A New Priest

On Monday June 15th 2015 Rev. Fr. Douglas D. Gibson was ordained as a priest of the Old Roman Catholic Church – Archdiocese of California by Archbishop-Coadjutor Chris M, Hernandez, DD and Most Rev. Bobby C. Hall, DD. The Parish of St George’s Church in Centerton, AR served as host church for his ordination.

In a quite ceremony surrounded by family and friends Fr. Gibson was ordained as a Catholic priest according to the Sacred Roman Pontifical. Fr. Gibson comes to the Old Roman Catholic Church following his retirement of thirty seven years’ service as an Army Chaplain.

Fr. Gibson and his family returned to their home in Foley AL where he will commence his duties as a Hospital Chaplain and counselor.

EASTER MESSAGE

       

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Faith and to all people of good will 

Over the course of the last several weeks much of the grip of winter has slowly faded and the new life associated with the arrival of spring begins to slowly show forth -- leaving behind the coldness and darkness of winter. Flowers are beginning to peek out of the earth; many trees are showing the tiny buds of their leaves and the air is fresh with the scent of new life. It is with this promise of new life we again celebrate the approaching joy of Easter.

The earliest of the disciples -- Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, along with the two on the road to Emmaus and his mother, The Blessed Virgin Mary -- were overcome by the knowledge of Jesus rising from the dead on Easter morn. Suddenly all of their grief, tears, anxiety, uncertainty and heaviness of heart from the events of Good Friday were replaced with incomparable joy, exhilaration and an everlasting freedom that could only be won by the empty tomb of Easter.  As Christians we also join in with joy in our hearts as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.

Yet with the joy of Easter soon to quickly be with us there is a veil of sadness that covers our Christian Brothers and Sisters in the Middle East and Africa where many are to become martyrs due to their faith. There is a loss of life, their homes, with many mothers and their children being sold as slaves in an area where there was once a glimmer of hope for peaceful coexistence among people of all faiths. As Old Roman Catholics, we must pray daily that this global madness will quickly come to an end.  Additionally we must join in conjunction with other relief agencies to help by furnishing our time, talent and treasures as each of our individual circumstances will permit. In so doing let us not forget those around us who are in need within our own local areas.

Throughout the year, within our local communities and abroad, we pray there will be a continual loving effort to bridge the chasm of misunderstanding that may exist between other Catholic entities. Only the bright lite of truth can remove the fog of any misunderstanding.

My prayer for each of you and all you hold dear is that whatever grief, tears, anxiety, uncertainty or heaviness of heart that may be in your life at this time, it will be replaced by never ending joy as we celebrate once again the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the eternal promise of that empty tomb that gives mankind forever the hope of life everlasting.

And as cited in the Gospel of Matthew (28:6), the angel gave the message to Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Easter -- "Jesus is truly risen as he promised." That message is meant for each of us, too! And it makes all the difference in your life and mine. At this Easter, it is my hope that each of you may know that wondrous difference and embrace the Risen One with a faith that is firm, a hope that is real and a love that is eternal.

 May God bless and forever keep you.

In Christ,
+ Bobby C. Hall
Most Rev. Bobby C. Hall, DD
Auxiliary Bishop

The Old Roman Catholic Church in Centerton, AR

There have been a rash of statements from the pulpits of the local Roman Catholic Churches that this parish is not sanctioned by the local bishop. The Bishop of Little Rock has no authority over this parish as our Archbishop is in California and we answer only to him. Perhaps a formal statement of position is in order at this point!

The Old Roman Catholic Church in Centerton, AR

St George Old Roman Catholic Church is a parish of The Old Roman Catholic Church in America – Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California, which acknowledges its historic continuity with the Undivided Apostolic Church and possessing all of its Holy Orders intact, traces its direct Apostolic Succession from the historic, autonomous Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht in Holland. While the church is not in formal communion with Rome it is recognized by the Holy See as a “true particular church” possessing apostolic orders and a valid Eucharistic, as found in the document Dominus Jesus issued in August 6, 2000 by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later to be Pope Benedict XVI, when he served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. As such, this parish is a valid expression of the Catholic Faith and is not subject to local Catholic Diocese jurisdiction.





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   The Old Roman Catholic Church does not depend on the recognition of any other Church; in years gone by the Roman Catholic Church has repeatedly affirmed its recognition of the Old Roman Catholic Church in a variety of publications.

   The Roman Catholic Dictionary by Addis and Arnold says of this our Church, “They have retained valid orders…We have been unable to discover any trace of heresy in these books,” [referencing those liturigical books officially ordered for use in the Old Roman Catholic Church].  

  A Catholic Dictionary, by Donald Attwater, bearing the imprimatur of the late Patrick Cardinal Hayes of New York, states of the Old Roman Catholic Church: “Their orders and sacraments are valid.”

   Referring to the Old Roman Catholic Church specifically in America, Father Conrad Algermissen’s Christian Denominations, published in 1948, and bearing the imprimatur of the late John Cardinal Glennon of St. Louis (p. 363) reads: “The North American Old Roman Catholic Church [has] received valid episcopal consecration.” 

     In fact, as far back as 1928, The Far East (January 1928, p.16), a publication of the Roman Catholic Columban Fathers of St. Columban’s, Nebraska, answered an inquiry concerning the validity of the orders conferred in the Old Roman Catholic Church.  The article mentions our late Archbishop Carfora favorably (from whom many present Old Roman Catholic bishops derive their orders) stating, “these orders are valid.”

NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On this New Year’s day I hold up in my prayers all those families who were unable to be together this past Christmas, either due to military service, illness or some other reason. I pray whatever the circumstances may have been; the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be experienced by all peoples wherever they may be.

As we look back on the past year and forward to the upcoming year of 2015, there are many things to give thanks for, some things to grieve, and much to look forward to as we strive to be faithful and obedient to our Lord's call on our lives. The Archdiocese of California has much to look forward to in the coming New Year. We pray for the dedication of men and women to answer the call of our Savior, to serve him and go forth in the establishment of new parishes at home and abroad. Most certainly the vocation of monastic life will hold itself out to many. May God grant you his peace and knowledge to each of you in your spiritual decisions?

Many have been deeply touched by the generosity of so many of you throughout the Archdiocese this past year as you have freely given of your time, talent and treasure in support of the ministry of your home parishes, the wider Archdiocese and the Old Roman Catholic Church worldwide, as well as the special needs that have arisen and been met through your gifts to your parishes annual appeal and various other appeals.

As we hear of all the trials and struggles of our friends around the world, it helps keep things in perspective and serves as a reminder of how truly blessed we are in this country despite our own trials, challenges and struggles. Whatever we or our friends face, whether here or abroad, knowing that Christ is with us, even in the most difficult of circumstances, makes all the difference. It is that reality that we celebrate this on coming New Year giving thanks to God for the precious gift of His Son that first Christmas morning.

In closing, I pray that Almighty God who, through his love,  poured upon us the new light of His incarnate Word would grant that this Light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives and that He will plant in every heart the love of Him who is Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Amen.

May you and all those you hold dear have a Happy New Year!

Your Brother in Christ,

+ Bobby C. Hall

Most Rev. Bobby C. Hall, DD
Auxiliary Bishop