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Updated 4/09/12
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The Reverend David Dismas, MDiv, STM
"Bishop of Rumney Marsh"
A 1972 graduate of Pope John XXIII Catholic Central High School (Everett, MA), David completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 at Merrimack College (North Andover, MA) where he majored in Religious Studies and Young Adult Ministry. A week later, he was ordained to the priesthood within the independent sacramental movement. The ordination liturgy took place in the sanctuary of The Arlington Street Church in Boston's historic Back Bay.
David continued his studies at the Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1994 and a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degree in 1996. David's M.Div. program included a "specialized curriculum" in Biblical and Historical Studies while his S.T.M. "concentration" was Liturgical Studies. David has also completed a number of graduate level courses at UMASS/Boston in the area of Marriage and Family Therapy through the Department of Counseling and School Psychology.
With the permission of the late Rt. Rev. David Johnson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, David performed a Supervised Pastoral Internship at Saint Paul's Church (Beachmont-Revere, MA). The internship, a required component of Boston University's M.Div. program, ran from September, 1993 until May, 1994 after which David was invited to stay on in the role of "pastoral associate" for an additional four and a half years at the request of the vestry.
David is the pastor of Saint Nicholas Mission. First gathered in 1996, "the Mission" currently serves parishioners in the Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Melrose, Revere, Saugus, and Winthrop (Massachusetts) with associate members in California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico.
In 1997 David was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Fairhaven (MA), L'Eglise Catholique Charismatique du Canada [Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada] and promoted to the rank of Monsignor. On Christmas Day 1999, Patriarch Andre II Letellier signed the mandate for his consecration as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Fairhaven.
 | Marsh Chapel at Boston University
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A large number of parishioners and guests from the three New England dioceses of the Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada gathered in the Marsh Chapel at Boston University on 24 June 2000 to participate in the Mass of Consecration as David was ordained the first Bishop of Rumney Marsh. Archbishop Roland L. Salvador of Fairhaven served as principal consecrator, with Bishop Joseph Johnson of Philadelphia, Bishop Raymond Contois of Belchertown (MA), and Bishop Dennis Dumais of Ossippee (NH) serving as co-consecrators.
The Prayer Society of Saint Florian was begun on 4 May 2001 as a "fellowship of praying persons who offer daily intercession for the safety and other needs of the members of the Fire Service and their families." The martyr Saint Florian is venerated as the patron saint of the Fire Service.
 | Saint Florian Chapel
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According to custom, a portion of a bishop's residence is set apart as a private chapel. On 28 July 2001, The Saint Florian Chapel was dedicated by Archbishop Roland as both a "headquarters" for The Prayer Society and as a permanent home for The Mission Parish of Saint Nicholas. The Chapel is dedicated in memory of David's late uncle—Captain Dennis E. Williams—who had served as a career firefighter as well as the first Chief Arson Investigator for the City of Chelsea (MA).
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Adopting a spirituality and approach to ministry greatly influenced by the legacies of Nicholas of Myra, Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Damien of Molokai, Carlos Duarte Costa, John XXIII, Andre Barbeau, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Henri Nouwen, C. David Luther, Teresa of Calcutta, and Mychal Judge—each of whom exhibited a special sensitivity to those who no longer felt welcomed by other faith communities—Saint Nicholas Mission separated from the CCCC/USA to establish the Mission Diocese of Rumney Marsh as an autocephalous—i.e., "independent" or "self-governing"—jurisdiction (effective 15 September 2001).
This coincided with the retirement of Archbishop Roland and was a natural time for such restructuring.
A major thrust of David's ministry is adult religious education: a love he developed during his internship at Saint Paul's (Beachmont). For nine years he led the "Tuesday Night Study Group," a cooperative adult religious education ministry with Grace Episcopal Church (Everett, MA).
The "Saturday Night Study Group," a similar venture in cooperation with Saint John's Episcopal Church (Winthrop, MA), was added in September 2005. In October 2006, the Saturday Study Group morphed into the "Twice-a-Month Study Group" and began meeting two Saturdays each month in the choir room of Saint John's Church.
In October 2008, the Twice-a-Month Study Group [TaMSG] morphed yet again with an updated format—"Dinner and God Talk." The members began to gather two Saturdays every month at a local restaurant for a shared meal followed by some lively discussion. At the end of its 2010-2011 season, the TaMSG was meeting in the homes of a group member and consisted of dinner, facilitated discussion and a time of fellowship after the discussion.
 | David speaking at the Chelsea Rotary
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David is a Worker-Priest. In an effort to be less of a financial burden on the parish or ministry they serve, worker priests are non-stipendiary and agree to support themselves and their ministries by holding down a "day job."
Another aspect of the worker clergy charism is one of witness—taking the ministries of the Church to the workers when the workers are unable to come to the Church.
Today's worker priests draw inspiration from both the French Roman Catholic Worker Priest Movement of the 1940's and from Saint Paul's Tent-Making model as practiced by many of our Protestant counterparts.
Worker priests are sometimes confused with the "bi-vocational ministers" in some denominational families, but the bivocational clergy may accept payment for their ministerial services whereas the worker priest is expected to minister without expectation of remuneration.
A worker-priest may accept a gift, but a worker-priest may not charge a fee.
In September 2011, David was laid off from his "day job" at Dr. Matthew S. Shwartz Hospice & Palliative Care (Chelsea, MA) where he served as Hospice Volunteer Coordinator and Bereavement Group Facilitator.
 | David preaches during the 2012 Easter Sunday Communion Service at Atria Maplewood Place Senior Living in Malden (MA).
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While looking for a new "day job," he remains busy pastoring Saint Nicholas Mission; leading ecumenical worship services at Atria Maplewood Place Senior Living (Malden, MA); offering pastoral supervision/consultation to area clergy; providing one-on-one pastoral care, counseling and spiritual direction to a small number of clients; and, developing what he hopes will become his own bookkeeping business.
His professional memberships include The New England Association Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Services, Spiritual Directors International and The Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts. David is also listed as a "minister in special standing" with the International Council of Community Churches.
[On LinkedIn? You may wish to check out David's Profile there.]
Thank you for taking the time to read through this brief biography. David welcomes your questions which may be sent to him at David@themissionparish.com. Or you may write to him:
Rev. David Dismas
c/o Saint Nicholas Ministries, Inc.
285 Commandants Way
Chelsea, MA 02150
617-336-7211
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