Our Beliefs
Ancient faith, sacramental life, and Catholic worship rooted in the apostolic tradition of the Church.
Our Beliefs
At Saint Francis Parish & Outreach, we confess the ancient Catholic faith of the Church. We are Old Catholic in identity, apostolic in ministry, sacramental in worship, and rooted in the life of the undivided Church. Our faith is not built on novelty or private invention, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ as received, proclaimed, and lived in the Church through the centuries.
We Are Catholic
We are Catholic because we confess the faith of the creeds, celebrate the sacraments, and stand in apostolic continuity with the historic Church.
We Are Old Catholic
We are Old Catholic because we understand ourselves as standing in the ancient Catholic tradition associated with Utrecht in the Netherlands, whose roots reach back to 695 AD.
Our Faith Is Creedal
We confess the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and we stand within the doctrinal inheritance of the ancient Church.
Our Faith Is Sacramental
We believe that the sacramental life of the Church is central to Christian faith. The Holy Eucharist stands at the heart of our common life, and we practice an open communion. We do not deny the sacraments to those who come seeking the grace of God.
Our Faith Is Apostolic
We believe that the Church is apostolic not only in memory, but in continuity. Apostolic succession matters because it witnesses to the Church’s faithfulness across time.
How We Differ from Rome
We are not Roman Catholic, because we are not under papal jurisdiction.
How We Differ from the Union of Utrecht
We state this clearly: Saint Francis Parish & Outreach is not part of the Union of Utrecht. While our historic roots are Old Catholic and grounded in the Church of Utrecht in the Netherlands, we do not belong to the Union of Utrecht and should not be confused with it.
Belief and Parish Life
Our beliefs shape how we worship, how we welcome, and how we live together. As an inclusive and affirming parish, a safe space for all people, and a community committed to pastoral mercy, we believe that ancient Catholic faith and generous welcome belong together.