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Who We Are
We are Catholic — but not Roman. We are not Lutheran either, nor are we Anglican. We are Old Catholic, standing firmly in the Utrecht Apostolic Succession, with a living heritage that connects us directly to the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the spirit of true Christian unity and ecumenism, we joyfully extend the hand of fellowship to other Catholic rites and Christian denominations across the globe. We believe that all who profess faith in Jesus Christ are called to live as members of one Body — diverse in expression, yet united in Spirit and truth.
The word “Catholic” in our name proclaims that we share in a valid apostolic succession that can be traced historically and spiritually to St. Peter the Apostle. We are Catholic because we uphold the original teachings of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church — the same faith handed down by the early Fathers, long before the theological divisions and doctrinal innovations that followed the First and Second Vatican Councils.
We are Catholic because we steadfastly profess and preserve the faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3). We are Catholic because we celebrate the seven sacraments, through which Christ continues to strengthen His Church and nourish His people in grace. Above all, we are Catholic because we belong to the Universal Body of Christ, united in the mystery of His love and redemption.
Our Sacramental Life
Like every other Catholic Rite possessing valid apostolic succession, we celebrate and administer the Seven Sacraments, which are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. They are sacred encounters with God, instituted by Christ and entrusted to His Church for the sanctification of the faithful:
Baptism – The sacrament of spiritual rebirth and initiation into the family of God; the setting apart of a soul for divine service.
Reconciliation (Confession) – The sacrament of mercy and restoration, where sins are confessed and absolution is granted through Christ’s authority.
Holy Communion (Eucharist) – The sacred participation in the Body and Blood of Christ, by which the faithful are united more closely to Him and to one another.
Confirmation (Chrismation) – The baptism of the Holy Spirit, conferring spiritual strength, boldness, and the gifts of grace for holy living.
Holy Matrimony – The godly and sacramental union of one man and one woman, mirroring the mystery of Christ’s love for His Church.
Ordination (Holy Orders) – The setting apart of individuals for sacred ministry — Bishops, Priests, and Deacons — for the building up of Christ’s Body.
Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick) – The sacrament of healing and grace, invoking God’s mercy for the sick, the suffering, and the dying.
We hold firmly that the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is our highest form of worship and our sacred heritage as the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. In the Eucharist, heaven and earth unite, and Christ becomes truly present — body, blood, soul, and divinity — among His people.
Our Apostolic Succession
Just as there were many Apostles, our bishops trace their apostolic succession through various apostolic lineages — each one rooted in the same divine authority granted by Christ to His first disciples. The See of Africa within the Old Catholic Communion traces its succession through St. Paul the Apostle, ensuring a continuous and unbroken line of apostolic authority.
This succession is not merely symbolic; it is sacramental. It affirms that our ministry is both valid and apostolic, preserving the ancient and universal faith of the undivided Church.
Our Doctrinal Distinction
There are certain doctrines and dogmas we respectfully do not affirm. These include the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary, the doctrine of Papal Infallibility, the use of images in worship, the praying of the rosary as a devotional necessity, the doctrine of purgatory, and the invocation of departed saints instead of reliance upon the Holy Spirit.
While we honor Mary as mother of Christ and venerate the saints as examples of holy living, we do not substitute their intercession for the living presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
In 1870, following the First Vatican Council, bishops and theologians who held valid apostolic succession departed from the Roman Catholic Church in response to doctrinal innovations. These bishops formed a reform movement in the Netherlands known as the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht. Their purpose was not rebellion, but restoration — a call to return to the purity of the Gospel and the authentic faith of the early Church.
What “Old Catholic” Means
The term “Old Catholic” does not mean “ancient,” “outdated,” or “obsolete.” Rather, it signifies fidelity — a deliberate preservation of the original, universal, and apostolic teachings of the primitive Church before later alterations.
As our Metropolitan, Bishop Gabriel O. Obiano, teaches:
“Old Catholic simply means True Catholic. When you refer to us as the ‘True Catholic Church,’ you are not mistaken.”
To be Old Catholic is to be Original Catholic — holding fast to the apostolic faith as it was lived, preached, and handed down by the early followers of Christ. It means being true to the undivided Church of the first millennium — the Church that was one in faith, one in worship, and one in Spirit.
The Sacred Heart — The Heart of Our Faith
We proclaim that the love of Jesus Christ is everlasting, thus the “Sacred Heart” in our name. The Sacred Heart represents the boundless compassion of Christ, the divine mercy that flows toward humanity, and the unchanging love that draws every soul back to God.
As Jesus is merciful and loving, we too are called to be merciful, loving, and compassionate toward others. The Sacred Heart reminds us that true faith must express itself in charity, forgiveness, and service to the least of our brothers and sisters.
Our Charismatic Identity
We are Charismatic in our faith, worship, and liturgy. The “Charismatic” in our name reminds us that the Church cannot function apart from the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. From Pentecost onward, the Holy Spirit has been the lifeblood of the Church — empowering the faithful, guiding the clergy, and renewing the face of the earth.
In our community, both clergy and laity are encouraged to manifest and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit — prophecy, healing, tongues, wisdom, knowledge, and discernment — as the Spirit wills.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Charismatic Old Catholic Church (SHJCOCC) is constantly aware that without the Holy Spirit, there can be no living Church. Thus, every Mass, every prayer, every act of ministry, and every sacramental celebration is done under the guidance of the Spirit, who continues to animate the Body of Christ in every generation.
Our Discipline and Life
Our Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Religious are free to choose either a celibate or non-celibate lifestyle, according to their divine calling and conscience. We hold that ministry is a gift of grace and should be exercised in freedom, holiness, and sincerity of heart.
However, we maintain a firm moral and doctrinal stance. We do not condone or endorse same-sex marriage, and we will not ordain persons actively practicing a homosexual lifestyle into Holy Orders. We believe that marriage, as instituted by God, is the sacred union of one man and one woman, a reflection of the mystery of Christ and His Church.
At the same time, we emphasize love over judgment, calling all people to repentance, healing, and reconciliation through the mercy of Christ.
Our Mission
Our mission is to preserve the original Catholic faith, proclaim the Gospel of Christ with power and compassion, and serve the world through love inspired by the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We exist to be a beacon of spiritual renewal, a voice of truth, and a vessel of the Holy Spirit’s power in this generation.
We seek to:
Restore the authentic apostolic faith of the early Church.
Promote unity among Christians through love and dialogue.
Foster the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in worship and daily life.
Offer the sacraments freely to those who hunger for God’s grace.
Live out the merciful love of Jesus in word and deed.
Our Vision
To see the Body of Christ restored to the simplicity, power, and holiness of the Apostolic age — a Church filled with the Spirit, grounded in truth, and radiant with love.
We envision a future where believers walk boldly in faith, where sacraments are celebrated with reverence, and where the Sacred Heart of Jesus reigns in every soul and home.
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The Sacred Heart of Jesus Charismatic Old Catholic Church stands as a living testimony that the faith of the early Church still lives. We are Catholic — not Roman, not Protestant — but Original, Apostolic, and True.
In all we do, we proclaim:
“Christ yesterday, Christ today, Christ forever — the same love that burns in His Sacred Heart burns within His Church.”
Our Communion
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Charismatic Old Catholic Church is one of the jurisdictions of the Charismatic Old Catholic Church (COCC), sharing in full communion with its global body. As part of this wider Old Catholic family, we participate in the same apostolic succession, uphold the same faith once delivered to the saints, and labor together for the renewal of Christ’s Church in the power of the Holy Spirit.
While each jurisdiction maintains administrative self-governance, we are united by one mission—to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to celebrate the sacred mysteries, and to serve God’s people in love and truth.
Our communion with the COCC affirms our shared heritage as heirs of the Old Catholic tradition, standing for unity, orthodoxy, and pastoral care in a world in need of grace and hope.
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