Province of Our Lady of the Angels
General
Instructions
This
application is for
individuals who wish to be accepted as candidates for Holy Orders in
the
Province of Our Lady of the Angels. Individuals who are accepted into
this program must
submit to formal instruction and practical training as part of the process leading to ordination.
Information
requested
in this application will be kept confidential. All information
submitted with this
application will be verified independently, so please be detailed in
providing
dates, locations and all other relevant information. Any material
misstatement of fact shall be considered deliberate, and shall be
grounds for
rejection of this application. This application in no way guarantees or
provides any promise to the recipient of being ordained. Candidates and
Seminarians may be separated from the program at any time, up to the
day of
diaconate or priestly ordination.
Basic
Information
Name:
_______________________________________________________________________
____________
Address:
_______________________________________________________________________
__________
City:
____________________________________ State: _____________________ Zip:
_________________
Home Phone:
___________________________________ Work:
____________________________________
E-Mail
Address________________________________________________________________
____________
Secular Employer:
_______________________________________________________________________
__
Address:
_______________________________________________________________________
__________
City: __________________________________ State: _____________________ Zip: _________________
Position: ____________________________________________ Years Employed There: _______________
Do You Make Enough Money to Support Yourself and Family? ___________________________________
Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Felony Offense? ___________ (If so, describe on a separate sheet of paper.)
Have You Ever Been Adjudicated Mentally Incompetent by any Court, or institutionalized for any mental illness? _____________ If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.
Have you ever been convicted of any Misdemeanor Offense? ________ ( If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.)
Do you have any kind of an illness that would interfere with your ability to pastor a parish? _______________
(If so, describe in detail on a
separate
sheet of paper.)
Pastoral
Information
What is your current religious affiliation? _____________________________________________________
How long have you been so affiliated? ___________________
To what other churches/denominations have you belonged in the past? ______________________________
_______________________________________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________________________________ _______________________________
How long have you been actively ministering? _________________________________________________
Where did you receive your formal training and instruction in theology? _____________________________
_______________________________________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________________________________ _______________________________
List any College Degrees that you currently hold: ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________ _______________________________
[NOTE: Enclose all copies of any and all college degrees, and certified transcripts along with this application]
Please
describe, on separate sheets of paper, your reasons for wanting to be a
Seminarian, along with 'where you are theologically' and how you came
to be
there. Include also your
understanding on the following theological points: The Sacraments, The
Real
Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Catholicism and why you feel you
are drawn
to it, and any discussions that you have had with your congregation (if
any)
regarding becoming catholic or studying as a Seminarian in the Old
Catholic Province of
Our Lady of the Angels. Please take your time and be as detailed as
possible. Touch upon each point
completely.
Are you married? ________________ If so, how long have you been married? _______________________
If so, will your wife approve of your ministry in the Old Catholic Province of Our Lady of the Angels? ___________________________
Enclosed
is a “Statement of Faith” for our church. After reading it, do you feel
that it
represents your devout and unchanging faith and belief? (If so, sign the Statement of Belief and return with this
Application.)
Do you have any theological
problems
with Catholicism or personal obstructions? ____________________________
(If so, please state in detail on a
separate
sheet.)
Do
you understand, that as a Catholic Church, the Old Catholic Province of
Our Lady
of the Angels does not ordain
women to the Holy Priesthood, does not subscribe to gender-
neutral
language (inclusive language) Bibles, nor any such other innovations
and
heretical acts? _______________________
Do you understand, that as a Seminrian, you will be required to take an Oath of Obedience to your diocesan ordinary (Bishop) as his pastoral assistant in ministering to the faithful of the church, and that you must agree to the Code of Canon Law of the Old Catholic Province of Our Lady of the Angels, in its entirety, and fully support it? ______________
Financial
History
Have you ever filed for
bankruptcy?____________ If so, when and where?
_______________________________________
Have you ever been the subject
of any
civil or criminal action regarding any outstanding debts?
_______________
If so, please state in detail
and the
outcome on a separate sheet of paper.
Has any church that you
personally
have belonged to been the subject of any civil or criminal
investigation into
any kind of financial wrongdoing, or misappropriation of funds?
___________________________________
(If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
Have you ever been a member who had to close any
church
bank account due to problems with funding or use of existing funds?
_______
(If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
How many years if any, have
you had
being in a position of oversight or responsible charge regarding church
finances?
____________
Background Information
Current Address: ______________________________________________________________________< /b>
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________ _______
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________ _______
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________ _______
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Documentation
Checklist
The following documents must accompany this Application:
- Any & All Theological Studies Certificates and/or Degrees
- Any & All Academic Certificates and/or Degrees
- Certificate of Ordination (if any)
- Copy of Driver’s License or State I.D.
- Copy of Social Security Card
- One (1) Head & Shoulders Color Photograph
- Pastoral Notes from Preaching/Homilies Given (If any)
- Statement of Faith of current Church with which you are affiliated
- Signed Statement of Faith of the Old Catholic Province of Our Lady of the Angels (Must be notarized)
- All additional sheets as requested within this Application, including the $ 150.00 fee for the reference and background check expense, as indicated in the cover letter, made out to the “Old Catholic Province of Our Lady of the Angels”.
Acknowledgment
I
understand that by submitting this Application for Candidacy for Holy
Orders,
that I am not guaranteed
acceptance.
Further, I understand that acceptance shall be based, in part, upon the
information and documents that I have submitted (and failed to submit),
the
investigation of the veracity of any document submitted along with
additional
formative programs of the Old Catholic Province of Our Lady of the
Angels.
I do hereby give my permission to the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the Angels to conduct a reasonable and diligent inquiry and investigation into my background, for the purpose of determining the truth and veracity of any and all information submitted herein. In addition, I understand that the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the Angels may use outside agencies to conduct said investigation, may obtain credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, may obtain police reports and any and all other public records and reports directly or from outside agencies, in order to reasonably determine the truthfulness of the information submitted herein, and my suitability for acceptance. I authorize and give permission to the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the Angels to conduct all specified investigations and inquiries described herein, without reservation. I further understand that any material misstatement of fact within this Application may be ground for rejection of this application by the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the Angels. I completely and irrevocably, along with my heirs, executors and administrators, indemnify, waive, release and hold harmless, the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the Angels, its directors, executives, employees, agents and subcontracted agents from any and all liability, including (but not limited to) third party causes of action, arising in any way, directly or indirectly, out of this Application for Candidacy for Holy Orders, theological instruction, training (mine or others), any church activities or any pastoral activities whatsoever. In consent and full agreement to these terms and provisions, I set my signature below:
Signature:
______________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
This
_________ day of ______________________ , 200____
I,
_________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed
the
above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My
commission end
on:
_________________________________
, 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary
Signature
These
Articles of Belief were originally issued by the Old Catholic Church of
England
in a pamphlet entitled: The Articles of Belief of the Old Catholics of
Great
Britain and Ireland of the Western Orthodox Church. They serve as the
basis for
the Union with the Holy Orthodox Church of
Beirut, Syria, in the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Dogmatic
Articles
1.
The Way of Salvation. Eternal
Salvation
is promised to mankind only through the merits of our Savior Jesus
Christ, and
upon condition of obedience to the teaching of the Gospel, which
requires
Faith, Hope and Charity, and the due observance of the ordinances of
the
Orthodox and Catholic Religion.
2.
Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith
is a
virtue infused by God, whereby one accepts, and believes without
doubting,
whatever God has revealed in the Church concerning true
Religion.
Hope is a virtue infused by
God, and
following upon Faith; by it one puts their entire trust and confidence
in the
goodness and mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, and looks for the
fulfillment
of the Divine promises made to those who obey the
Gospel.
Charity is a virtue infused
by God,
and likewise consequent upon Faith, wherby one, loving God above all
things for
His own sake, and their neighbor as oneself for God’s sake, yields up
one will
to a joyful obedience to the revealed will of God in the
Church.
3. The
Church. God has established the Holy Catholic Church upon earth
to be
the pillar and ground of the revealed Truth; and has committed to her
the
guardianship of the Holy Scriptures and of Holy Tradition, and the
power of
binding and loosing.
4. The
Creed. The Catholic Church has set forth the principal Doctrines
of the
Christian Faith in twelve articles of the Creed, as
follows:
I.
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and
earth,
and of all things visible and
invisible;
II. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God,
begotten of the Father before all Ages, God of
God, Light
of Light, Very God of Very God,
begotten not made, of one substance with the he Father, by Whom
all
things
were made;
III. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from
heaven, and
was Incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and
was made
Man;
IV.
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered
and was buried;
V.
And the third day He rose again, according to the
Scriptures;
VI. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right
hand of the
Father;
VII. And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the
living and
the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end;
VIII. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver
of Life,
Who proceedeth
from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son
together is
worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the
Prophets;
IX. And in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Church;
X. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of
sins;
XI. And I look for the Resurrection of the
dead;
XII. And the Life of the world to come.
Amen.
This sacred Creed is
sufficient for
the establishment of the Truth, inasmuch as it explicitly teaches the
perfect
Doctrine of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
5. The
Sacraments. The
fundamental
ordinances of the Gospel, instituted by Jesus Christ as special means
of conveying
Divine Grace and influence to the souls of men, which are commonly
called
Mysteries or Sacraments, are Seven in number, namely Baptism,
Confirmation, the
Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Penance, and
Unction.
Holy Baptism is the first
Sacrament
of the Gospel, administered by
threefold
immersion in, water with the words, “I baptize thee
(you) in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.” It
admits the recipient into the Church, bestows upon them the forgiveness
of
sins, original and actual, through the Blood of Christ, and causes in
them a
spiritual change called Regeneration. Without valid Baptism no other
Sacrament
can be validly received.
Holy Confirmation or
Chrismation is
a Sacrament in which the baptized person, on being anointed with Chrism
consecrated by the Bishops of the Church, with the imposition of hands,
receive
the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them in the grace
which
they received at Baptism, making them a strong and perfect Christian
and a good
soldier of Christ.
The Holy Eucharist is a
Sacrament in
which, under the appearance of Bread and Wine, the real and actual Body
and
Blood of Christ are given and received for the remission of sins, the
increase
of Divine grace, and the reward of everlasting Life. After the prayer
of
Invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy, the bread and wine are
entirely
converted into the Living Body and Blood of Christ by an actual change
of being
to which change the philosophical terms of Transubstantiation and
Transmutation
are rightly applied. The celebration of this Mystery or Sacrament,
commonly
called the Mass, constitutes the chief act of Christian worship, being
a
sacrificial Memorial or re-Presentation of our Lord’s death. It is not
a
repetition of the Sacrifice offered once for all upon Calvary, but is a
perpetuation of that Sacrifice by the Church on earth, as our Lord also
perpetually offers it in heaven. It is a true and propitiatory
Sacrifice, which
is offered alike for the living and for the
departed.
Holy Orders is a Sacrament
in which
the Holy Spirit, through the laying-on of hands of Bishops, consecrates
and
ordains the pastors and ministers chosen to serve in the Church, and
imparts to
them special grace to administer the Sacraments, to forgive sins, and
to feed
the flock of Christ.
Holy Matrimony is a
Sacrament in
which the Estate of Marriage is sanctified to become an image
of the union between Christ and His Church; and grace is imparted to
fulfill the duties of their estate and its great responsibilities, each
to the
other and to their children.
Holy Penance is a Sacrament
in which
the Holy Spirit bestows the forgiveness of sins, by the ministry of the
priest,
upon those who, having sinned after Baptism, confess their sins with
true
repentance, and grace is given to amend their lives
thereafter.
Holy Unction is a Sacrament
in which
the priests of the Church anoint the sick with oil, for the healing of
the
infirmities of their souls, and if it should please God, those of their
bodies
also.
The efficacy of the
Sacraments
depends upon the promise and appointment of God; nevertheless, they
benefit
only those who receive them worthily with faith, and with due
preparation and
disposition of mind.
6. Holy Scripture. The Scriptures
are
writings inspired by God, and given to the Church for her instruction
and
edification. The Church is therefore the custodian and the only
Divinely
appointed interpreter of Holy Scripture.
7. Tradition. The Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Traditions received from
the
seven General Councils and the early Fathers of the Church may not be
rejected;
but are to be received and obeyed as being both agreeable to Holy
Scripture and
to that Authority with which Christ endowed His Church. Matters of
discipline
and ceremonial do not rank on the same level with matters of Faith and
Morals,
but may be altered from time to time and from place to place by the
Authority
of the Church according as the welfare and greater devotion of the
faithful may
be furthered thereby.
8. The Communion of the
Saints. There is a Communion of Saints in
the
Providence of God, wherein the souls of the righteous men of all ages
are
united with Christ in the bond of faith and love. Wherefore it is
pleasing to
God, and profitable to men, to honor the Saints and to invoke them in
prayer;
and also to pray for the faithful departed.
9. Religious Symbols. The relics and representations of
the Saints
are worthy of honor, as are also all other religious emblems; that our
minds
may be encouraged to devotion and to imitation of the deeds of the
just. Honor
shown to such objects is purely relative, and in no way implies a
confusion of
the symbols with the thing signified.
10. Rites and Ceremonies. It is the duty of all Christians to
join in
the worship of the Church, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, in
accordance with our Lord’s express command; and to conform to the
ceremonies
prescribed by holy Tradition for the greater dignity of that Sacrifice
and for
the edification of the faithful.
11. The Moral Law. All Christians are bound to observe
the
moral law contained in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament,
developed
with greater strictness in the New, founded upon the law of nature and
charity,
and defining our duty to God and to man.
The laws of the Church are also to be obeyed, as proceeding from
that
Authority which Christ has committed to her for the instruction and
salvation
of His
people.
12. The Monastic Estate. The monastic life, duly regulated
according
to the laws of the Church, is a salutary institution in strict accord
with the
Holy Scriptures; and is full of profit to them who, after being
carefully tried
and examined, make full proof of their calling
thereto.
Organic Articles
1. Head of the Church.
The Foundation Head and Supreme Pastor and Bishop of the
Church is
our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, from Whom all Bishops and Pastors derive
their
spiritual powers and jurisdiction.
2. Obedience.
By the laws and institution of our Lord Jesus Christ in
the
Gospel, all Christians owe obedience and submission in spiritual things
to them
who have rule and authority within the Church.
3. Ministerial Authority. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not commit
rule
and authority within the Church to all the faithful indiscriminately,
but only
to the Apostles and to their lawful successors in due
order.
4. Apostolic Succession. The only lawful successors of the
Apostles
are the Orthodox and Catholic Bishops, united by profession of the
self-same
Belief, participation in the same Sacraments, and mutual recognition
and
Intercommunion. The Bishops of
the
Church, being true successors of the Apostles, are by Divine Right and
appointment the rulers of the Church.
In virtue of
this appointment,
each individual Bishop is supreme and independent in that part of the
Church
which has been committed to his care, so long as he remains in Faith
and
Communion with the united company of Catholic Bishops, who cannot
exclude any
from the Church, save only them who stray from the path of virtue or
err in
Faith.
By virtue of
this same
Divine appointment, the supreme Authority over the whole Church on
earth
belongs to the collective Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate. They alone
from the
highest tribunal in spiritual matters, from whose united judgment there
can be
no appeal; so that it is unlawful for any single Bishop, or any smaller
group
of Bishops apart from them, or for any secular power or state, to usurp
this
authority, or for any individual Christian to substitute his own
private
judgment for that interpretation of Scripture or Authority which is
approved by
the Church.
5. Church Authority. The collective body of the Orthodox and Catholic
Episcopate, united by profession of the Faith, by the Sacraments, and
by mutual
recognition and actual Intercommunion, is the source and depository of
all
order, authority and jurisdiction in the Church, and is the center
of visible Catholic Unity; so that no
Pope, Patriarch or Bishop, or any number of Bishops
separated from this united body can possess any authority or
jurisdiction
whatsoever.
The authority of
this
collective body is equally binding, however it may be expressed:
whether by a
General Council or by the regular and ordinary consultation and
agreement of
the Bishops themselves.
It is an act of
schism
to appeal from the known judgment of the Orthodox and Catholic
Episcopate,
however it may have been ascertained; or to appeal from any dogmatic
decree of
any General Council even though such appeal be to a future Council. For
the
Episcopate, being a continuation of the Apostolate, is clearly a Divine
institution, and its authority is founded in Divine Right. But General Councils are not of
Scriptural
promise of Divine appointment; and so the Episcopate having clearly the
Scriptural promise of Divine guidance into all Truth, cannot be
hampered in the
exercise of its authority by the necessity of assembling a General
Council
which may obviously be rendered impossible through natural
circumstances.
There have been
seven
General Councils only, which are recognized by the whole of
Christendom, held
respective in Nicea (AD-325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431),
Chalcedon
(451), Constantinople (553), Constantinople (680), and Nicea
(787). At no other Councils was the entire
body of
the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate representatively assembled; and
the
decrees and pronouncements of no others must of themselves be accepted
as
binding upon the conscience of the faithful.
The Authority of
the Church
can never be in abeyance, even though a General Council cannot be
assembled. It is equally to be
submitted to and obeyed in whatever way it may be exercised, and
although it
may be exercised only through the ordinary administration of their
respective
jurisdictions by individual Bishops.
6. Hierarchy. All patriarchs, archbishops,
and
metropolitans (that is to say,
all
Bishops who exercise any authority over other Bishops owe that
authority solely
to the appointment or general consent of the Orthodox and Catholic
Episcopate;
nor
can they ever cease from owing obedience to the collective body of the
Episcopate in all matters concerning Faith and
Morals.
7. The
Five Patriarchates.
There are
five Patriatchates, which ought to be united and form the supreme
authority in
the administration and government of the Holy Catholic Church. There
are
Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople.
Unfortunately, owing
to disputes and differences on the one hand, and to the lust for power
and supremacy
and domination on the other, the Patriarchs are not at present in
Communion;
and the welfare of Christendom is jeopardized by their unedifying
quarrels,
which, we pray, may soon have an end.
Statement of
Faith of the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the
Angels
The
Statement of Faith contained herein is to be considered a Primary
Summary of
the Faith of the Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the Angels.
All Clergy, Religious, and Seminarians are bound in conscience to
uphold and
teach the Faith as contained herein. Any future act of intercommunion
with
another Jurisdiction must be based on a mutual agreement with this
Statement of
Union. Any other arrangement would be tantamount to
heresy.
I,
______________________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold and
teach
this Statement of Faith with utmost conviction, aided by Divine Grace,
with God
as my Judge.
Signature:
______________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
This
_________ day of ______________________ , 200____
I,
_________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed
the
above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My
commission end
on:
_________________________________
, 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary
Signature
(PLEASE READ AND
SIGN)
Official Policy On
Misconduct By The
Clergy
Within |
|
Recent events in our
country and
society here in the United States and other parts of the world have
made it
necessary to publish and provide a clear understanding within the ranks
of all
of the clergy and the faithful, (and prayerfully we pray, eventually
within
each and every jurisdiction of the Church), that ZERO tolerance will
and must
be the standard operating guideline for issues of inappropriate
misconduct by the
clergy. This will also be the standard operating understanding and
procedure
for the clergy of The Province of our Lady of the
Angels.
We have adopted, herewith,
a
working and official policy of, and for,
The Province of our Lady of the Angels regarding the sexual
misconduct of clergy,
employees, regular volunteers, seminarians, and candidates for
ordination
and/or incardination.
While a more permanent Canon will be added to our own local Church
canons and
is being studied and worked on, the following articles and points of
concern will be our working
policy.
This
statement is approved and confirmed for immediate use and distribution
within:
The Old Catholic Province of our Lady of the
Angels.
Given under our hand and seal, this 8th day of September, in the year
of our Lord
Jesus Christ 2008, from our Patriarchal See at Chico, California - this
being the
first year of our Patriarchate.
His Grace,
the Most Reverend Vincent Quaresima
Patriarch
Signature:
______________________________________________________ Date:
________________________
This
_________ day of ______________________ , 200____
I,
_________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed
the
above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My
commission end
on:
_________________________________
, 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary
Signature