Words from Our New Bishop in USA

We have chosen to connect with the Catholic Episcopal Church.

We are between Roman Catholic and Protestant, and our spiritually continues to have elements that are important to both.

Many of you know our little group here is Franciscan (we began there), which means that it's important to us that we welcome ALL in the love of Christ, have compassion towards all, and believe God loves and welcomes all, and is there for all who seek Him.

Franciscanism transcends all denominations and parts of the Church - Jesus only made one Church, let us be reminded.

We are also influenced by the heart of the Roman Catholic priest and Trappist monk and martyr Thomas Merton, and his writings and openness to dialogue with and incorporation of beliefs of other religions (what is congruous with our faith in Christ). We continue to enjoy our Anglican patrimony (the Church as she grew in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), and the Celtic influence, and the things that made (and do now make) Anglicanism a unique and special part of Christ's Church.

In our part if the CEC, we primarily use the Anglican liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer.

I as a bishop-monk am influenced by Cuthbert, Aidan, and Francis. (We are also influenced by Eastern and Western Orthodoxy.)

The CEC seemed to be a good fit with who we are.

As a new bishop in the CEC, I and we welcome you.

We've completed our St Monica's move, and I am ready to dialogue and fellowship with those who are interested in affiliation, either as clergy, a monastic (or Oblate or Associate), or in seminary, or if you are interested in affiliating your ministry. As it says in the CEC website, our ordained ministers are bishops, priests, and deacons who are ordained in apostolic succession (if you are not, we can talk about seminary and ordination in apostolic succession). Please prayerfully look at the CEC website, and if you're in agreement, pm me and we will begin discussion, and possibly the process of connection with us here.

https://www.catholic-episcopal.com/general-7

Again, we are happy to be a part of the CEC, and invite you to check it out.

We are welcoming to all!

St Monica's is a modern monastery/intentional community/housing ministry/...the Order House is now a Christ-centered crazy family of 3 humans and 3 dogs living together in intentional community in Warr Acres, Oklahoma (a suburb of Oklahoma City).

St Rita's (patron of impossible causes) is our new Ministry House, beginning with 2 persons, a newly-married couple, and just moved from the woods outside of Edmond into Oklahoma City.

Yes, intentional community is very much counter-cultural.

We are of the Anglican part of Christ's body, Franciscan (Community of St John), and have a heart for the marginalized (Matt 25:31-46). We're part of the Diocese of St Francis, The Neo-Anglican Community of the Sacred Heart, and now part of the Catholic Episcopal Church (PM me for info.)

We invite you to pray over our needs with us and give if Christ leads you to and enables you to do so.

In the love of Christ,

+ Robert, CSJ