Church of the Holy Paraclete

Chapel of the Holy Spirit
	Sanctuary of the Chapel
Religion
Affiliation	Old Catholic
Region	Providence
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Mission church
Leadership	Fr. Jakob Lazarus
Status	Active
Location
Location	155 Douglas Ave. Providence, RI 02908
State	Rhode Island
Geographic coordinates	41°50′13″N 71°25′16″W / 41.836873°N 71.421176°WCoordinates: 41°50′13″N 71°25′16″W / 41.836873°N 71.421176°W ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽; ;
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Colonial America
Groundbreaking	1910, 2011
Specifications
Direction of façade	South
Capacity	50
Length	68 feet (21 m)
Width	32 feet (9.8 m)
Height (max)	12 feet (3.7 m)
Materials	stone
	2009
Denomination	Old Catholic Tradition
Website
	www.holyparaclete.org

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is a church in Rhode Island, United States. The church was formerly named Church of the Holy Paraclete. In May 2016, the parish council voted to change the name of the church to one using an English translation of "Paraclete".^{[lower-alpha 1]}

The Church has Spanish Colonial architecture mixed with New England Fieldstone. It is a mission church in the tradition of the Old Catholic Church founded in America by Fr. Charles Chiniquy and Bishop Joseph Rene Vilatte of the American Catholic Church (No longer in existence). This community is not in union with the Episcopal Church, the Union of Utrecht, or any of the so-called Episcopi vagantes. The community strives after union with the Union of Utrecht, through the help of the Episcopal Church. The Mission Church houses a reliquary with the altar bells of Saint Damien of Molokai and a 17th-century Spanish Colonial Tabernacle.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is in Rhode Island. The parish was founded in 2009 by the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas, an ecumenical community following the inspiration of Bl. Charles de Foucauld. The parish community began at the locally famous Brooklyn Coffee and Tea House and after two years purchased the Carcieri property at 155 Douglas Avenue. The building was first constructed in 1910 and was part of a larger estate which was used as a front for illegal gambling and bootlegging. During the building's time of operation, prior to its religious use, pieces of the Space Shuttle Enterprise were produced in the building by C & C Engineering.

The church completed its renovations in 2013.

Context[edit]

Old Catholicism in the United States[edit]

St. Louis de France Cathedral of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1895

Bishop de Berghes was frequently called "the Prince". He was of noble birth but had never claimed the title for himself. The title of "Prince" was rightfully that of his older brother who had died. When Bishop de Berghes became eligible to inherit he was in a religious community and could not accept the title. At the beginning of World War I, Bishop de Berghes went to the United States at the suggestion of the Anglican Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop Mathew later declared his autonomy from the Union of Utrecht, finding it too "protestant oriented".^[1]

Mathew sent missionaries to the United States, including the theosophist Bishop J. I. Wedgwood (1892–1950) and Bishop Rudolph de Landas Berghes et de Rache (1873–1920).^[2] De Berghes arrived in the United States on 7 November 1914, hoping to unite the various independent Old Catholic jurisdictions under Archbishop Mathew.^[3] Bishop de Berghes, in spite of his isolation, was able to plant the seed of Old Catholicism in the Americas. He consecrated a former Capuchin Franciscan priest as bishop: Carmel Henry Carfora.^[4]

Old Catholicism in the Rhode Island area[edit]

Blessed Virgin Polish National Catholic Church, first Polish church in Fall River, Mass., 1898

In the April 1928 issue of the American Catholic Church newsletter, The Antiochean, Dr. Casmir Durand, is consecrated Bishop of the French-speaking churches and successor of Joseph Rene Vilatte. In May, Henri Perdriau of Rhode Island gave him his support and invited the Franco-Americans to join the church. He published under Bishop Durand's Imprimatur, and with his collaboration, the brochure called Fiat Lux- Le bon sens et la logique (common sense and logic). It was written after Rome had excommunicated the 56 leaders of a movement that was opposing the Roman Catholic Bishop W. Hickey of Providence, under the auspices of the newspaper La Sentinelle of Woonsocket, where Perdriau was a journalist. Bishop Hickey was forcing the French-speaking parishes of his diocese to fund English schools only, through compulsory taxes. Perdriau was also the master of Guido Nincheri who produced the famous stained glass and frescos found in St. Ann's Church in Woonsocket. Members of this new parish came from St. Ann's Church and Precious Blood Church.^[5]

First Polish Church of the Blessed Virgin Founded in 1898 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Earliest pastor on record was Fr. Marijan Guzek. Part of the Polish National Catholic Church. Church no longer exists.^[6]
The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Founded in 1919 in Fall River, Massachusetts by Pastor René Louis Zawistowski for the Polish Speaking immigrants. No longer in existence.^[7]
Blessed Trinity Polish National Catholic Church Founded in 1919 in Fall River, Rhode Island by Pastor René Louis Zawistowski for the Polish Speaking immigrants. The location has moved but the parish remains and is part of the Polish National Catholic Church.^[8]
Holy Cross Catholic Church Founded in 1981 by Bishop Ray Laliberte in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 2001, relocated to Rehoboth, Massachusetts.^[9]
Chapel of the Holy Spirit Founded in 2009 by the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas in Providence, Rhode Island as part of the Old Catholic tradition. The pastor is Fr. Jakob Lazarus, LBJC. The parish is a member of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches but no other affiliations.^[10]
St. Joseph Cupertino Parish Founded in 2009 by Fr. Scott Kershaw in Fall River, MA.^[11]

Gallery[edit]

Second anniversary Mass September 11, 2011
Easter Vigil 2012 and the Baptism of Alice
Church of the Holy Paraclete, Old Catholic Altar and 17th-century Spanish Colonial tabernacle
Altar Bells of St. Damien of Molokai
Fr. Jakob Lazarus, first Old Catholic Pastor of Providence
Fr. John about to begin Sunday Mass
Taize with the Buddhists 2011
A communal celebration with the other pastors in the Independent Catholic Alliance

Notes[edit]

↑ Holy Paraclete (Gr. παράκλητος, Lat. paracletus) means holy advocate or holy helper. In Christianity, the term most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.

References[edit]

↑ "Declaration of Autonomy". Oldcatholichistory.org. 1910-12-29. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 25 April 2010. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑ Keizer, Lewis. "The Wandering Bishops: Apostles of a New Spirituality" (PDF).
↑ Ward, Gary L.; Persson, Bertil; Bain, Alan (1990). Independent bishops: An International Directory. Apogee Books. ISBN 9781558883079. Retrieved 25 April 2010. Search this book on
↑ "Independent and Old Catholic Churches". Novelguide.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑ Theriault, Serge A. (2010). The Old Catholic Church & other writings. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press. pp. 16–18. ISBN 9781937002169. Search this book on
↑ Lazarus, Fr. Jakob. "Seventy-fifth anniversary of Blessed Virgin Polish National Catholic Church, first Polish church in Fall River, Mass., 1898-1973". Book. PNCC. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
↑ Lazarus, Fr. Jakob (1921). "Fall River Directory". Sampson & Murdock. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
↑ "Blessed Trinity Church". PNCC. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑ Laliberte, Bp. Raymond. "Holy Cross Catholic Church". Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑ Lazarus, Fr. Jakob. "Holy Paraclete". Retrieved 28 April 2012.
↑ Kershaw, Fr. Scott. "St. Joseph Cupertino". Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

Bibliography[edit]

Mathew, Arnold Harris An Episcopal Odyssey. Reprint 2010. St. Gabriel Theological Press, 1915.
Theriault, Serge A. Msgr. Casmir F. Durand. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press, 2010.
Theriault, Serge A. Msgr. Rene Vilatte. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press, 2006.
Moss, C.B.. The Old Catholic Movement. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press, 1977.
Episcopi Vagantes and the Anglican Church. Henry R.T. Brandreth. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1947.
Episcopi vagantes in church history. A.J. Macdonald. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1945.
History of the So-Called Jansenist Church in The Netherlands. John M. Neale. New York: AMS Press, 1958.
Old Catholic: History, Ministry, Faith & Mission. Andre J. Queen. iUniverse title, 2003.
The Old Catholic Church: A History and Chronology (The Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, No. 3). Karl Pruter. Highlandville, Missouri: St. Willibrord's Press, 1996.
The Old Catholic Sourcebook (Garland Reference Library of Social Science). Karl Pruter and J. Gordon Melton. New York: Garland Publishers, 1983.
The Old Catholic Churches and Anglican Orders. C.B. Moss. The Christian East, January, 1926.

External links[edit]

This article "Church of the Holy Paraclete" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Church of the Holy Paraclete. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

[paraclete-1] Holy Paraclete (Gr. παράκλητος, Lat. paracletus) means holy advocate or holy helper. In Christianity, the term most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.

[2] "Declaration of Autonomy". Oldcatholichistory.org. 1910-12-29. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 25 April 2010. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

[3] Keizer, Lewis. "The Wandering Bishops: Apostles of a New Spirituality" (PDF).

[4] Ward, Gary L.; Persson, Bertil; Bain, Alan (1990). Independent bishops: An International Directory. Apogee Books. ISBN 9781558883079. Retrieved 25 April 2010. Search this book on

[5] "Independent and Old Catholic Churches". Novelguide.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

[6] Theriault, Serge A. (2010). The Old Catholic Church & other writings. Berkeley, CA: Apocryphile Press. pp. 16–18. ISBN 9781937002169. Search this book on

[7] Lazarus, Fr. Jakob. "Seventy-fifth anniversary of Blessed Virgin Polish National Catholic Church, first Polish church in Fall River, Mass., 1898-1973". Book. PNCC. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[8] Lazarus, Fr. Jakob (1921). "Fall River Directory". Sampson & Murdock. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[9] "Blessed Trinity Church". PNCC. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

[10] Laliberte, Bp. Raymond. "Holy Cross Catholic Church". Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

[11] Lazarus, Fr. Jakob. "Holy Paraclete". Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[12] Kershaw, Fr. Scott. "St. Joseph Cupertino". Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

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