The Most Reverend Tom Shortell, OSFC passed from this life to eternity on April 28, 2017. He left many friends and family and a loving spouse, Gabriel, behind. Bishop Tom’s legacy will be one of greatness in simplicity. He was raised in New England and moved to Charlotte, NC where he lived, worked and ministered…
All posts in V5 N3 2017
From the Editor
Today we celebrated the Birthday of the Church: The Solemnity of Pentecost. This day has extra special meaning for me. Two years ago, today the church chose me to be the Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Churches International. In a couple of weeks, I will also celebrate the end of my eighteenth year of…
A Return to the Eucharist A very personal story of transformation and growth
“Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art. “Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived; How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed. What God’s Son…
On the Road to Emmaus
We are on the Road to Emmaus. For those of you who are my age, this sounds like a set up for another of Bing Crosby – Bob Hope famous “Road” movies. The Gospel of Luke, shares with us the story of two disciples, Cleopas and another “disciple” who is not identified, traveling from on…
Driving the Spoke
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer INTRODUCTION There is a community of people living on the outskirts of Manila who reside on the edge of the city’s garbage dump. These people survive and support themselves…
It’s time for the church to be angry
Recently, a drunken hate-monger was arrested for public intoxication and screaming at a Muslim family enjoying a day at the beach. Many well-meaning Christians on social media stated we shouldn’t judge this man, that we don’t know what was going on in his head, and voiced concern for his soul. However, they most never mentioned…
When Is A Cube of Bread Not A Cube of Bread?
Growing up in a liberal protestant church, I had no conception of transubstantiation or consubstantiation. The church that I grew up in used cubes of white bread for communion. As a child, I knew however that little cube of bread was something very special. Because it was on a silver plate in church, it somehow…
The Sacrifice of Building
Jesus said to St. Faustina, as documented in her Diary of St. Faustina, 1767, “You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.” That is how I have come to see my life. It isn’t always easy; it wasn’t meant to be, it is a…
Ignorance, Love, and Enlightenment
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is fulfilling the law.” (Romans 13:10) I am troubled that this most simple command is so blatantly ignored in society today. Many people fail to take the time to even think about their neighbors; to truly care about the…