Old Catholic Union of the West

STATEMENT CONDEMNING POLITICAL VIOLENCE

The Old Catholic Union of the West unequivocally condemns all forms of political violence. Our commitment to the principles of peace, justice, and respect for human dignity transcends any ideological differences. We believe that constructive dialogue and mutual understanding are the foundations for resolving conflicts and fostering a harmonious society. Violence, regardless of its motivation, undermines these values and harms the very fabric of our community. In the United States, we take our grievances to the polls.

The violence today at the rally for Mr. Trump and those harmed or killed was an offense to human dignity and principles of justice.

We pray for peace and for those who suffered today in our democracy and in all places where political violence prevails.

We are delighted to announce The Rev. Dcn. Rachel Sutton as the newest deacon in God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Dcn. Rachel will be serving at the Spiritual Community of St. Mary Magdalene in Albuquerque.

Please join us in welcoming her to our community and celebrating this joyous occasion!

Remembering Cardinal Timothy Manning Honoring 35 Years Since the Passing of a Beloved Leader and Advocate for the Oppressed

We're excited to announce that the Apostolic Sacramental Church, after much prayerful discernment, will now be known as the Old Catholic Union of the West. This change better reflects our historic origins and faith. The transition will take place over the next few weeks.

Additionally, we're pleased to share that Rev. Dylan Littlefield has been appointed Bishop. Bishop-elect Dylan will oversee our ministries in the Pacific states.

An Update and Unsung Heros A Beacon of Hope shines from the Cecil

Holy Week begins tonight with Palm Sunday. If you are looking for a warm, inclusive place to celebrate Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, please join me at Dignity SFV (11031 Camarillo St, North Hollywood) tonight at 5:30pm or Tomorrow night, March 24, at Dignity LA (126 South Avenue 64
Los Angeles) at 5:30pm!

Sharing our remembrance of Bishop David G. O'Connell, yesterday at Mission San Gabriel Archangel, one year after he was laid to rest. Christian Unity and our love for Bishop Dave call for nothing less than the shedding of denominational labels, even if just for a moment.

Bishop Dave taught (as have many others), we are all one in the Mystical Body of Christ. At the Memorial, Msgr. Tim spoke of Bishop Dave being a "practical mystic." The diverse and amazing group of people giving honor to Bishop Dave gave us a real view of what that means.

Our parish in Southern California, the Chapel of St Maximilian Kolbe, helped dedicate Vedanta Square on the 125th anniversary of Vedanta's arrival in the US.

Happy New Year! Here's to a fulfilling and joyful 2024!

Matthew Shepard: Modern gay martyr and hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard is a modern gay martyr who was brutally attacked on Oct. 6-7, 1998, near Laramie, Wyoming, His death brought international attention to anti-LGBTQ hate crimes. Since then he has become a cultural icon, inspiring dozens and dozens of paintings, films, plays, songs and other artistic w...

Thank you for being with us this year! Please share as you like what makes you thankful!

The first duty a priest has is to be present with you on your spiritual journey, meeting you where you are and walking with you to where you are going.

Exaltation of the Cross -- The Cross, as an instrument of torture and government overreach, may seem like an odd thing to exalt. For many Christians, the Cross has become a symbol of transformation, a symbol of victory even.

We exalt the cross in its place in our history as a not just a sign of our redemption from death, but also as a tangible reminder of God's direct intervention in the affairs of the world, writ large and spanning nearly 2000 years.

The Apostolic Sacramental Church stands in solidarity with the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington, Texas. All people should be treated with respect, kindness and compassion by their leaders. The accusations levied by the Bishop of Ft. Worth against the cloistered nuns should never have been aired publicly.

Their disavowal of Bishop Olson's authority was the right thing to do in light of his horrific treatment towards these servants of God.

Please include the nuns in your daily prayers. May God bless them and guard them during this difficult time.

www.carmelnuns.com

On behalf of the Apostolic Sacramental Church, join us in prayer today for the four people appointed by Pope Francis to co-lead the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. May the Holy Spirit guide their ministries in the ways of Christ's welcoming and unifying love.

Join us this Saturday at 7pm Pacific - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079863204947

The Apostolic Sacramental Church is a proud institutional supporter of the Beloved By God Declaration Affirming the Dignity of Trans People by Dignity USA. Please join us in signing.

Beloved by God | A Catholic Commitment to Trans-Affirmation As Catholics, we firmly believe our transgender and nonbinary community members are beloved by God. We feel called to openly state our support for this marginalized community during these times when they are increasingly faced with violence and criticism for their identities and experiences.

On behalf of Bishop Thomas, enjoy without guilt a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal, if it is your custom to do so on Saint Patrick's Day. Because the Memorial of St. Patrick falls on a Friday during Lent this year, you are dispensed from abstaing from consuming meat today if that is your practice. May God bestow divine blessings upon you.

Dylan+, Episcopal Vicar

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Apostolic Sacramental Church - YouTube We are Sacramentalists! Welcome to the Apostolic Sacramental Church. We are a welcoming, affirming and inclusive faith community, rooted in the Catholic an...

Pastoral Letter on the murder of Bishop David O'Connell

To my siblings in Christ,

The passing of Bishop David O'Connell, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, due to gun violence, has filled us with sorrow. Bishop Dave, as he was fondly called, was a strong proponent for those who were marginalized. Throughout his 45-year tenure serving the Archdiocese, he devoted himself to working with immigrants and the less fortunate. Bishop Dave earned a reputation as a mediator, particularly for his contributions during the Rodney King riots in 1992.

According to some of our clergy who were acquainted with him, they remember him for his compassion and his talent for attentively hearing out those who required a listening ear. He was receptive to fresh concepts, yet still stayed devoted to the Church that he held dear.

The passing of Bishop Dave serves as a poignant reminder of the continuing epidemic of gun violence afflicting us. His untimely passing is a heartrending testament to the fact that gun control measures are virtually non-existent, and the existing laws are, at best, dysfunctional.

As a community of faith, we extend our condolences and prayers to the family of Bishop Dave in Ireland, his fellow members of the archdiocese, and all those who have been affected by the scourge of gun violence.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Faithfully, I remain your Servant in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Thomas Clark
Presiding Bishop
Apostolic Sacramental Church

Dear Friends,

Ordinarily, a pastoral letter is written by the Bishop. But I felt compelled to ask our Presiding Bishop to allow me to write this one. The Monterey Park shooting happened close to my home, in the area where I grew up. I have friends who knew several of the victims.

I spent a large part of Sunday near the scene of the shooting and spoke to a number of people, many from Monterey Park and others from surrounding cities. People are scared and saddened by the brutal act that took the lives of 11 people and injured 9 more.

While the invitation to prayer is important, so is the invitation to action. The wisdom of the Buddha can be found in these words attributed to him, “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” With this, our Church community is in agreement. In Hebrew, the word for justice is “Tzedek,” which shares a common root with the word for righteousness. The Jewish Sages teach us that these concepts are all connected, that when justice is done, righteousness prevails. We are a Church community of people united in love by Jesus the Christ, and we are called upon to pursue justice.

The just thing for us to do is to reach out to our elected leaders, those whom we have entrusted with the governance of this state and country. We are obliged to tell them that the gun violence rampant across our communities is not acceptable, and that we no longer feel safe with the loose gun laws that allow for incidents such as this. We, as a community are tired and hurt by the loss of the lives of our friends and family. We must make sure our leaders understand that, by doing nothing to address lax gun laws, they are complicit in the murder our neighbors.

We offer this prayer and invite you to pray it as well: Source of wisdom and Holy Creator, we come to you with our broken hearts, fears, and uncertainties, after the most recent violence in Monterey Park, California. Help us all to heal from our pain and this tragic loss, and give us the room in our hearts to process our emotions and heal our hearts. Please grant to the victims and their families the strength to grieve and the grace to heal. Grant, we beseech you that your peace will be poured out upon us all, that we may not have to live in fear. We ask you to stir the hearts of those in positions of leadership to take action to protect our communities from gun violence. We ask you this in the name of your Son, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Dylan Littlefield+
Archdeacon/Episcopal Vicar
Apostolic Sacramental Church

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Help us feed our under-homed siblings this year at Union Station Homeless Services Dinner in the Park, held each year here in the San Gabriel Valley. You can donate here: https://saintmaxkolbe.org/donate

You can also message us to drop off your donations of Turkeys, stuffing, Velveeta cheese, mashed potato mix or other food items.

Thank you and God Bless you!!

We share the world’s sadness today at the passing from this world of Her Majesty, The Queen, Elizabeth II. We offer our prayers as a faith community to The Royal Family, that they may be comforted during this sad and difficult time. As the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, The Queen was a symbol of Christian life who brought her faith to the forefront of leadership of the Church and the United Kingdom. We offer our condolences to the worldwide family of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

Eternal Rest be granted unto your servant, Elizabeth, and may perpetual light shine upon her.

Today is the Memorial of our patron, St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. His message of love is needed now more than ever in today's world. Please love and be kind, be a friend. May all who suffer in addiction find healing and solace. St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!