Michael Shirk was ordained to the Priesthood in Watertown, New York.  Congratulations to the newest Priest of the ICCC!

Friar Shane Nicholas, AIHM, was ordained to the minor order of Doorkeeper during the Annual Chapter of the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Congratulations to the newest Doorkeeper in the ICCC!

The Rev. Sandra Hutchinson was present at the Transgender Lobby Day as part of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality.  One of only a very few identifiable clergy there. she attended the afternoon rally of legislators and activists, and spoke to her state representative on behalf of the bill.  

The transgender equal rights bill would add “gender identity and expression’’ to existing civil rights laws, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. Nationwide, 15 states have passed laws specifying protections for transgender individuals, including New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut.

Last year the Independent Catholic Christian Church (ICCC) helped organize and participated in the first Mass held at the Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia. This year, the ICCC was pleased, for the second year in a row, to co-sponsor a Mass at the Trans-Health Conference with the Orthodox-Catholic Church of America (OCCA).  Bishop Lynn Walker of the OCCA celebrated the Mass, with Bp. Tim Cravens (ICCC) and Mother Francesca Fortunato (OCCA) concelebrating.  Sister Lyngine Calizo, AIHM (ICCC) helped organize the event and provided her usual extraordinary sacristan ministry.

Sister Lyngine made these observations about the Mass: “Best moments: praying with everyone around the altar, people sharing during the dialogue homily, Eucharist, so many helping with reading/offeratory/petitions/set-up, final hymn "Sing a New Church" and seeing it made manifest. It was a true privilege and joy to be there.”

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Philadelphia TransHealth Conference is the largest annual event focusing on the health of the transgender community, and draws participants from around the country.

St. Mary of Grace Parish was founded by the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2004 and continues as a ministry of the AIHM today!

A special thank you to Fr. Joseph (pastor) and Bp.Timothy who have provided pastoral care for St. Mary of Grace Parish over the last 6 years!!!!  And thank you to Sr. Lyngine, our pastoral assistant, and to all our parishioners who over the years have given their time, talent, and energy as we build this community together!

St. Mary of Grace is a small, self-supporting community and in our life and our ministry, we strive to bring the unconditional love and healing of Jesus Christ to all people.

Over the years, through our ministry at St. Mary of Grace Parish we have:

• baptized the children of LGBT parents whose home parishes refused them baptism
• married same-sex couples recognizing that their relationships are more than a blessing--they are sacrament--sign and symbol of God's grace and love in the world
• married opposite-sex couples who were looking of an inclusive community that would welcome their whole family regardless of denomination or sexual orientation
  
• helped organize and participated in the first Mass at the Trans-Health Conference
  
• talked to LGBT students to let them know that it is possible to be faithful catholic Christian and LGBT
• offered anointing of the sick to those who found it difficult to approach more conservative clergy
• hosted tables at Outfest and Equality Forum
• welcomed families from different Christian denominations so all could receive communion together during Sunday Mass
• provided a supportive community where LGBT parents can raise their children to grow in the catholic faith

Most of all we provide a spiritual home for any who want to be part of an inclusive faith community following the catholic tradition.

On Sunday, May 29, we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Grace and the 7th Anniversary of St. Mary of Grace Parish.
By our faithfulness to the responsibilities of God’s Grace among us, may we see many more fruitful years.
MANY HAPPY AND BLESSED YEARS!

This year, services during Holy Triduum were held in Philadelphia, Boston, and Watertown, NY.

Rene Vilatte Press has just published the Book of Exorcisms. 
The rites in this book contain liturgical acts of exorcism. This book is intended to be given to the person being ordained as an Exorcist as the act of ordination. These rites are of two kinds: first, ritual exorcisms that take place during the blessing of certain created things, such as holy water, and the exorcisms that take place to prepare a person to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism; and second, the extraordinary exorcism of a person who is obsessed or possessed by demons, traditionally called an “energumen”.
The book may be ordered from Lulu here.

Another wonderful gathering has come and gone.  Each year, the Jurisdiction gets together at the beautiful Temenos retreat center in West Chester, Pennsylvania to Pray,  Eat, Laugh, and grow in Faith.  This year’s gathering featured two firsts: the blessing of Holy Oils (pictured to the left) and renewal of priestly vows, which previously had happened on Maundy Thursday, and a Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with Fr. Joseph Menna celebrating.  Pictures here!

We congratulate Mother Sandra Hutchinson on her ordination to the priesthood this weekend in Boston! Pictures may be found here!

Ordination of Michael Shirk to the Diaconate on January 15, 2011 in St. Louis, MO.  Thank you to all the friends and family who attended this special day. Pictures may be found here!