FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Celtic Christian Church
Establishes New Internet Presence
Independent Old Catholic, Celtic Rite Church Grows Beyond the Poconos
August 27, 2007 -- In 1997
Father Joseph A. Grenier, a
pastor to a small group of people who prayed and celebrated Eucharist with him
and his family in their home in the Poconos, was consecrated a bishop with Old Catholic and
Independent Catholic Apostolic Succession. Both the Old Catholic and
Independent Catholic Churches trace their apostolic succession into the Roman
Catholic Church through the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht, and the Catholic
Apostolic Church of Brazil and Bishop Duarte Costa. Bishop Grenier was
consecrated to begin a Celtic Rite Church in communion with other Celtic Rite
Church bodies in the United States. He has since encouraged the formation
of several Celtic Christian Cell Communities around the US, and has entered into
concordats of inter-communion with several other Old Catholic and Independent
Catholic Church bodies and is currently working on many more in an effort to
unite these Churches so that members can worship with one another around the
country.
The Celtic Christian Church has
two more bishops who have joined from
other denominations, eleven priests, two deacons, and a new seminarian.
One of the priests was already ordained when he incardinated with Bishop Grenier,
and the other ten priests, as well as the deacons, were ordained by the bishops within the
Celtic Christian Church over the past 10 years. The seminarians are
trained in various seminary programs around the country, and must complete
an
extensive theological program within the Celtic Christian Church, including
Celtic Christian studies, and Clinical Pastoral Education to be ready to serve
as chaplains. Several of the priests have also been trained in Spiritual
Direction either here in Pennsylvania at
Oasis Ministries in Camp Hill, PA,
or
Shalem Institute
for Spiritual Direction or in similar programs around the country.
The Celtic Christian Church owns no property. Groups meet in
each other's homes, or in space rented from other Churches to pray, celebrate the Eucharist, and share a meal and
fellowship. Their faith is Catholic, but not Roman Catholic and is not in
union with the papacy, although as Catholics they honor the role of the pope as
the historic and traditional bishop who is "first among equals." The
Church celebrates the traditional seven sacraments of the Western Church, and
holds firm to the belief of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Communities are centered on the Eucharist, prayer, and service to others.
Although the Celtic Christian Church has had an internet presence for the
past ten years, their new website is intended to inform more individuals of
their Faith, and welcome those who are seeking a Family of Faith, and who prefer
a smaller communal setting in which to worship and pray.
Bishop Grenier and his wife have worked for 24 years in
Good Tidings
Ministry which assists women who have been involved with Roman Catholic priests
or who have the children of Roman Catholic priests. Bishop Grenier, born
in 1931 in North Dartmouth, MA, was ordained in the Vatican, Italy in 1958 and
served as a Roman Catholic priest for 22 years in Canada, Rome, and the United
States before marrying in 1980. Since then he has served as a priest and
bishop in the Old Catholic tradition.
The Celtic
Christian Church
