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MARY'S CHAPEL
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AS CATHOLICS, WE ARE FAMILY

​Order and harmony of the created world results from diversity of beings and from relationships which exist among them.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 341
Bishop William
Father Dan
Father William
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Chapel, nestled in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, is an inclusive broadcast parish in the Old Roman Catholic tradition. We are served by the Society of Mercy under the episcopal care of Bishop William Myers. Our pastor, Father Dan Storrs, and associate pastor, Father William Young, seek to minister the love of Jesus and Mary to people of all backgrounds who seek God's grace. While not under Papal jurisdiction, we pray for unity and for the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome and First Among Equals, at all Masses. 
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As a community we follow the pastoral guidance of Pope Francis for Old Catholics and Roman Catholics, to, "support and encourage one another, especially at the level of parishes and local communities." Our Superior General Bishop William Myers teaches that, "we descend from the Church of Utrecht and the Old Roman Catholic tradition (which) is centered on the primacy of a well-formed conscience. We offer the sacraments reverently and minister to all who have need while providing mercy to those who feel abandoned." We are grateful to support several charities in our local area. 

Facilitating common liturgy among American Catholics, we currently broadcast the Third Edition Roman Rite. Old Roman Catholics, according to our venerable tradition, also celebrate the Tridentine Liturgy, or Latin Mass, in the vernacular. We recognize and affirm the holiness of the world's many Christian worship rites: Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Coptic Christian, Eastern Orthodox, Polish National Catholic, and Protestant. 

All of Mary's baptized children of goodwill who genuinely seek the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, sacramentally or spiritually, are invited to participate faithfully in our Chapel community; regardless of race, nationality, age, gender or gender expression, sexuality, marital status, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, or other blessed diversities.
MARY'S CHAPEL FAQ
OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC BELIEFS

AS CATHOLICS, WE WORSHIP CHRIST

As God, Jesus Christ is everywhere. As God made man, He is in heaven, and in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
Catechism of Christian Doctrine, 46
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Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
Romans 10:9 NAB

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.​
The Apostle's Creed, Roman Missal, Third Edition 

AS CATHOLICS, WE HONOR MARY

Through Mary, the Spirit begins to bring humanity, the objects of God's love, into communion with Christ. 
 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 725
The Blessed Virgin Mary is our patron due to her role as Mother of God, her grace as intercessor in heaven, and her abiding presence as our own loving mother given to us at the Cross. The early Church recognized the grace of Mary, foretold in Genesis 3:15: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers." From the moment of brokenness, both in Creation and in our own lives, the Blessed Mother appears as a shining star of hope leading us toward her Son, Our Savior and God, Jesus Christ. Our Catechism of Christian Doctrine teaches us: "Mary is Mother of God because Jesus Christ, her son, who was born of her as man, is not only man, but is also truly God (168)."

​Our community celebrates our Patronal Feast on September 6th, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and our Titular Feast on September 12th, the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary.

As Old Roman Catholics, it is a personal theological choice to affirm the Marian doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, at her birth, and Assumption, upon her death. While never failing to praise Our Blessed Mother and publicly celebrate these ancient annual feasts of the Church, we believe the principal dogmas of the faith are set forth in the Creed and Ecumenical Councils of the undivided Church. 

AS CATHOLICS, WE CELEBRATE GRACE

A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace, ordained by Jesus Christ, by which grace is given to our souls.
Catechism of Christian Doctrine, 250
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Old Roman Catholics, with our Roman and Orthodox Christian siblings, celebrate the traditional Seven Sacraments of the Church: Baptism, Confirmation (Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance (Confession), the Anointing of the Sick (Unction), Holy Orders and Marriage. ​The Sacraments are the signs by which God pours forth grace upon His children through tangible human experience. Therefore, in accordance with the example of Christ's earthly ministry, the Chapel offers the Sacraments widely to all people of goodwill who genuinely seek God's love. Our Lord teaches us: "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it (Lk. 8:21)." All couples, with legal right to marriage, who seek the blessing of the Church, must participate in premarital counseling. 

AS CATHOLICS, WE VALUE FREEDOM

Humanity has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. 
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1782
As followers of Christ, in the Old Roman Catholic tradition, we unswervingly affirm, with St. Paul, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (II Cor. 3:17)."

Our chapel family welcomes and encourages each individual Catholic Christian to properly form their conscience in harmony with the Holy Scripture, Creeds, and Tradition of the Church, while not ignoring God-given discoveries of modern science, human insight, and sociology. Yet, our freedom should not lead to division, selfishness, or unnecessary death, but rather to wholeness of life, and, above all, charity. A well formed conscience is guided by Holy Scripture which says "and as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner" (Luke 6:31). We are reminded by Our Lord's Death and Resurrection that true freedom requires sacrifice.

AS CATHOLICS, WE PRAY AND SERVE

Jesus Christ commands us to love one another - that is, all persons without exception - for his sake,
Catechism of Christian Doctrine,​ 340
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Prayer and service are at the heart of the Gospel and all Catholic traditions. Our Lord commands us: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37)." Therefore, we recognize that we are called to honor, adore, and pray to Almighty God with all our being. Likewise, Our Lord also commands us: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39)." To love one another is more than a mere suggestion, it is a direct edict from Our Lord to meaningfully serve those around us, to support the least of these, and to uphold the mistreated.  St. Teresa of Avila reminds us: "Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world." Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord!
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Diversity Flag
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An Inclusive Broadcast Parish in the Old Roman Catholic Tradition
Served by Priests of the Society of Mercy
Endless Mountains Region
​Towanda, Pennsylvania
​© 2022
  • Home
  • Virtual Chapel
    • Visit Our YouTube
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    • Visit Mary's Kids
    • Join Mary's Family
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  • Being Catholic
    • FAQ
    • Christian Life
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    • The Society of Mercy
    • Old Roman Catholicism
    • Resources
  • Our Priests
    • Our Pastor
    • Our Associate Pastor
    • Visit Fr. Daniel on Facebook
  • Calendar
  • Contact
  • Endless Mountains