Past Events 2007
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St. Mary of Grace Independent Catholic Church
An Inclusive Catholic Community in Philadelphia |
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Brightening the Season!!!!
On December 29, Bob and Hector, long-time parishioners at St. Mary of Grace, welcomed the parish in grand style to their annual Holiday Open House. Good food, great company, and more lights and decorations than any of us have ever seen!
Blessed and Merry Christmas!!!! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. -Luke 2:10-11 On December 24, St. Mary of Grace parish joyfully celebrated Christmas with 10pm Matins and Mass. Peace, Blessings, and a Merry Christmas to all!
Feast of the Immaculate Conception The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is the primary Marian feast of the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On Saturday, December 8 the St. Mary of Grace parish family marked the celebration of
the Immaculate Conception at Fr. Joseph's friary in Media with a
"Getting Ready for the Coming of the Lord" celebration of prayer, fellowship, and a delicious Italian pasta dinner.
Celebrating the Rite of Marriage On 21 October to the great joy of the parish family and after 12 years together, Lyngine and Carol were married at the Sunday Mass of St. Mary of Grace Parish with Bp. Timothy presiding and Fr. Joseph celebrating the Eucharist. Congratulations to the happy couple!!! St. Mary of Grace Parish offers the Sacrament of Marriage to all couples.
Blessings and Celebrations
On Sunday, August 19 St. Mary of Grace parish celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At our Sunday celebration, Bishop Timothy was presented with a new Mitre from the AIHM Order and the Parish as the Assumption is also the 14th Anniversary and Founder's Day for the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. St. Mary of Grace Parish is under the pastoral care of the AIHM Order.
Happy 14th Anniversary to the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!!!!
 "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth!" St. Mary of Grace Parish is under the pastoral care of the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. August 15, 2007, marks the fourteenth anniversary of the founding of the AIHM Order. Fourteen years ago, on Assumption Day, 1993, Charles Tobin and Joseph Augustine made their first profession to deepen their Baptismal covenant in the Gospel life according the the Rule of St. Augustine and the Statutes of the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. God has taken the Order many places and several people have come and gone, including one of the founders, but the Order has remained and grown to serve the people of God with the Augustinian spirit of Grace, Community, Charity, and Prayer. Please offer a prayer of thanks to God with and for us all in the AIHM. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord... God has done great things for me, Holy is the name of our God."
"What Do You Mean, Independent Catholics?" On Sunday, August 5, 2007, Bp. Timothy spoke at the weekly service of the local Unitarian community at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County about the history, people, and charisms of the Independent Catholic/Old Catholic/Independent Sacramental Movement. Bp. Timothy spoke of the important contributions of the Independent Catholic churches to social justice as well as the commitment to make the sacraments available to all.
Summer Social and Show at Longwood Gardens
"Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry." Jeremiah 31:13 This
past Saturday, July 28, 2007, some of the parish family gathered
for their Summer social outing at Longwood Gardens. They spent
the afternoon strolling through
the spectacular exhibits and then enjoyed a musical performance of "Anything Goes". Don, a member of the parish, performed as one of a quartet of sailors in the show, delighting us all with his spectular singing and dancing.
Grace and Blessings!!!Happy Anniversary, St. Mary of Grace Parish!!!!This
Sunday, June 3, on the the parish family celebrated the 3rd Year Anniversary of the founding of St.
Mary of Grace Parish. The parish was founded in 2004 by the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
beginning with 2 deacons and one occasional parishioner. The parish has
grown over the years and now includes 2 priests, 2 visiting clergy, a
seminarian, and a dozen or so laity. During Advent, the parish set out
to create our motto, Building and Being an Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition, and a mission statement.
The clergy wanted the whole parish family to have and feel ownership
for what we all were doing. We are a catholic faith community of young
and old, Caucasian, Black, Asian, and Hispanic ethnicity, gay and
straight, male and female, single, divorced, partnered, and
married--all equal and welcome at God's Table.
After a Mass celebrating the feast of the Holy Trinity and the solemnity of Our Lady of Grace, the parish community and friends of the parish went to a local restaurant in Media to toast the founding of the community. Happy Anniversary!!!!
Spring Social at Fox Meadow Miniature Golf This
past Saturday, June 2, 2007, some of the parish community gathered
for their Spring social outing for a round of miniature golf. They spent a beautiful June night playing miniature golf, having some ice cream and dinner, and enjoying each others' company. The pictures below are from the evening at the Fox Meadow Golf Center.
"With this ring, I thee wed....." On Friday, 18 May, to the great joy of the parish family, Lourdes and Kim were married by Bp. Timothy. Congratulations to the happy couple!!! St. Mary of Grace Parish offers the Sacrament of Marriage to all couples.
Equality Forum 2007 On Sunday, 6 May, the parish participated in SundayOut at Equality Forum 2007. Bishop Timothy and Fr. Joseph along with members of the parish community staffed a table providing information about the parish and the Independent Catholic movement and made new friends. St. Mary of Grace Parish, in justice of the Gospel, offers the sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconcilliation) to ALL.
Joy and Celebration! On April 29, 2007, Marian Bellus, a seminarian and member of the Church of Antioch, who is expanding her training in liturgical practice by serving at Sunday Masses at St. Mary of Grace, was ordained as a Reader in her church by Bp. Kera Hamilton (Church of Antioch). Bp. Timothy and Fr. Joseph were honored to be present at the ceremony and witness this joyful event. The parish congratulates Marian and is overjoyed to celebrate this event with Marian as she takes the next step on her journey to priesthood.
Easter Joy and Congratulations, Kim and Michael!!! On April 7, 2007 the parish welcomed a new member into the Body of Christ and the Communion
of Saints. At the Easter Vigil service, Kim received the sacrament of Baptism with the support of her sponsor, Lourdes. We
were all so happy to celebrate this new life in the Church with Kim, her partner Lourdes, and their family.
(Above left) Bp. Timothy baptizes Kim on Easter Vigil. (Above right) Fr. Joseph, Bp. Timothy, and Lourdes (Kim's sponsor) welcome Kim to the Body of Christ.
Rejoice and be glad! At the April 5, 2007 Holy Thursday Mass, Bp. Tim Cravens tonsured Michael Shirk and gave him the surplice in an ancient ceremony admitting him as a cleric, the first liturgical step toward priesthood. The tonsure symbolizes entrance into the service of Christ and of laying aside the purely secular lay state, and the donning of the surplice represents putting on the obligations of ordained ministry. The parish congratulates Michael and is overjoyed to have been part of this important step on his journey towards priesthood.
Congratulations Fr. Joseph, M.S. Ed. !!!
On Saturday, March 31 (12noon) our parish and friends celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving with Fr. Joseph. Father Joseph completed his Master of Science in Education degree this month from Walden University. Fr. Joseph Augustine Menna has been in education ministry for nearly two decades and will use his new degree to further his ministry of education and human development. The parish family congratulates Fr. Joseph on his accomplishment and celebrates with heartfelt joy.
Preparing for the sacrament of Baptism Beginning on the March 11, 2007 Sunday celebration of the Eucharist of St. Mary of Grace parish and on every Sunday until Easter Vigil, Kim will receive the Rite of the Elect. With the joyful support of the parish community and the grace of God, she takes the first steps towards the sacrament of Baptism, which she will receive at Easter Vigil.
Rejoice! "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup;
it is Thou that restorest mine inheritance to me." Psalm 16:6 At the February 18, 2007 Sunday celebration of the Eucharist of St.
Mary of Grace parish in Media, PA, Bp. Tim Cravens tonsured Carol
Nickolai and gave her the surplice in an ancient ceremony admitting her
as a cleric, the first liturgical step in her journey toward the
priesthood. The tonsure, or symbolic cutting of hair (only five
strands in the shape of a cross were cut!), originally a sign of
servitude, symbolizes entrance into the service of Christ and of laying
aside the purely secular lay state, and the donning of the surplice
represents putting on the obligations of ordained ministry. Carol has blessed our parish with her music ministry. We look forward to our journey with her as she prepares for the priesthood!
Welcome, Marian! Marian Bellus, a seminarian and member of the Church of Antioch, is expanding her training in liturgical practice by serving during Sunday Mass at St. Mary of Grace. She blesses our parish with her gracious and cheerful presence.
Winter Social at the New Jersey Aquarium This
past Saturday, February 10, 2007, some of the parish family gathered
for their Winter social outing at the New Jersey Aquarium. They spent the day admiring the variety of fish and sea life, strolling through the spectacular exhibits, and basking in the blessings of good
company and God's creation. The pictures below are from the day at the New Jersey Aquarium.
Parish Celebrates Our First Baptism On December 17, the Third Sunday of Advent, the St. Mary of Grace Parish family welcomed a new member into the Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints. Daniel Noah Carter-Smith was baptised and welcomed into the Church and our parish family. His mother, Karin Smith, was one of the faithful new members when the parish moved to Media back in May. We were all so happy to celebrate this new life in the Church with Daniel, his mother, God parents, and family. God Grant Daniel Noah many happy, healthy, and blessed years!
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