitation to you all:
Your Holiness, Your Eminences, Excellencies and Archbishops and all other concerned clergy and fellow educators,
Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and May His Blessings be given to you all.
I am Monsignor Tom Roberts, PhD, DD. As many of you know, I represent St Anthony's Cathedral House of Liturgical Studies as Chancellor.
Our faith community is The Worldwide Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ under the auspices of His Eminence Primate Archbishop Karl Rodig.
Our worldwide communion is interested in the collaboration of educational and inter-faith and collegial efforts. We have a growing seminary that offers certificates of study through a Doctorate of Theology with four language components. We are dedicated to the preparation of students for scholarly work. As Chancellor, I have been commissioned to reach out to other jurisdictions for the creation of an environment of scholarship and cooperation.
It is certainly no surprise to anyone in the Reformed or Old Catholic Movements to understand that there has been much division as well as splits in many faith communities.
My fellow clergy and educators, in my professional opinion, we should do everything we can to reverse these trends by creating a mutual professional relationship which would overcome our historical challenges. We have already begun the process of opening extensions of our seminary in several nations and are working on concordant agreements with other jurisdictions to share faculty and to create joint or dual degree programs where our academic policies coincide with the standards of other institutions.
Would you be interested in working with us to continue this process? We would love to find other qualified men and women who desire to bring quality education to their jurisdictions. This can be accomplished not only online and through mentorships but also through training within the parish itself for residential requirements. Most of our courses consist of a blended format with online classroom hours combined with independent study and collateral reading. If one reviews our seminary website, it can be seen that through our rigorous degree programs and flexible tuition structure that we take education extremely seriously. We have plans to join academic and professional associations as well as ASIC for accreditation in the future. Please review our website at http://www.stanthonysliturgicalhouse.org. We are currently authorized to grant degrees through a religious exemption from the State of Virginia, USA.
Please consider bringing our seminary to your parish. St Anthony's House of Liturgical Studies also invites qualified educated clergy to join our growing worldwide academic faculty.
Please feel free to share this email with any interested party.
May we work together to reverse the tide of division and unnecessary competition among jurisdictions who should join with each other to bring glory to Christ and His Kingdom and act as the Body of Christ in the common goal to fulfill the Great Commission through ministry and education (Matt 28:19).
If I may be of any assistance to any of you regarding this matters, please feel free to reply to this email: sacralkingship@yahoo.com or contact me at my home telephone number 208-549-2351.
Sincerely In Christ's Holy Name,
Monsignor Tom Roberts, PhD, DD
Chancellor
St Anthony's Cathedral House of Liturgical Studies
-Latin America and Europe:
Incardination into the ECCC/ICEC
We have incardinated through our Apostolic Nuncio in Costa Rica our new Archbishop ++Antonio Jimenez with the Prelature of the Fraternidad Sacerdotal Apostolica de Santa Filomena with members of priests, nuns and missions in Ecuador, Colombia, Spain and Portugal.
A Wholeheartedly Welcome to you all to our worldwide ECCC/ICEC!
Africa:
Request for Incardinations:
The following incardiantions are being in progress through our Apostolic Nuncio for Africa, Archbishop Godfrey Siundu.
Democratic Republic of Congo:
Bishop +Donatien Abel Tshitanta Musungayi, including the congregation of the Sisters of Mary.
Gabon
We are in dialog for incardination with Rev Fr Aloysius Chinoso MSF the Coordinator of Missionary of Stevenist Fathers Libreville Gabon.
We pray that your journey into our Communion will be blessed!
USA/Europe/Africa
Congratulations:
Archbishop Dr. Tony Scuderi who just published the new book for our ECCC/ICEC, "A Text Commentary and Cannon Law of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ Worldwide", it enlightens us on the meaning of the Canon Law and guides us. This book is very important to you all around the world! It is based on our Church Manifesto, our restrictives, the Roman CIC, and other Denominations. (A separate book of Cannon Law Volume I will follow soon) Archbishop Tony is also working on the Pontifical for liturgies for our ECCC which of course respects the different liturgical Rites that are present in our Church, catholic, orthodox, old catholic, Anglican, and other eastern Rites. I bought 20 copies of it which I will distribute to you bishops, Please provide me with your proper mailing address! If you would like to purchase the Book, please do so, it is available on Amazon!
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A new book by Archbishop Agostino De Caro, our Apostolic Nuncio for Western Europe. A spiritual book dedicated to Mary.
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From our Archbishop Godfrey Siundu, Apostolic Nuncio for Africa, and his book, "The power of Deliverance".
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Monsignor Dr. Tom Roberts also wrote a book recently -among other works-, on marriage with a deep theological analysis bringing it into a new light:
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Thank you all for your tireless ministry in the vineyard of the Lord!
Be all blessed!
June 22nd, Saint Paulinus, A. D. 2021
The Ecumenical Primate Dr. Karl Rodig
+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Peace to you all brothers and sisters in the Good Lord!
It is with a heavy heart to let you know that our beloved brother, Fr. Dr. Rogelio Carrera, NOSF, has just passed away of complication due to the covid19 virus. I was contacted by his son Leo. Fr. Rogelio was so proud of his 4 sons and family. He has been a Franciscan in our Order since 2016. He was a very humble priest and he loved our Church. He supported our outreach for the poor and never stopped to let us know how thankful he was for the gift of humility and service for so many who were in his care as a Family Doctor. Our Condolences go out to his family and friends. Here is a little bit from our brother's obituary:
Fr. Rogelio "Roger" L. Carrera, MD, age 69, of Knoxville, TN entered the loving arms of Jesus on June 18, 2021. Born August 22, 1951, in Havana, Cuba, he was the son of Dr. Rogelio H. Carrera, MD and Asuncion Diaz Carrera. As a young child, he fled to the United States with his family before the borders closed following the fall of Batista. He obtained his Bachelor's degree at Tulane University, and his Medical degree at Compultense University of Madrid in Spain. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Air Force, where he served as a flight surgeon earning a Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He owned a family practice off of John Sevier Highway in Knoxville, TN prior to serving in Operation Desert Storm.
Upon returning home, he practiced as an emergency room physician across the country. His passion was family and serving others. He was beloved by all who knew him. He was a life-long member of the Catholic Church, and he was an ordained priest in the New Order of St. Francis and St. Clare of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents; He is survived by his sister, Alina (Jack) Grier; his sons, Scott, Leopoldo, Adam, and Jeremy Carrera; several grandchildren; and countless close friends that he considered family.
Upon returning home, he practiced as an emergency room physician across the country. His passion was family and serving others. He was beloved by all who knew him. He was a life-long member of the Catholic Church, and he was an ordained priest in the New Order of St. Francis and St. Clare of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents; He is survived by his sister, Alina (Jack) Grier; his sons, Scott, Leopoldo, Adam, and Jeremy Carrera; several grandchildren; and countless close friends that he considered family.
May you rest in the peace of our Good Shepherd who called you to the heavenly Kingdom, and may the angels and saints sing the Hymn of Glory when you enter.
Well done, good servant of God and His people.
We will miss you greatly.
We will have a requiem mass for his repose this coming Sunday.
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Please be all safe out there.
Prayers promised,
remaining yours with my benedictions
+Karl
Ecumenical Primate
The Ecumenical Primate Dr. Karl Rodig
+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Peace to you all brothers and sisters in the Good Lord!
It is with a heavy heart to write to you about the repose of our beloved bishop in Panama, +Julian Castillo.
We are in sorrow of a good man, wonderful preacher of the Word of the Lord, and pastor and great theologian
that is greatly missed by his people and by us! He suffered from Leukemia and it has taken its toll.
We want to express our condolences to his family and all who were in his care.
Please say a mass in his memory this coming Sunday, the Feast of the Corpus Christi.
May he rest in the Peace of His Savior, the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ!
R.I.P
Some ECCC News:
On more joyful occasions:
With great Joy we receive and celebrate communions:
-On June 1st A. D. 2021, we have received in our Church Communion
Die Keltische Katholische Kirche and die Selbstaendige Katholische Kirche with
their Leader, Archbishop Thomas Andrew from Germany.
The SKD/KKD is a full member in the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ and is
canonically a Prelature in the ECCC.
-On April 30th A. D. 2021, we have signed an Intercommunion with
The Traditional Anglican Church in Colombia, with their leader,
Archbishop Archimedes Gomez Rojas.
-On May 30th A.D. 2021 we have signed an Intercommunion with
The Orthodox Church Patriarchate of Nations in France with their leader,
His Beatitude, Patriarch Nicola I.
-We working on our Membership with the WCCC in Geneva.
-We working on the legalization of our New Church in Egypt with their leader,
Archbishop Mina Tawfik.
-After communications, we finalizing to receive our first ECCC community under
Rex Thomas in Vanuatu, the Eastern Pacific.
-We have received the priest, Fr. Zachar with a community
in Jerusalem, the Holy Land.
I wanted to thank again our Nuncios: ++Agostino, ++Hristo, ++Sebastian,
++Godfrey who assisted in all of this.
You may see more of it on our international website with the respective countries.
We are eternally grateful to God Almighty who keeps giving us unworthy servants
Grace after Grace in all we do.
At last but not least, I wanted to emphasize -as in previous letters-
the beauty and importance of Education, be it for seminarians, lay people, or
as continued education program. We have a great School that is very happy
to receive you online wherever you are in this world!
Please contact them, refer students, lay people, your seminarians, and if you
know other Churches who struggle with education means, we welcome them,
we are ecumenical after all :o)
Please contact either: Mr. Garry Staszak admin@stanthonysliturgicalhouse.org
or Fr. Tom Roberts, Ph.D. sacralkingship@yahoo.com
who are more than happy to assist you.
As you know we have the school website posted everywhere on our websites.
Here it is again:
Thank you all for your service for God's people!
Sending you my apostolic benedictions
Remaining your servant of God
+Karl
Ecumenical Primate
(Please share with all)
Easter A. D. 2021
Christus Resurrexit Vere! Alleluja!
Peace and Greetings in the Name of the Risen Lord to you all, beloved brothers and sisters of our Worldwide Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ!
It fills me with great joy to greet you all on this blessed High Feast of the Church as we celebrate our Savior Glorious Resurrection!
We are at aw at this wonder of all wonders that God who gave all He had, Himself for our Salvation through His beloved Son who suffered, died and rose for us in the Holy Spirit.
There is no other Feast in the World that can show such deep Love of God for us, there is no other happening in any religion that can describe this deep meaning of God's Love for the world which He created.
As Christians we are filled with an inner spiritual awakening that will not end, we are drawn to God's presence in Christ Jesus among us caused by that Fire of the Holy Spirit.
Oh Love divine, how can we acknowledge such mystery given to us, oh beauty of this everlasting Joy that fills our hearts.
My dear brothers and sisters around the world, God has spoken to us through a final act of Redemption, God has delivered us from the claws of the Devil, God has shown us that He will never give up on us, pouring out this everlasting Love toward us and so that we are able to seek Him. Therefore, one day the Kingdom of Heavens will be filled with the unending number of faithful that returned this Love for God and Neighbor.
I wish you all a blessed Easter Season as you all celebrate within our Church families of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ around the World.
May you all be filled with the Spirit of the Powerful Message of Christ: Peace be with you! May your brother and sister-hood be filled with the sincere desire to live toward the Kingdom of God that is for all of His Children born into this world.
Despite the Pandemic and all the restriction we need to abide in order to save lives, we are able to pray and celebrate with each other in a safe way the Risen Lord in His loving presence within our midst.
As Christians we are Easter People, may we therefore all grow in and through Christ for a more loving world, may we rise to the Way, the Truth, and the Life that He always will be for us. May we speak up when injustice attacks our world and wars slaughter our brothers and sisters, may we help as we can those who endure famine and expulsion, those who are homeless, those who are fleeing their countries seeking a better life for their families. May we always see when evil tries to tear us apart as brothers and sisters. We shall always let our faith speak with the Heart of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
I can't wait to see you all again in your countries, and also meet the many new members who have entered our Church in many parts of the world.
Greetings to all in your care, sending you my apostolic benedictions
Your Servant of Christ
+Karl
ECCC Wold NEWS
With the request and the acceptance by the 6 Nuncios of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ, the Nuncios will serve on the advisory board for the Ecumenical Primate
Africa:
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kenya:
Congratulations to our Nuncio for Africa, Archbishop Godfrey Siundu for his book, "The Power of Deliverance" he just finished! The expansion of our Orphanage and School is ongoing, and the Completion of the New Cathedral is celebrated. The faithful have grown in great numbers. Archbishop Godfrey could also welcome the Deputy Prime Minister of Kenya.
Our Nuncio is also in talks with new bishops and church members from other churches who would like to join the ECCC in different parts of Africa. He is also in communication with the Orthodox Leader in South Africa who wants to join our ECCC. Blessed talks, our prayers are with you.
Cameroon:
Bishop Didier is working hard to expand his religious Order of the Companions of St. Augustine. His orphanage and school are blessed with the beloved orphans, children and care takers.
Democratic Republic of Congo:
Rev. Deacon Munembwe Mukumba Damas has build up our school in Bukavu which he named after the Ecumenical Primate, Archbishop Dr. Karl Rodig Primary School. We send them all our prayers and love! Looking forward to visiting you all!
Liberia-Sierra Leone- Ghana:
Fr. Emmanuel, Rev. Deacon Martin and the brothers and sisters are helping refugies and persecuted Christians. Our Prayers are with you always!
Europe:
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Italy:
Our Nuncio for Europe, Archbishop Agostino Di Caro has been appointed Provincial of the NOSF (New Order of Saint Francis) for Europe. He has received new members of the Order in Italy and Hungary.
As Nuncio I have asked him to be in communication with bishop Mina, his clergy, seminarians in Cairo, Egypt, and clergy members in Lebanon and Jordan. I was informed the negotiations for full communion with our Church are moving forward. Blessings and welcome to Bishop Mina and his Church!
Bulgaria:
Our Nuncio and Archbishop Hristo has communicated with Archbishop Agostino to have new communities of our NOSF into the East: Bulgaria, Russia and the Ukraine.
Archbishop Hristo has also a priest in Jerusalem who will start a community of the NOSF in the Holy Land. Congratulations to you all for expanding the NOSF.
Blessings.
Asia:
India:
Metropolitan Archdiocese of India:
Congratulations Archbishop Dr. Sunny has acquired and renovated with his clergy and church members their new Arch
diocesan Center in Kerala. He is also on Board for the Human Rights and Social Justice Commission for India.
diocesan Center in Kerala. He is also on Board for the Human Rights and Social Justice Commission for India.
Dr. Sunny has also a Sister religious Orden who wanted to join our Church in India. Prayers for you all.
Sri Lanka:
Fr. Michael is working tirelessly for his mission that have expanded!
Vicar General Nicholas has revived his monastic life and creating a new spiritual environment for many to witness.
I am also wanted to extend greetings from our Fr. Dilkushan.
The Philippines:
Bishop Manuel is spreading the Good News of our Church at the Cathedral of the Sacrifice Valley. We wish him all the blessings in the large area of Bataan where he is serving so many.
Bishop Armando with his cathedral church is serving many people in the Luzon and Manila area.
Our Provincial for the NOSF, Fr. Ted has expanded our Franciscan Mission work and received new members in our religious Order. Welcome and many blessings to you all.
Latin America:
Our Nuncio and Archbishop Sebastian works tirelessly to travel and support out missions in Latin America. He went recently to Cuba to organize our missions there, expand our religious Order of the NOSF as well.
Colombia:
We have received a new priest, Fr. Leiber in Cucuta. Welcome!
We also in talks with a new priest in Bogota who will join us soon.
Blessings to you all.
USA
Archbishop Tony from California has been appointed Nuncio for the USA and her territories. His installation will take place at our Cathedral in Detroit on Pentecost. Congratulations and Blessings to your new task. Archbishop Tony is also working on our Manifesto for the Layman. And is in preparation for developing a cannon law department for our School.
Please pray for our bishop Jeffrey from Texas who is battling cancer!
Our Saint Anthony's Cathedral Liturgical House of Studies is doing very well! We seek to expand worldwide and are in communication in various Countries.
Fr. Tom Roberts, Ph.D. has been elected as the new Chancellor. Congratulations, Fr. Tom!
We wish you and the School board, and the advisory board much success in this honorable task!
Please when you have students who seek a study online, please contact our school, either Mr. Garry Staszak or Fr. Tom Roberts.
This is a great opportunity to seek a degree and expand your horizons in theological, biblical and spiritual fields!
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Peace and Greetings in this Holy Seasons to you all in our
Worldwide Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ!
It is my sincere prayer and hope that you are all safe and well in this time that has become so different from times past. Our Advent's reflections this year might have been different this year as we had to take into account the onslaught of the Pandemic that has taken so many lives, and shown so much suffering and makes us speechless. We ask ourselves where can there be joy that we used to had, where are the big and happy family gatherings that we always were looking forward to...? Many of our church families had to form new ways of coming together for Sunday service, or have it suspended because of the danger of gatherings that could cause harm to others spreading the covid19 virus.
An yet, in all of this we are reminded that we can still find joy that is nearer than expected, a joy that is different from just casual social happiness, it is a joy of a deeper spiritual awakening that touches our hearts and moves our spirits. It comes from a Love that God has shown throughout the centuries, a Love that needs a response from us, and here is the key that changes our so settled minds. In the Gospel of Luke the well known Magnificat of Mary shall help us. What went through Mary's mind? She, like Anna in the book of Samuel (name meaning "God heard") giving their Sons to God, not holding back, but letting God lead in it all, becoming aware of a promise that finds fulfillment.
Only in her humility can Mary accept God's will expressed by the Archangel Gabriel. The struggle of the mind is present till she speaks this YES to God's Will and it changes everything that was not planned, that makes the ordinary extraordinary. For us this YES to God will lifts also our spirit removes the veil of our blindness caused by self-absorption and confusion, the worries that overtake our daily lives, the uncertainties toward what lies ahead for ourselves and our loved ones, our communities, our world...
Mary's and our unconditionally Yes to God is the breakthrough to a inner joy that others might call crazy, useless, misguided, etc.
Only in this simple yes to God find we the true meaning of the birth of Christ: our Savior is born! All the glitter and worldly glamour that we have become so keen to, as nice as it is, will no longer be the main reason why we celebrate Christmas, but our personal relationship to the human and divine Jesus of Nazareth will be our focus. And this can and will change us and the world around us when we take these words serious and make them our own: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid." This rejoicing shall be ours in these trying times, in our loneliness, in our despair, in our personal struggles, in our quest for the answers of the meaning of life, in our search for true and unconditional love, and the list goes on...
Our Yes to God is already the answer, and to whatever calling we find ourselves in, God will give us this inner joy that helps us to walk through this dark times, and to find new longing for a better world that has written justice and peace on its banner, becoming more and more His hands of a loving people.
The Magnificat has touched me this year more than ever. Ask yourself, what word of Scripture can and will touch you to find an awakening toward God's message shown us in the birth of His beloved Son, born to bring a New Way of Life, sent to us to find meaning in His Word and Action, seeing in His suffering the agony and loneliness of the Cross, and yet in this darkest of moments the Light of that eternal Love of the Father ever present keeps the promise of the resurrection and our Salvation. You might find solace and inspiration in one of the great prophets like Isaiah, or other writings in Scripture that have changed the lives of millions of Christians in the history of Salvation.
In this year's so fast changing world, we are being reminded that fear and suffering of this eon have not the last word, but that we shall become more aware, like Mary, in her Yes to God shown in her life's experience standing by her son's suffering, as he is put to death, and resurrect from the death beyond human imagination, she realizes that God's Love is always stronger than death, greater than earthly happiness, this Love that overcomes hate, denial, injustice, wickedness, deceit, war, cruelty and destruction... This God of so many names, so many mysteries, is the one that changes us, because "He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever."
From the bottom of my heart I wanted to thank you all for your great dedication in so many different services in our beloved Church, be it in the pastoral ministry, education, or social services, in the cultural and social environments we find ourselves in.
Wherever you are in this world, from the Philippines to Sri Lanka, to India, Pakistan, Europe, Africa, Latin America and North America, I want to thank you for the so many letters you have written throughout the past year, expressing your gratefulness for being in our Church, your Concerns, and your Joys. I see your love and honesty toward the hard work you are doing for the poor, the marginalized, the downtrodden, the abundant in society in building new communities, being present for the street children. I want to thank our St. Anthony's liturgical house of studies that has taken of ground and is expanding, and it will reach the ends of our worldwide church. I want to thank so many of you in your episcopal leadership of our Nuncios, and our bishops for welcoming in an ecumenical spirit clergy and faithful from other denominations finding a home in our ECCC, be it our brethren of the Orthodox Churches who have signed the Tomos with our Church, members from the Lutheran and Anglican Churches that have joined our Church, and the list goes on.
At this moment, let our entire Church pray for our Synod in Italy that started in September 2020. It has been in preparation for quite some time. May it bear lots of fruit! God given, I shall be there for the Concluding Session in June of 2021.
Wishing you all a Blessed and Joyous Feast of our Savior's Birth.
May He be reborn in our hearts, so that we can see anew with the eyes of Love.
And as this Pandemic has hopefully changed the way of living and thinking of so many in the World, may the New year bring for all of us and all of humanity a better and deeper understanding of a world where we are all God's Children that belong to each other.
May God give the Grace to see each other again and the so many I have not met yet.
With my Apostolic Benediction
Yours
Servus Dei
+Karl Ecumenical Primate
USA:
The Ecumenical Primate, Dr. Karl Rodig has recommended that Fr. Dr. Tom Roberts be the new Chancellor for our St. Anthony's Cathedral Liturgical House of Studies, and Archbishop Dr. Sunny Alappat from India to be on the Board as well.
We have a new Seminarian joining our ECCC in California, Brother Alexey coming from Utah, he will be trained and guided under the auspicious of our Metropolitan Archbishop for California, ++Dr. Tony Scuderri in Sacramento.
Our Parish in Los Angeles, Archangel, with pastor, Fr. Jacob, is under Archbishop ++Dr. Tony Sucerri's episcopal and diocesan leadership.
I want also to congratulate Archbishop Tony for his new book he just published, "And What Peace Can I Receive From God: The Miracle of Francis and the Leper"
Despite the Pandemic, our Cathedral of St. Anthony in Detroit, Michigan, has been distributing clothes and food for many homeless. We also have prepared Christmas gifts for over 50 Children.
Our Cathedral was hit by a heavy storm in November of this year, it has ripped of the roof of one of the Bell towers, and also damaged some of the upper windows. We have organized a fundraising to help pay the repairs.
These are also encouraging news from the reform movements around the world of which we are also a partner:
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