Welcome to St. Francis of Assisi in Dunedin
Service is held in the Church of Christ historical building which has become the home to our new congregation: St. Francis of Assisi, Old Catholic Church. Led by the Rev. Robert Swick, renovations on the church began in April, and an inaugural mass was held in June, 2019.
St. Francis of Assisi is a member of The Old Catholic Church, in the Southeast Diocese. We worship as part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church established by our Lord Jesus Christ.
We welcome everyone to the seven Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick, and, most especially, The Eucharist. All are welcome to come to the table of Jesus, regardless of race, origin, marital status (divorced included), or economic position.
The church setting is intimate and the parishioners will go out of their way to introduce themselves, hoping to get to know attendees. The service ends with a simple reminder: "Go forth in love and perform random acts of kindness. Hold the door open for someone, smile, say thank you.”
You are welcome to attend Mass, which begins each Sunday at 11 a.m. at 545 Wood St. in Dunedin.
Questions of Interest
How is Old Catholic different from Roman Catholic? – Following the tradition of the Early Church in the first centuries, Old Catholic Church clergy are allowed to marry and have families. And, the Church ordains both men and women. Practicing inclusion, the priest gives a general absolution immediately following the Act of Contrition. This means all baptized persons can receive Holy Communion at our Mass. If you have been divorced, you too can receive Holy Communion. We are inclusive.
Are we under the Pope? – The term Old Catholic Church was used from the 1850s by groups which had separated from Rome over certain doctrines, primarily over papal authority beyond matters of Spirituality. Hence, the Old Catholic Church is not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. While we respect the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, we are not under his authority.
Since we are not part of Rome, how can we be Catholic? – Catholic means universal. All Catholic churches hold to common universal truths that make them Catholic. One of these truths is Holy Eucharist. All Catholic churches participate in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Our clergy have Apostolic Succession, which means our Bishops' lineage trace back to the beginnings of Christianity. And, thirdly, the Old Catholic Church upholds the Nicene and Apostles Creed.
After the First Vatican Council (1869-1870), several groups of Catholics in Austria-Hungary, Imperial Germany, and Switzerland rejected the Roman Catholic dogma of papal infallibility beyond Spiritual matters where it included secular matters. In 1870 the churches came together under the Holy See of Utrecht as the Old Catholic Church.
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and united myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from you.