Dear friends in Christ,
I want to begin this week’s column with a word of humble apology. Last weekend, while celebrating the liturgy, I mistakenly celebrated the wrong liturgy. The Sunday should have been the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and I regret this oversight. Thank you for your patience and grace, and for walking together as a community that understands both the beauty and the humanity of ministry.

Compounding this, my wife and I have been battling the flu through part of the past two weeks. We would be grateful for your prayers that sickness may subside in our household. I also ask you to join me in praying for all who are suffering from illness and infirmity, especially those who are hospitalized or homebound and have no one to tend to their needs. May Christ the Healer draw near to them in compassion, presence, and peace.

New Video Released: What Is Old Catholicism?
This weekend, we released a new video offering an introduction to Old Catholicism and its claim to continuity with the ancient Christian Church. The video is structured as a five-part lecture, exploring biblical foundations, the witness of the Church Fathers, the role of canons and councils, the historical development of the Old Catholic movement, and the sacramental life of the Church along with common objections.

The presentation emphasizes that the Church is a living, visible community entrusted with the deposit of faith, grounded in Sacred Scripture and expressed through apostolic ministry, conciliar governance, and sacramental life. Drawing on figures such as Irenaeus, Cyprian of Carthage, and Vincent of Lérins, the video highlights the early Church’s understanding of apostolic succession, episcopal collegiality, and catholicity defined not by juridical centralization, but by fidelity to what has been believed “everywhere, always, and by all.”

The lecture also traces the Old Catholic story from the Church of Utrecht in the eighteenth century through the crisis following the First Vatican Council, culminating in the formation of the Union of Utrecht in 1889. Finally, it addresses common objections—such as accusations of Protestantism or claims that communion with the Pope is required for catholicity—by pointing back to the ancient Church’s criteria: apostolic faith, sacramental life, ordained ministry, and conciliar order.

I hope this video serves both as an introduction for newcomers and a source of clarity and encouragement for those already familiar with the Old Catholic tradition.

Entering a New Season: Shrovetide / Septuagesima
This weekend, we enter a new liturgical season known as Shrovetide, traditionally beginning with Septuagesima Sunday. Though largely unfamiliar today, this season has deep roots in the Western Church.

Septuagesima marks a pre-Lenten period of preparation, historically lasting three weeks (Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima) leading up to Ash Wednesday. During this time, the Church begins to shift in tone: the Alleluia is set aside, readings emphasize humanity’s need for grace, and the faithful are invited to begin examining their lives in anticipation of Lent’s call to repentance and renewal.

Rather than plunging abruptly into penitence, Shrovetide offers a gentler threshold—a spiritual slowing down that allows us to prepare our hearts for the disciplines of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It reminds us that conversion is not a moment, but a journey, and that God’s grace meets us even before we take the first deliberate step.

As we enter this season, may we do so thoughtfully, honestly, and with hope—trusting that the same Christ who was transfigured in glory also walks patiently with us in our weakness and longing.

With gratitude for your prayers and your companionship on the way,
In Christ,
Rev. Ben

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
As winter weather moves across much of the country this weekend, we hold in prayer all who are traveling, asking God to grant them safety, patience, and protection on the road. We also remember those who face these storms without stable shelter, electricity, or heat, as well as all who are impacted by power outages, dangerous conditions, and uncertainty. May God’s presence be especially close to the vulnerable, the weary, and those offering care and assistance.

This weekend we also shared a new video as part of our ongoing commitment to weekly liturgies and faith-formation resources. In this reflection, I explore the challenge of reconstructing ancient Christianity, drawing on Jeff Cavins’ My Life on the Rock. Cavins’ journey reminds us that dissatisfaction with the Church is often experiential rather than doctrinal, rooted in a longing for deeper spiritual engagement. His time in independent ministry revealed how difficult it is to “build the Church from scratch” without historical continuity, ultimately leading him to a renewed appreciation for liturgy, incarnation, and the Church as a living, historical community guided by the Holy Spirit. The video also raises honest questions about reform, continuity, and historical breaks—questions that resonate deeply within Old Catholic and broader Christian conversations. Next week’s video will build on this reflection by addressing several continuity concerns raised here, and I look forward to continuing that conversation with you.

As always, please know that you are welcome to reach out if you would like your intentions remembered during the liturgy. Additionally, if you or someone you know is in the Saint Charles, Saint Peters, or Weldon Spring area and would benefit from a pastoral visit or the sacraments—especially Anointing of the Sick or the Eucharist—please do not hesitate to contact me.
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May God bless you, watch over you, and keep you safe during this time of inclement weather. May peace dwell in your homes and may hope remain strong even amid the storm.
Peace,
​Rev. Ben

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

In this week’s Gospel, Mary and Joseph lose track of Jesus and search for him with great anxiety, only to find him in the Temple—listening, questioning, and deeply engaged in his Father’s work. This familiar story reminds us that even faithful people can experience moments of uncertainty and confusion. Sometimes Jesus is not where we expect him to be. Yet the Gospel reassures us that God is often found in places of prayer, honest questioning, and patient searching. Growth in faith does not always come with immediate understanding, but through trust, reflection, and continued fidelity.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been encouraged by the number of people who have reached out asking about in-person worship. While our community remains small and dispersed, I would love to offer opportunities for shared prayer and liturgy. One beautiful possibility is celebrating the liturgy in people’s homes. If you know of a common room in a community center, assisted living facility, or apartment complex where a small group could gather, I would be more than happy to explore celebrating liturgy with you and others. Worship, like the Gospel itself, often begins simply—where people are willing to open their doors and hearts.
Many people are also carrying a deep sense of uncertainty and fear as we continue to experience profound divisions in our country. Some live with anxiety simply because they “look illegal,” despite having legal status. As Christians, we must be clear and unwavering on one essential truth: human dignity is not negotiable. While there may be legitimate disagreement about how immigration policy is shaped or implemented, there can be no question about the inherent worth of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God. The Gospel always calls us to resist fear, reject dehumanization, and choose compassion.
This week also saw the release of a new video, Renewal Pains in the Orthodox Church – Part 2, reflecting on Father Stefano’s book Renewal Pains in the Orthodox Church. The video explores the need for a living, experiential faith shaped by the active indwelling of the Holy Spirit, especially through the sacraments of initiation. It challenges a “static” understanding of faith and invites believers to expect transformation, spiritual gifts, and ongoing renewal. Drawing from the Eastern Christian tradition, the reflection emphasizes that baptism and chrismation are not magical moments but beginnings—calling us daily to live as people truly “born of God,” filled to the brim with the Spirit, and sent to let our light shine.
Like Mary, who treasured these things in her heart, may we remain attentive to what God is doing in our midst—quietly, patiently, and often in unexpected places. May we continue to search, to gather, and to trust that Christ is present, even when the path ahead is not yet fully clear.
Peace,
​Rev. Ben

Epiphany: Light in a Time of Darkness
This weekend, our Church celebrates the Feast of Epiphany — the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. These “wise men from the East” traveled great distances in uncertainty, guided only by a star and fueled by faith. They brought their best gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh — offering them in worship of the newborn King.

Their journey reminds us that life is full of risk. They took risks carrying precious treasure through unfamiliar lands, uncertain of what they would find. And yet their eyes were fixed on the light that drew them onward.

In our own time, we see risks and treasures of a very different sort.

Across our nation and the world, events are unfolding that weigh heavily on our hearts. In recent days an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot a 37-year-old mother, Renee Nicole Good. Her death has sparked outrage, protest, and deep debate over the use of force and the dignity of every human life.

At the same time, international conflict involving Venezuela has dominated headlines, with U.S. military forces conducting operations that have cost lives and left both nations and families in turmoil. These developments have prompted serious questions about war, peace, sovereignty, and the stewardship of power on the global stage.

It can feel like we are living in a time of fear, division, and conflicting narratives, where each side claims righteousness and each person wonders what is true and just.

In the midst of this, the Feast of Epiphany calls us back to the simple, profound truth of who we follow:

• We follow Jesus Christ, who entered this world not as a conqueror, but as a vulnerable child,
• We follow a Savior who was executed by the state as a criminal, though innocent of all wrongdoing,
• We follow the One who taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

Our culture often promises safety by asserting power — safety that too often undermines the dignity and rights of others. But the Lord calls us to a safer security: the security of love, mercy, and justice rooted in God Himself.

Each of us will stand before God and render an account of our stewardship — how we have used the gifts entrusted to us: our lives, our voices, our influence, our compassion. The Magi brought their best to Christ; will we?
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Let us examine our hearts and ask:

• Are we bringing our best — our gifts — to God?
• Or are we using them to tear down, judge, or harm others?

In the face of uncertainty, let us fix our eyes on the true light that appeared in Bethlehem — the light no darkness can overcome. May we, like the wise men, offer what we have with humility and courage, guided not by fear, but by faith in Christ the Lord.
Peace,
​Rev. Ben

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
The Christmas season is quickly passing by. In just a few short weeks, the Church carries us from Mary’s yes to God, through the conception and birth of Jesus, the visit of the magi, and then forward to his growth in wisdom and his public ministry. Both in our lives and in the Gospel story, time seems to move quickly.
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Over the New Year, I found myself reflecting on this while talking with my wife as I watched a video of railroad locomotives nearing retirement—engines I still remember being introduced as “new.” Moments like that remind me how swiftly time passes, and how precious each season truly is. May we use the time given to us well, living as visible signs of the Kingdom that is already among us and still coming into fullness.

This week, we also released a new video reflecting on the theme of theological arrogance—a call to humility, openness, and trust in the God who is always greater than our certainties. At St. Oscar Romero Ministries, we reflect honestly on the danger of theological arrogance—the belief that any one person, church, or institution can possess the “fullness of truth.” Drawing from my own past formation within Roman Catholicism, I acknowledge that I once held this conviction myself, and I now repent of it as a deeply human attempt to claim what belongs to God alone. Only God holds the fullness of truth. While some theological expressions may be wiser, deeper, or closer to divine reality than others, no denomination can rightfully claim absolute possession of God’s truth without diminishing the mystery of the divine. Theology, at its best, is not about control or certainty, but about reverent exploration of a reality that always exceeds our language, creeds, and councils.

This reflection calls Christians to humility and spiritual maturity. When we believe we already possess everything there is to know, we close ourselves off from growth and from the surprising ways God continues to act in the world. Too often, Christians limit God’s grace by denying its presence in other traditions—whether by dismissing another community’s sacraments or judging their faith as deficient. From an Old Catholic perspective, we remain wary of such absolutes, embracing open communion and trusting that all Christians draw from the same divine source. Rather than policing boundaries or passing judgment, we are called to deeper introspection, greater charity, and stronger faith in God’s ability to work through diverse people, traditions, and communities. True discipleship is not about defending our superiority, but about becoming more faithful servants of a God who is always greater than our understanding.

Thank you, as always, for your prayers, encouragement, and continued support of this ministry. I pray that as more people join us weekly for our online liturgy, we may one day gather more frequently to pray together in person.
Peace,
Rev. Ben