Christ Orthodox Catholic Ministries - FAQs
As Patriarchate, I have spiritual responsibility for C.O.C.M. in the United States of America - Mexico and for all Latin American countries.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, central time
Christ Orthodox Catholic Ministries may be able to offer contacts for resources as well as filling needs for Bishops, Priests, Nuns and Brothers to meet the spiritual needs of the people.
Bishops and Priests seeking degrees may receive their degrees from C.O.C.M. Theological Seminary. Priests may be ordained into the Priesthood and Bishop/Metropolitan's may be consecrated by His Eminence, the Patriarch Sir. Dr. Archbishop Michael, after appropriate preparation.
The external contacts of the Orthodox Catholic Church are supervised by the Dept. for External Church Relations.
It´s tasks include the following:
- to provide hierarchical and financial administration over dioceses, monasteries, parishes and other institutions of our Church in far abroad;
- to prepare decisions for the church authorities concerning church-state and church-society relations;
- to maintain relations of the Orthodox Catholic Church with local churches, religious associations, religious and international organizations, public, political, social, cultural, academic, economic, financial and other institutions, as well as mass media.
The need to revive mission has become the most urgent task for us as the Church and an acute need for society.
In recent years the Orthodox Catholic Church has developed close contacts with the Armed Forces. To maintain these contacts the Patriarch and the Holy Synod have established a Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and law-enforcement agencies.
Future of The Holy Orthodox Catholic Church In The: USA - Mexico and All Latin American Countries.
The future of The Holy Orthodox Catholic Church lays with the proper and excellent treatment of each members. The Church must continue to focus on the needs of the people.
The Holy Orthodox Catholic Church must provide:
- Sacramental and spiritual support
- Education
- Protection and cultivation of the arts
- Job training
- Social justice for all under all forms of Government
- Protection of human and civil rights
- Efficient communication to unite members of the Orthodox Catholic Community
- Thrifty and efficient management of all Church facilities
- Multiple use of Church facilities to serve the community as food banks, medical facilities, schools, job training centers, day care for children and for the elderly, and any other reasonable use for the good of the people
- Emergency monetary assistance for families to prevent evictions or other hardships for displaced workers
- Job placement services in the larger community
- Cooperation with civil authorities to aid the people after natural disasters or from emergencies that arise from any cause including revolution, war or civil unrest
Holy Orthodox Catholic Church must continue to recruit Priests and religious workers to do God's work.
Individuals who are interested in training for the Priesthood may receive their training from O.I.S.
The Holy Orthodox Catholic Church is different...
- Priests of the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church may marry and have families
- This Patriarchate will ordain Priests
- Members of this Patriarchate are encouraged to live with joy and with gratitude and to pray by saying, "thank you" instead of "give me"
- This Patriarchate does not build churches. Congregations are encouraged to meet in the open or in private homes for services. Large congregations may wish to build and to maintain multi-purpose buildings that will serve to:
- house the temporarily homeless
- act as schools during the day and in the evening
- serve as food banks to feed the hungry
- act as free clinics for immunizations and for general medical care
- serve as senior centers
- serve as child care centers
- serve as occupational training centers
The Tabernacle and Altar should occupy a small section overlooking the services being provided to the congregation and to those in need. God, as a spirit, does not take up much space.
Churches should be decorated with style and taste but never with items that take away resources from the community that could be better used to help those in need.
God is honored by our gratitude and love. God has no need for man made splendor.
Statues and paintings, i.e. the Crucifix and symbols of Jesus's passion, death, and resurrection must focus on his message of love and that life of eternal life.
Existing Holy Orthodox Catholic Churches - Parishes/Missions/Ministries with elaborate church structures are encouraged to expand the use of the structures to include service to the people in ways other than just church services in the buildings. God will not be offended by the bustle and noise of individuals receiving aid, job training, child care, etc.
Formation of Religious Orders
Individuals with a vocation to do God's work as a Priest, Brother or Nun may request the establishment of a Religious Order. Orders must present their rules to the Patriarch for approval.
+ + + Christ Orthodox Catholic Ministries + + +