About us

OUR MISSION

To live by FAITH, be known by LOVE, and be a voice of HOPE in order to give ourselves in service and better the lives of others.

​

WE ARE A COMMUNITY

We worship as a community of faith, and our community is comprised of both laity and clergy. Although roles may be varied, laity and clergy both have equal voice and importance. Clergy are "called" by the community to serve the community, and we elect our own bishops. Members of the St. Francis community are welcomed and actively participate in various roles with the Sunday Mass as well as our community's governance and ministries.

​

WE ARE CATHOLIC​​

We worship and celebrate our Catholic, Christian identity through the seven Sacraments:  Baptism, Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) celebrated through the Mass, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Healing of the Sick.  While not in union with the Roman Pope, as a member of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, and like our independent Catholic brothers and sisters, we are Catholic.  Our roots reach back to the first 1,000 years of the Christian Church.  Mass is led by bishops and priests, and our bishops, priests and deacons are ordained through apostolic succession for "Old Catholic," Anglicans, and other independent Catholic traditions.

​

WE ARE INCLUSIVE

We believe that the seven Sacraments are special occasions for all individuals to experience God's saving presence and love.  We also believe the Sacraments are vessels for receiving God's healing and peace.  Here, at St. Francis, and as a community within Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC), a person's individuality is believed to be a sacred expression of God the Creator.  Jesus did not turn anyone away who sought His counsel or healing.  We therefore make all Sacraments available to all who seek them reverently, regardless of your age, ethnicity, gender, marital status, nationality, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or any other man-made exclusion... we make no exceptions.

Every person is invited to the Table of the Lord to receive Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion), and we encourage couples and families to receive Eucharist together.  We are all children of God.
Every person called to Holy Orders -- male or female, single, married, divorced, remarried or celibate, has the opportunity to be ordained and to serve.
The Sacrament of Marriage is performed for all couples., including LGBTQ.

​

WE ARE ECUMENICAL​

The Ecumenical Catholic Church (ECC) is a coming together of various strands of independent Catholic churches.  We participate in the same apostolic heritage as other catholic branches of Christianity and see a fuller unity with other Catholic denominations who share a common theology and Old Catholic form of governance.  Communities within the ECC express their "Catholic" traditions in a variety of ways while professing their faith in Christ and His Church.  Our patron St. Franc​is of Assisi, served others through his steadfastness in FAITH, HOPE and Charity, through LOVE: Our community's FAITH and worship through the Eucharist feeds us and helps to guide and strengthen us.

WE OFFER HOPE

to those who:  - Believe they have lost faith as a result of prior religious or church experiences, and to all those who - Believe but yearn to experience their faith through community, where believers are drawn together by the Living Spirit.

​