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Order of Saint Paul the Apostle
Overview
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
The Order of Saint Paul the Apostle (Old Catholic Tradition) in the
United States of America is a branch of the Catholic and Apostolic
Church, and along with its former canonical nomenclatures, was
originally inaugurated on October 25, 1986 as anautocephalus body, after
the death of our Bishop the Order was re-established on October 25,
1996.
On June 20, 1997 the Order of Saint Paul the Apostle was offically
granted Covenant Affiliation and Intercommunion in the Apostoilic
Catholic Church in America (ACCA) under the Espocipal supervision of
Bishop Paul David C. Strong, OSJD, allowing us to continue in the
Apostolic Succession Tradition.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Order of St. Paul the Apostle is a religious order. The mission of
the Order is to carry the teachings of Christ and His Apostles and the
ancient Church to those who seek a spiritual home or may not have come
from a Catholic or Orthodox tradition. We seek out, rather than exclude
those that other "churches" may not desire with the "good news" of Jesus
Christ. Like Christ, who gave His love to the tax collector and the
Samaritan woman, we welcome with open hearts and minds all children of
God to our ministries and altars.
The Order of St. Paul the Apostle is an independent and self-governing
religious order in the Old Catholic apostolic traditions; neither Roman
Catholic nor Protestant - but Catholic (universal). It aims at combining
the traditional sacramental form of worship - with is stately ritual,
its deep mysticism and its abiding witness to the reality of sacramental
grace - with the widest measure of intellectual liberty and respect for
the individual conscience. It therefore permits to its members freedom
of interpretation of the scriptures, the creeds and the liturgy.
Regarding the mind as one of the great avenues to spiritual
apprehension, it encourages among it adherents the freest play of
scientific and philosophic though.
We welcome to our altars all who reverently and sincerely approach them,
erecting no barriers in nature of standards of dogmatic belief. We have
no wish to proselytize, in the aggressive sense, from among the
adherents of any other church and as an earnest of this welcomes people
to regular and full participation in its services without asking or
expecting them to leave their original church. We welcome the
divorced/remarried. We use both western and eastern rite liturgies. We
are not Gnostic, theosophical or new-age. We ordain both men and women
to our clergy. We validly celebrate the seven sacraments.
We are a religious order committed to building Christian communities and
ministries which proclaim the gospel to "all people" regardless of race,
color, gender, sexual orientation or preference, nationality,
socio-economic status or disability".
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
We welcome to our altars all who reverently and sincerely approach them,
erecting no barriers in nature of standards of dogmatic belief. We have
no wish to proselytize, in the aggressive sense, from among the
adherents of any other church and as an earnest of this welcomes people
to regular and full participation in its services without asking or
expecting them to leave their original church. We welcome the
divorced/remarried. We use both western and eastern rite liturgies. We
are not gnostic, theosophical or new-age. We ordain both men and women
(married or unmarried) to our clergy.
We validly celebrate the seven sacraments. We are committed to building
Christian communities and ministries which proclaim the gospel to "all
people" regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation or
preference, nationality, socio-economic status or disability". We
maintain the ancient three-fold ministry of bishop, presbyter (priest)
and deacon. We acknowledge those decisions of the first seven
ecumenical councils which do not contradict Scripture or Tradition. We
profess the Apostles' and Nicene creeds as statements of our faith. We
are currently small in numbers, but growing.
THE COUNCILS
We accept as Ecumenical the Seven General Councils recognized by all the
Catholic Churches, namely:
First at Nicea, A.D. 353, against Arianism.
Second at Constantinople, 381, against Apolinarians and Macedonians.
Third at Ephesus, 431, against Nestorianism.
Fourth at Chalcedon, 451, against Monophysites.
Fifth at Constantinople, 553, against Nestorianisn and Monophysites.
Sixth at Constantinople, 680, against Monothelites.
Seventh at Nicea, 787, against Iconclasts.
THE CHURCH
The visible Church of Christ is a society in which all the faithful are
joined together by the profession of the same faith, and forming a body
of which Jesus Christ is the Head and Source of all sanctity.
MINISTRIES
Inactive or ex-priests Ministry Counseling is provided to ex-priest
to cope with the decision to leave the priesthood and to function in
modern society. Fellowship for ex- priest provide a comfort atmosphere
to be able to make the necessary adjustment, retreats are provided with
group and individual sessions. Retreat Center:--The Order will
maintain a retreat center for both active priest to obtain a spiritual
reawakening or just to be able to recharge their batteries so to speak
in an environment of spiritual calm and enrichment. The retreat center
will also be available to the laity for their spiritual enrichment.,
Christian Bulletin Board Ministry - one can obtain guidance and
counseling. People with disabilities can obtain information and
resources.
Veterans can obtain information concerning veterans benefits, contact
information and resources. On-line books are available to users and
Hotline numbers are available.
Blind accessible for those who have programs that will speak what is
written on the screen. The BBS is non-denominational oriented so there
is something for everyone.
Counseling Services and Materials: Disabled Counseling--Working with
Disabled to find the necessary resources for there particular
situations.
Veterans Counseling--Work with Veterans in need a VA Benefits and other
information and assistance.
Marriage Counseling--Counseling for couples and for those in a troubled
marriages.
Divorce Counseling--coping with the realities of divorce. Family
Counseling--counseling and information resources.
Homeless Ministry--coping with homeless counseling sessions, providing
resources. Ministry to the Sick--comfort is provided to the terminally
ill and their families. Counseling sessions are provided for growth and
reassurance.
Spiritual Growth Ministry--spiritual growth classes that consist of
fellowship, counseling and bible studies.
OSPA Teen Camp Ministry--Troubled Youth Center--Camp environment for
troubled youth. Teen Center--Camp environment for teens to obtain a
spiritual growth in their walk with God. Handicap Center--Camp
environment for those with handicaps, both physical and/or emotional.
Abuse and Crisis Ministry--Abuse and Crisis Center--Crisis and abuse
victims hot lines.
Street Ministry--OSPA is presently inquiring into the Franciscan
Peacemakers Program concerning bring their program to Omaha, NE.
Lectures/Seminars--Various seminars for day to day living and dealing
with lives problems, and will include follow-up sessions with counselors
if necessary.
ABOUT OUR MASS
We basically use two primary western contemporary sources: the Roman
Catholic 1974 Mass of Paul VI and the Episcopal 1928 Book of Common
Prayer, with certain additions from the east: the ancient Divine Liturgy
of Saint John Chrysostom, and the Christian Catholic Mass (Gul-Mathew
Mass). All baptised Christians are welcome to receive the Body and Blood
of Our Lord at our altars.
ABOUT OUR CLERGY
Some of our members hold outside employment, some live in community with
others (vow of common life), and some derive income from priestly
ministry.
Some of our clergy possess formal seminary education and/or other
advanced degrees of learning from nationally accredited institutions.
Others "read for orders" in a mentored program of study (much like Canon
9 clergy in the Episcopal Church).
Many of our members have the Roman Catholic Church as their church of
origin; as of this writing. Several of our members (clergy and laity)
have served in that church.
We do ordain/incardinate qualified women.
Some of our members (clergy and laity) are either married or in
committed relationships, and some are single/celibate.
Our order extends a special welcome to inactive Roman Catholic priests
who wish to re-activate their priestly ministries.
To learn more about us, contact:
Fr. Dennis Mckay, OSPA
ph: 402/552-0734
Internet: ospadmin @ rocketmail.com
Web Site: http://www.mitec.net/~dmckay/index.htm