Church of the Holy Paraclete

Chapel of the Holy Spirit

Sanctuary of the Chapel
Basic information
Location 155 Douglas Ave. Providence, RI 02909
Geographic coordinates 41°50′13″N 71°25′16″W / 41.836873°N 71.421176°W / 41.836873; -71.421176Coordinates: 41°50′13″N 71°25′16″W / 41.836873°N 71.421176°W / 41.836873; -71.421176
Affiliation Old Catholic
State Rhode Island
Region Providence
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Mission church
Status Active
Leadership Fr. Jakob Lazarus
Website www.holyparaclete.org
Architectural description
Architectural type Church
Architectural style Colonial America
Groundbreaking 1910, 2011 (1910, 2011)
Direction of façade South
Capacity 50
Length 68 feet (21 m)
Width 32 feet (9.8 m)
Height (max) 12 feet (3.7 m)
Materials Template:Stone
Designated 2009
Denomination Old Catholic Tradition

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is a church in Rhode Island, United States. The church was formerly named Church of the Holy Paraclete. In May 2016, the parish council voted to change the name of the church to an English translation. The theology of the parish is the same. Holy Paraclete (Gr. παράκλητος, Lat. paracletus) means holy advocate or holy helper. In Christianity, the term most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit. The Church has Spanish Colonial architecture mixed with New England Fieldstone. It is a mission church in the tradition of the Old Catholic Church founded in America by Fr. Charles Chiniquy and Bishop Joseph Rene Vilatte of the American Catholic Church (No longer in existence). This community is not in union with the Episcopal Church, the Union of Utrecht, or any of the so-called Episcopi vagantes. The community strives after union with the Union of Utrecht, through the help of the Episcopal Church. The Mission Church houses a reliquary with the altar bells of Saint Damien of Molokai and a 17th-century Spanish Colonial Tabernacle.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is in Rhode Island. The parish was founded in 2009 by the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas, an ecumenical community following the inspiration of Bl. Charles de Foucauld. The parish community began at the locally famous Brooklyn Coffee and Tea House and after two years purchased the Carcieri property at 155 Douglas Avenue. The building was first constructed in 1910 and was part of a larger estate which was used as a front for illegal gambling and bootlegging. During the building's time of operation, prior to its religious use, pieces of the Space Shuttle Enterprise were produced in the building by C & C Engineering.

The church completed its renovations in 2013.

Old Catholicism in the United States

Fr. Charles Chiniquy who inspired Joseph René Vilatte to minister to the community in Wisconsin

In the area of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Joseph René Vilatte began working with Catholics of Belgian ancestry and with the knowledge and blessing of the Union of Utrecht and under the full jurisdiction of the local Episcopal Bishop of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Bishop John Henry Hobart Brown.[1] Vilatte was ordained a deacon on 6 June 1885 and priest on 7 June 1885 by the Most Rev. Eduard Herzog, bishop of the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland. Vilatte's work provided the only sacramental presence in that particular part of rural Wisconsin (under the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Bishop of Fond du Lac). Vilatte received a stipend from the Episcopal Church aas well as aid to help build the Old Catholic Church in America under Bishop Brown.

In time, Vilatte asked the Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht to be ordained a bishop so that he might confirm, but his petition was not granted because of Utrecht's desire for unity with the Episcopal Church and the political turmoil with the new bishop, Charles Chapman Grafton. Vilatte sought opportunities for consecration in the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches. He was made a bishop in Ceylon, India on 28 May 1892 under the jurisdiction of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. Vilatte's consecration was in the line of St. Peter, the founder of the Church of Antioch.

In 1908 the Archbishop of Utrecht, Gerardus Gul, consecrated Father Arnold Harris Mathew, a former Roman Catholic priest, as Regionary Bishop for England.[2] His mission was to establish a community for Anglicans and Roman Catholics. In 1913, Bishop Mathew claimed to have secured permission from the continental Old Catholic bishops for his consecration of Rudolph Edward de Landen Berghes as a bishop to work among the Scots.

St. Louis de France Cathedral of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1895

Bishop de Berghes was frequently called "the Prince". He was of noble birth but had never claimed the title for himself. The title of "Prince" was rightfully that of his older brother who had died. When Bishop de Berghes became eligible to inherit he was in a religious community and could not accept the title. At the beginning of World War I, Bishop de Berghes went to the United States at the suggestion of the Anglican Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop Mathew later declared his autonomy from the Union of Utrecht, finding it too "protestant oriented".[3]

Mathew sent missionaries to the United States, including the theosophist Bishop J. I. Wedgwood (1892–1950) and Bishop Rudolph de Landas Berghes et de Rache (1873–1920).[4] De Berghes arrived in the United States on 7 November 1914, hoping to unite the various independent Old Catholic jurisdictions under Archbishop Mathew.[5] Bishop de Berghes, in spite of his isolation, was able to plant the seed of Old Catholicism in the Americas. He consecrated a former Capuchin Franciscan priest as bishop: Carmel Henry Carfora.[6] From this the Old Catholic Church in the United States evolved into local and regional self-governing dioceses and provinces along the design of St. Ignatius of Antioch - a network of communities.

Old Catholicism in the Rhode Island area

In 1917, the first Old Catholic parish was built by Bishop Franciszek Hodur of the Polish National Catholic Church which was a member of the Union of Utrecht until 2003. Parishes were also constructed in Woonsocket and in the neighboring, Fall River, Massachusetts. Bishop Vilatte of the American Catholic Church was a colleague of his Polish counterparts and visited the communities in Rhode Island and Fall River. Many of these churches are still active today.

Blessed Virgin Polish National Catholic Church, first Polish church in Fall River, Mass., 1898

In the April 1928 issue of the American Catholic Church newsletter, The Antiochean, Dr. Casmir Durand, is consecrated Bishop of the French-speaking churches and successor of Joseph Rene Vilatte. In May, Henri Perdriau of Rhode Island gave him his support and invited the Franco-Americans to join the church. He published under Bishop Durand's Imprimatur, and with his collaboration, the brochure called Fiat Lux- Le bon sens et la logique (common sense and logic). It was written after Rome had excommunicated the 56 leaders of a movement that was opposing the Roman Catholic Bishop W. Hickey of Providence, under the auspices of the newspaper La Sentinelle of Woonsocket, where Perdriau was a journalist. Bishop Hickey was forcing the French-speaking parishes of his diocese to fund English schools only, through compulsory taxes. Perdriau was also the master of Guido Nincheri who produced the famous stained glass and frescos found in St. Ann's Church in Woonsocket. Members of this new parish came from St. Ann's Church and Precious Blood Church.[7]

Bishop Durand wrote his essay, The Old Catholic Church while he was in Woonsocket, to establish a Franco-American parish. He celebrated the inaugural Mass in the Polish National Catholic Churchon Sunday, August 26, 1928 with 65 people in attendance.

The Woonsocket parish was short lived. Eventually in 1929, the excommunicated protesters were readmitted to communion to the Roman Catholic Church and the Franco- American parish faded away.

Timeline of the community

Beliefs

Pentecost Sunday 2011

"By maintaining and professing faithfully the doctrine of Jesus Christ, by refusing to admit those errors which by the fault of men have crept into the Catholic Church, by laying aside the abuses in ecclesiastical matters, together with the worldly tendencies of the hierarchy, we believe that we shall be able to combat efficaciously the great evils of our day, which are unbelief and indifference in matters of religion." Declaration of Utrecht, 1889 Article 8

Vilatte's community church model

"I visited the various families and urged them to ignore their doctrinal differences for the present and unite in one Community Church. I felt I could preach nothing but the Gospel of Grace; that neither Roman Catholicism nor Protestantism could satisfy the needs of these people but a Christian Catholic Church without any other qualification. A purified Church which would present the Gospel to them as did the Primitive Church, and exercise authority according to the spirit of free America." (Bishop Joseph Rene Vilatte, Autobiography, 1910)

Worship

The Mass of the parish church uses patristic, Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands, and Vatican II liturgies. The John Paul II Mass is the most commonly used liturgy in the parish. It is similar to the current Roman Rite Mass except some parts are from the other two Masses. Eucharistic Prayer I combines the Roman Rite of 1985 with the Dutch Rite. The parish did not adapt to the 2011 changes within the Roman Catholic Church.

Sacraments

The Old Catholic Church holds that there are Seven Sacraments of the Church, at least two of which were commissioned by Christ in the Gospels. The Sacraments were instituted as a means of healing and uniting humanity once again to one another and to God. The scourge of humanity is sin, isolation, and despair, the answer is God's healing through grace. In that spirit we encourage all to receive the grace of healing and to be made whole again.

Eucharist

Following the Old Catholic and later Roman Catholic traditions, the vernacular is used during the liturgy with the exception of some Greek, Latin, and Spanish.

Old Catholics believe in the doctrine of the Real Presence, that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ at the consecration. Communion is distributed under both species. Frequently, the community leaves the pews to gather around the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist. Only an ordained priest with apostolic succession is allowed to consecrate the Eucharist. All baptized Christians are invited to receive the Eucharist regardless of their current state of grace.

Confession

The parish regards a confession of sins to God, followed by the assignment of penance and absolution given by the priest, to be the way the congregation normally obtains forgiveness of sins. The sacrament may be administered in one of two ways: public or private. Adults may avail themselves of private confession if they so wish. The sacrament is always available but not required for the reception of Eucharist.

Birth control

The parish teaches that the use of birth control is a matter of personal judgment for husband and wife, rather than the responsibility of church authorities to instruct its members regarding specific times of procreation.

Pro-Life

The Old Catholic Church holds that human life should be protected from the moment of conception. However, the question of politically how this goal is to be achieved is not determined by church law but by best practices. In the spirit of Catholicism, we hold a seamless garment on life issues from conception to natural death which includes issues of poverty and human dignity. The pro-life stance of the community is not a political stance, but a stance based on the belief of the intrinsic value which all people possess.

Marriage and divorce

The church believes that marriage is the sacrament which unites the married couple and gives them grace to be faithful to each other and to bring up their children in love and devotion to God. The Old Catholic Church permits divorced people to participate fully in the Mass and to receive the Eucharist. The parish follows the Eastern tradition in allowing for a remarriage after a first divorce without an annulment. A third marriage faces a great deal of scrutiny and a fourth is not permissible.

Priesthood and marriage

Since the early 1900s the Old Catholic Church has permitted its clergy to be married, and in practice encourages them to be so. They believe that a married priest will have a better understanding of the marital issues facing his parishioners. The Church also allows women to be ordained, following the tradition of the early church.

Sexuality

The parish largely agrees with the Roman Catholic Catechism on issues of sexuality but disagrees about the claims that the Church has consistently rejected homosexuality in all forms and that Scripture finds the sexual acts "gravely depraved." However, the parish affirms that morality and sexuality are deep-seated elements of Christianity and that relativism and subjective morality are rejected. The Old Catholic Church does not make an issue about sexuality, claiming that there are larger social issues on which Christians should be focusing.

The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church on sexuality:

CCC 2332 Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.

CCC 2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained.

CCC 2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible... They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

Documents

As a primary document, the parish accepts fully the eight articles of the Declaration of Utrecht as well as the 1931 Bonn Agreement. The parish also embraces the authentic truths found within the Vatican II documents, with exception to the statements concerning the infallibility of the Pope and the temporal centrality of the diocese of Rome.

Infallibility

The Old Catholic Church does not accept the infallibility of Rome on matters of faith and morals. The church also rejects the principle of universal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome. However, the Old Catholic Church recognizes the primacy of the Pope as first among equals, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of St. Peter, and Patriarch of the West. The Papacy is intended to be a unifying force which unites Christians around the table of the . The Old Catholic Church does not reject the as does, yet they do not pay total obedience as is expected by practicing Roman Catholics.

Governance

The parish is governed in accordance with its bylaws and parish council documents. Bishops and priests possess the authority to explain and teach the doctrinal position of the Church in matters of faith, morals and discipline. The legislative authority of the Church is vested in the parish council and the Parish Meeting. In financial and administrative matters, the parishioners possess administrative authority. The council members work in cooperation with the pastor.

The parish is a member of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches and the Independent Catholic Alliance.

Overseers

"We want to guard against Carforism. Our Church is clean and pure. Every man is a gentleman. [Every woman is a lady.] Every priest, a shepherd of souls. The Church is young and small but it is holy and without spot. The size of the church is less important than the nature and kind of clergy it possesses. We teach and believe all that ancient and historic Catholic Christendom teaches." Bishop Paul Francis Cope 1941

Fr. John, Alice, and Fr. Jakob at the Easter Vigil 2012

Father Jakob-Lazarus

Graduated with a degree in religious studies and philosophy from Stonehill College, a master's degree in theology from Providence College and also attended the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. Fr. Jakob is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts School of Law. Since 11 October 2009, Fr. Jakob has acted as the pastor of the parish. Fr. Jakob is currently involved in work with the New England Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality, and the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. He has a particular interest in assisting former convicts and those marginalized by poverty. Fr. Jakob is a recent MBA graduate from Bryant University.

Father John Paul Reardon

Was ordained to the priesthood on January 3, 2004. Fr. John grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Haverford College, an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Divinity for Clergy from the Oblate School of Theology. Fr. John has worked in banking, government, and the non-profit sector. He has extensive teaching and campus ministry experience at the high school and college levels. He has also ministered with the Latino community in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and The Bronx, New York City. Fr. John has a Masters in Social Work from the Smith College School for Social Work. As part of that degree, he was interning with the Student Counseling Center at Johnson & Wales University where he currently teaches humanities. Fr. John is also graduated with a Ph.D. in Theology at Fordham University and is a Licensed Social Worker.


Paraclete Charities

Paraclete Charities began in May 2011 with the hope of ministering to the physical, social, and emotional needs of people within Rhode Island. The first step of Paraclete Charities was to purchase a food truck with a legal kitchen which could serve the community. The mobile kitchen could be used both to give away warm meals but also as a means of fund raising at events to support its ministry. The first event the Dough-Nation mobile attended was Providence Pride in 2011. Paraclete Charities is in the process of seeking its own incorporation and 501(c)(3) status as a public charity. Brother Michael Timothy is the current director of the Dough-Nation mobile kitchen.

Berkshire Nursing Home

Starting in Advent of 2010, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit took on a chaplaincy roll at the Berkshire Place Nursing Home. On a bi-monthly basis, the clergy celebrate Mass and visit with the patients of the nursing home. The residents are active members of celebrating the Mass and lector for the Mass. Both Catholics and Protestants are welcome to participate equally. Anointing of the Sick is also an important ministry at the Berkshire.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Moss, C.B. (2005). The Old Catholic Movement. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press. p. 291. ISBN 0976402599.
  2. ↑ Queen, Andre J. (2003-07-01). Old Catholic: History, Ministry, Faith & Mission. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-28407-8. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Declaration of Autonomy". Oldcatholichistory.org. 1910-12-29. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  4. ↑ Keizer, Lewis. "The Wandering Bishops: Apostles of a New Spirituality" (PDF).
  5. ↑ Ward, Gary L.; Persson, Bertil; Bain, Alan (1990). Independent bishops: An International Directory. Apogee Books. ISBN 9781558883079. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "Independent and Old Catholic Churches". Novelguide.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  7. ↑ Theriault, Serge A. (2010). The Old Catholic Church & other writings. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press. pp. 16–18. ISBN 9781937002169.
  8. ↑ Lazarus, Fr. Jakob. "Seventy-fifth anniversary of Blessed Virgin Polish National Catholic Church, first Polish church in Fall River, Mass., 1898-1973". Book. PNCC. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  9. ↑ Lazarus, Fr. Jakob (1921). "Fall River Directory". Sampson & Murdock. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Blessed Trinity Church". PNCC. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Laliberte, Bp. Raymond. "Holy Cross Catholic Church". Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  12. ↑ Lazarus, Fr. Jakob. "Holy Paraclete". Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  13. ↑ Kershaw, Fr. Scott. "St. Joseph Cupertino". Retrieved 28 April 2012.

Bibliography

  • Mathew, Arnold Harris An Episcopal Odyssey. Reprint 2010. St. Gabriel Theological Press, 1915.
  • Theriault, Serge A. Msgr. Casmir F. Durand. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press, 2010.
  • Theriault, Serge A. Msgr. Rene Vilatte. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press, 2006.
  • Moss, C.B.. The Old Catholic Movement. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press, 1977.
  • Episcopi Vagantes and the Anglican Church. Henry R.T. Brandreth. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1947.
  • Episcopi vagantes in church history. A.J. Macdonald. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1945.
  • History of the So-Called Jansenist Church in The Netherlands. John M. Neale. New York: AMS Press, 1958.
  • Old Catholic: History, Ministry, Faith & Mission. Andre J. Queen. iUniverse title, 2003.
  • The Old Catholic Church: A History and Chronology (The Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, No. 3). Karl Pruter. Highlandville, Missouri: St. Willibrord's Press, 1996.
  • The Old Catholic Sourcebook (Garland Reference Library of Social Science). Karl Pruter and J. Gordon Melton. New York: Garland Publishers, 1983.
  • The Old Catholic Churches and Anglican Orders. C.B. Moss. The Christian East, January, 1926.
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