What is Old Catholic
Ancient Catholic faith, apostolic continuity, and the historic liberty of Utrecht.
What Is Old Catholic?
Old Catholicism is the ancient Catholic faith lived in continuity with the undivided Church: creedal, sacramental, apostolic, and rooted in the historic life of the Church. To be Old Catholic is not to be “old-fashioned,” but to stand in a Catholic inheritance that reaches back before later centralization and modern religious confusion.
At Saint Francis Parish & Outreach, we understand Old Catholic identity through the historic Church of Utrecht in the Netherlands, whose roots reach back to 695 AD. This heritage is marked by apostolic continuity, sacramental worship, and the ancient liberty of the Church.
Catholic, but Not Roman Catholic
We are Catholic because we confess the creeds of the Church, celebrate the sacraments, and stand in apostolic ministry. We are not Roman Catholic because we are not under papal jurisdiction. Our claim to Catholic identity rests in the faith of the Church, the continuity of apostolic succession, and the sacramental life handed down through the ages.
Rooted in Utrecht
The Old Catholic heritage we claim is rooted in Utrecht, in the Netherlands. The Church there traces its missionary and episcopal origins to Saint Willibrord in 695 AD, and over time became known for its ancient liberties and enduring rights within the life of the Church.
Not Part of the Union of Utrecht
We state this clearly: Saint Francis Parish & Outreach is not part of the Union of Utrecht. While our roots are historically 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.
Our identity comes from the historic Old Catholic tradition itself: apostolic, sacramental, catholic, and rooted in the ancient liberty of Utrecht.
What Old Catholic Worship Looks Like
Old Catholic worship is centered in Word and Sacrament. We gather around the altar, proclaim the Scriptures, confess the faith of the Church, and celebrate the Holy Eucharist with reverence and devotion. Our liturgy is not a reinvention of Christianity, but a continuation of catholic worship in continuity with the ancient faith.
Why Old Catholic Matters Today
Many people today are searching for a Church that is both historically rooted and spiritually alive. Old Catholicism offers exactly that: the creeds, the sacraments, apostolic ministry, and a real continuity with the Church’s ancient life, without reducing Catholic identity to later claims of centralized control.