Catholic Episcopal Church Autumn Updates

Blessings to the members of our little church and all our many friends!!

I am pleased to announce that our church continues to grow and in this past month we are now pleased to welcome TWO new Bishops and their respective communities.

At the beginning of October, despite flight cancellations and delays (all obstacles created by Storm Amy) I managed to travel to Barcelona, Spain, for the Episcopal Ordination of our brother Jesús Piña i Reinaldos, (also known on Social Media as Pater Jesus Pinya) https://www.facebook.com/padrejesuspinyaoficial

The day of the ceremony in the Oratory of his old college, Colegio Jesu-Maria in Badalona, was blessed with beautiful sunshine and moments of deep emotion. We were joined by our brother and fellow Independent Catholic Bishop, Santiago Guerrero Arce, who is from Colombia.

Along with the members of his extended family, Jesus welcomed old school pals, friends from the Peruvian community and representatives from the college staff.

Some words from Bishop Jesus after his ordination.....

He began by thanking all those who have and continue to influence him in following his path and concluded as follows...

"I want to tell you that the Lord passes through my life and takes me where he wants.

Three times I was denied the priesthood.

The only reason was always the same.... my being homosexual.

Being homosexual is not something I have chosen, like so many other things that constitute me as a person. But what I am sure of is that for God, what has been created is good and the diversity that he shows so much in his creation is pleasing to him.

When my vocation was in a latent state and overshadowed by so much rejection, which was felt in every attempt to follow the path to priesthood, Padre Mario Santos appeared in my life and showed me that there is a Catholic and Episcopal Church where no one is rejected to receive the seven sacraments.

It is in our Catholic Episcopal Church that I have really been able to develop all my human dimensions.

I can only be filled with joy at knowing that I am undeservedly and immensely loved.

This leads me to wish that every person, without excluding anyone, comes to know Jesus and Mary"..

Already, in the weeks since his Episcopal Ordination, a number of Spanish priests have been in touch with Monseñor Jesus, inquiring about the possibility of joining our little church.

Congratulations to Bishop Jesus and we welcome the growing community in Spain!!! Ad Multos Annos!!!

In early summer, Bishop Ashley, who looks after USA affairs and I entered into discussions with Robert, an Anglican Bishop of a small jurisdiction, who is also an Abbot of a small Franciscan Order based in Oklahoma. He was attracted to our open and affirming church and was seeking to align his community with ours.

I was already aware of him, due to his presence on Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/robert.allen.123369

Today I am overjoyed to announce that it has been confirmed that Abbot Robert has now become the latest Bishop of the Catholic Episcopal Church in the USA and his community are now welcomed as members of our little church.

May The Almighty continue to bless us as an Affirming Church during this time when members of LGBTQIA+ groups and other marginalised communities face even greater hardships.

We have also been in discussions with other churches in terms of building inter-communion agreements.

Meanwhile we are delighted to report continued growth of the church in Germany.

On November 1st, Bishop Ulrich will ordain an Auxiliary Bishop and there will also be a Priestly ordination at the end of the year

He also asks us to keep Rev. Klemen of the Mission in Slovenia in our prayers. He is very busy in the Vineyard of The Lord and currently building a faith community there.

May The Lord bring more workers to help with The Harvest

Here, in Ireland things continue to progress slowly.

I celebrated the first anniversary of my own Episcopal Ordination on the Feast of St. Paul of The Cross, October 19th.

We had hoped to hold a Diaconal Ordination for two candidates in Belfast later this month but those plans have changed for numerous reasons.

I wish Rev. Gordon every blessing as he continues his journey of discernment.

After further discussion, we have now decided to a celebrate the combined Diaconal and Priestly Ordination of James McCann in my private Oratory here at Solas Antoin in North-West County Donegal.

James, who has been a good friend and supporter for a long time, has experienced numerous delays and obstacles over the past number of years, on his path to Priestly Ordination and I am determined to help him complete the journey as soon as possible.

He will help to grow our church in Scotland and hopes to establish an Oratory in his hometown, Livingston in West Lothian.

Please keep him and his wife in your prayers. Once her health has improved, they will make the journey here for the ceremony.

I am in continued discussions with others who continue to share my dream of building faith communities in Letterkenny and Belfast. The lack of transport and finance continue to delay those projects, but we remain determined.

May God continue to shower us with many blessings.

Seamus +