We Are Catholic Christians


Welcome to St. Augustine's and the independent Catholic movement. We are a member community of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, and we'd like to tell you a little about ourselves. We Independent Catholics consider ourselves sisters and brothers in Catholic faith with all Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, Anglicans, Old Catholics and other Christians who name themselves Catholic. With them, we proclaim a Church that is one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Like them, we treasure the heritage of Catholic faith handed down through the centuries, thanking God for the gift of Revelation, especially in the person of Jesus Christ. We recognize that Christians have interpreted Scripture and Tradition in diverse ways; we trust that the Holy Spirit informs and abides with all who through grace earnestly seek to know and follow Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

We celebrate the Sacraments, as Catholic Christians have done in ever-evolving forms since the beginnings of the Christian era. Among these the highest is the Eucharist, through which we Catholics celebrate and proclaim our faith and oneness in and through Jesus Christ, and the coming of his Kingdom. We bow in awe at the consecration of bread and wine which by the power of the Holy Spirit become his sacred Body and Blood. We believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

We embrace the teaching of the undivided Church of the first millennium, including the ancient Creeds (Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed), and the pronouncements of the first seven Ecumenical Councils of the Church.

We uphold and participate in the Apostolic Succession and in the Historic Episcopacy, and the documents of our Communion enunciate profound and clear understandings of these foundational characteristics of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

We gather our varied communities together around the spiritual leadership of bishops, elected by the people in different areas of the country. Our Presiding Bishop is the chief national spiritual leader of our Communion. At present the Presiding Bishop is Peter Hickman of Orange, CA (St. Matthew's Church). Several Regional Episcopal Vicars assist Bishop Peter in working with our far-flung communities. In Colorado, our Vicar is Fr. Scott Jenkins of Holy Family Church in Aurora.

In recent years our Communion has experienced rapid growth, and many existing independent Catholic communities around the country have sought to join or otherwise affiliate with us. In 2008, we number some 25 parishes, and anticipate growth to over 50 communities within the coming years. Our parishes are mostly small but vibrant and active communities celebrating festive, open liturgies where all are welcome. No one who wishes to join is ever turned away from the Eucharistic table in an ECC community. The liturgy takes somewhat different forms depending upon the community, but is unmistakably the Mass, and unmistakably holy. Truly, God is with us.

To learn more about us go to: This is Our Story
Also see: What It Means To Be Ecumenical