The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church

Recent news items from the Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church can be read below. Also see this page for the Official Notices of the Church.

News of Fr Pieper's Ordination to the Priesthood

News of Fr Baruch's Pilgrimage

(See Way of St James below), Fr Baruch is now half way to Santiago de Compostela! He writes:
 
The pilgrimage is really a fantastic experience – it is amazing simply to walk day after day and week after week, moving forward and leaving the “old” world with every step be hind you. It is pretty tough for the body but a great pleasure for the soul. You learn the limits of your physicality and transcendence of your spirit in the same time. … I also dream a lot – seems like there is a lot going on in my unconsciousness as well. Time has a different dimension here as well. Spending only a week in the mountains I had a feeling being at least a year away from this world. Getting rid of unnecessary baggage is another lesson. I packed my backpack with some books and clothes – but already on the second day I sent more than three kilograms back to Germany . It is a great exercise to reconsider what do one really needs for his journey.  After all, whatever you leave in your backpack you are going to carry all the way through! I wonder if our material possessions are also being carried with us in our spirit? If so, it must be a very difficult journey. My question is: if I had to go on a very long journey, what essentials I would take with me?

The weather is very unstable here, so the way to the great Holy Apostle James is filled with rain and dirt, heat and thirst, ascending and descending (ups and downs). Most people wearing shoes have great trouble of getting rid of the dirt, but I discovered that bare feet are self-cleaning. Could it also be a spiritual approach of discovering the world “naked”? Just as the Gospel of Thomas Jesus says, that unless his disciples strip themselves naked like the children they will not see the Kingdom of Heaven and the way St. Francis began his spiritual journey leaving his clothes in the market place before the Cathedral? Going barefoot is extremely vulnerable but at the same time an extremely spiritual exercise.

Ordinations at Edinburgh

On the 5th Sunday of Easter 2009 at the Parish of Our Lady and St Tugdual, which meets at the Theosophical Society in Edinburgh, Linda Haggerstone and Carol-Ann Searle were admitted to the Office of Cleric, Br Andy of the Incarnate Word CCP received the orders of Exorcist and Acolyte and the Revd Bridget Wilson Hall was made a deacon. Mar Alexei of the Blessed Sacrament CCP
officiated.
Revd Br David of the Sacred Heart and Revd Bridget administered communion to the faithful some of whom had travelled all the way Glasgow and Newcastle. We are delighted that the community here is growing steadily and advancing in wisdom and service.

Way of St James

Today (29th April) Fr Baruch Ignatius OCP begins his long walk on the Way of St James from Irun on the Spanish/French border through the Basque country, Cantabria, Asturia and Galicia to Santiago De Compostela. This will take him a month and he will cover almost 900 miles. He intends to wear the habit and sandals and to go barefoot at least some of the way. Please pray for our brother's safety, health and strength and that he may receive abundant graces and every blessing. (The attached picture was taken earlier this year on another pilgrimage to Glendalough).

News from the Ordo Christi Passionis – Mission Sankt Christophorus

(from Fr Baruch) After three months of service I am pleased to provide some details of our activity in Berlin. Our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with every blessing – may His Name be praised forever and ever. We were able to establish a small Oratory, dedicated to the Holy Spirit on the Feb. the 9th 2009, which can accommodate 10 to15 people for services. We celebrate the Holy Mass together at least once a week, as well as praying Vespers and the Holy Rosary on Weekdays and Lauds on Sundays.

The OCP has currently three candidates (one is preparing to become our first Postulant) and two more are showing interest in the spiritual path of the Order. There are also three women who recently shown the interest to the project. We are praying, working and hoping to become an established monastic community soon. Since February we have been looking for a suitable property, trying to raise the funds necessary for the purchase and asking our Lord and His Holy Mother to show us the right location. We also feel very strongly that this monastic community shall be dedicated to the Holy Mother of God and be marked by a special devotion to Her. Please pray for this project.

We have scheduled three Eucharistic Celebrations for this week. Next week we are going to celebrate the traditional Passover Night Service on Wednesday,  Holy Mass on Maundy Thursday and the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. Saturday night will be marked by an all night Vigil, starting at 10pm that will culminate in the celebration of the Easter Mass of the Dawn.
There is also a small polish-speaking group in Berlin attached to the Mission Sankt Christophorus. Our weekly Bible Study is dedicated currently to the Book of Revelation.

Monsignor Adrian Glover's consecration date

The date of 26th September has been set for the consecration of Monsignor Adrian to the Episcopate. The service will be held in the afternoon at Golders Green, London. Invitations will be sent out shortly but if anyone does not receive one in the next few weeks please contact us.

Patrick Loughlin

Patrick Loughlin has been accepted as a postulant of the LCAC. Patrick who comes from Northern Ireland will serve under Mar Alexei as he studies for sacramental ministry. The clergy of the LCAC welcome Patrick as he works towards his vocation and pray for his studies and his serving.

Parish of Our Lady & St Tugdual

Our next Parish Mass at the Theosophical Society, 28 Great King Street (top floor), Sunday 8th March, the 2nd Sunday in Lent.
Hymns will be "Forty Days and Forty Nights", "I heard the voice of Jesus say", "As the deer pants for the water" and "One more step along the world I go".
There will be no sermon, however, we will be having a discussion over coffee/tea afterwards, on our personal experience of the Eucharist.
The Mass is at 3pm as usual, but do arrive about 2.40 for singing practice if you can.

Br Robert Pieper CCP

On Sunday 1st March, Br Robert Pieper CCP made his Act of Commitment as a Companion of the Cross and Passion in the presence of Bishop Seraphim OSB of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch in Tempe, Arizona, whilst Masses for our newly committed brother were celebrated in Edinburgh and Berlin.

Jade Goody

The well publicised wedding of the television personality Jade Goody has been conducted by our friend Bishop Jonathan Blake of the Open Episcopal Church at a hotel in Essex. Reports also suggest the sacrament of baptism being held for the sons of the terminally ill Jade. The service shows the responsiveness of the Independant Churches in being able to serve all who ask to come close to Christ. All of us in the Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church and other Independant Sacramental churches offer our prayers for all concerned.

News from the Trinity Grove and Circle of Our Lady and St Tugdual, Edinburgh

On Tuesday 10th February at the Oratory of St Paul of the Cross, Edinburgh, Mar Alexei, baptised Owen McGhie Osude who is pictured here with his mum Lynda and his baptismal candle which he very much appreciated!

Sunday Services in Spring - Summer 2009

(At the Theosophical Society at 3pm):  8th February, 8th March, 12th April, 10th May, 14th June, 12th July.
We aim to be an inclusive, intelligent, open and joyous community and we offer a Catholicism grounded in one of the most profound and mystical translations of the traditional Eucharist ever produced. Each service is a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Liberal Catholic Rite and also often includes sacramental healing. All are welcome to receive the sacraments regardless of creed/personal beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status etc. Following the example of two of the founders of our tradition, Bishops Wedgewood and Leadbeater, we are also interested in dialogue with the mystical traditions of other faiths and spiritualities. Call Bishop Alistair for further details 0131 664 8384 or email: b.bishopalistair@yahoo.com .

Ordination of Br. Robert Pieper

Br. Robert Pieper CCP was ordained to the diaconate on Saturday 24th January at the Shrine of Holy Wisdom in Tempe, Arizona, by Bishop Seraphim (The Most Revd. Jorge Eager OSB) of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch. We are most grateful to Bishop Seraphim for his assistance in ordaining our dear brother, who we know had a great day!

Admission of Revd. Deacon David Upton to Valiant Order of St John

On the 25th January, the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, Revd. Deacon David Upton CCP was admitted as a Companion of the Valiant Order of St John the Baptist at the Oratory of St Paul of the Cross in Edinburgh.