St. Michael the Archangel Apostolic Old Catholic Church

History 1978 - 2009

Old Roman Catholic Mission

Anniversary May 31, 2009

In October 1978 a small group of Evangelical Christians who were formally members of the Roman Catholic Church, returned to Catholicism and formed St. Michael The Archangel, Apostolic Old Catholic mission under the guidance of the late Bishop James Griffis.

The original members of the clergy were Bp. James Griffis, Fr. Lewis E. McFall, Fr. John Stanisloe, Deacon Hans Bjoern Kroneberg and Deacon William Thompson. Bishops Ronald Bessler and Eugene Hite were supportive Episcopal visitors. Deacon Kroneberg was ordained to the sacred Priesthood on the 10th of March 1978 and appointed as the pastor of the newly formed Old Catholic mission parish. Fr. McFall the senior priest was consecrated to be Bishop of the mission, he went on to be with the Lord on the 3rd of March 1982.

His Holiness Mar Marcus I has exercised Episcopal service for us through the years even though he is of Eastern tradition. On the 26th of May 1984 we signed a deed of intercommunion with the California branch of the Western Orthodox Church under the leadership of the Most Rev Martin J. Hill. On the 18th of August 1986 after over 12 months of negotiation we were officially received as a mission parish into the historic North American Old Roman Catholic Church by the late venerable Bishop James Rogers.

There have been three secretaries at St. Michael's. Brother Clyde Jump was the first. He went to be with the Lord in 1984. Mrs. Anita Saxton was secretary from 1984 until 1988, when she moved with her family to the Moreno Valley. Brother Charles Therminy became the Church Secretary in 1995. He has been in that position for over twelve years. His wife Nydia prepared and published our bi-lingual pew Missal. Since 1993 Mrs. Aurora Pelayo Arslan has been the Church coordinator of ecumenical and social affairs.

From 1978 until 1984, Father Joseph Palumbo, Father William Payton, Father Stephen Gregory and Father Kenneth Ciccarelli served as pastors at St. Michael's. In 1994, Father Eric Ong Veloso started helping occasionally. On the 3rd of August 2003, he accepted the position of pastor of the mission.

Bishop Hilarios Unger from Munich Germany was welcomed as an Episcopal visitor and he administered the sacraments from 2nd of August 1994 to the 3rd of November 2002. Bishop Robert has been an Episcopal visitor and he has administered the sacraments on a number of occasions ever since the 7th of August 2005.

Former clergy who have served at St. Michael's were: Deacon William Thompson, Deacon Richard Smith, Deacon Gary Seal, Deacon Sergio Gomez , Deacon Alfonso Ortiz and Cleric Julio Mora. Clergy in minor orders serving at St. Michael’s for over ten years to the present are : Deacon Jean Pierre Arslan, Deacon Manolo Guerra, Deacon-elect Dong Joo Kim. Deacon-elect Miguel Chavira who served at the Altar since 1992, went to be with the Lord on the 20th of May 2005. May his precious soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace!

From October 1978 until January 1980 St Michael’s was located at 1157 North Bronson Ave in Los Angeles. From January 1980 to the present (2007) we have been privileged to share facilities with Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 North New Hampshire Blvd., We have had the added privilege of participating with Hollywood Lutheran Church at various ecumenical liturgical functions. Pastor John Wagner, Pastor Jim Boline and Pastor Daniel Hooper, all HLC pastors, have participated at St. Michael’s . Rev. Tomi Thompson and his wife Dixie participate fully every Sunday at both Hollywood Lutheran and St. Michael’s in a Christ centred ecumenically progressive effort.

Latin Old Roman Catholic Church of Flanders

(Independent Apostolic Community) © 2005-2009

Mgr. Philippe Laurent De Coster, Parklaan 81, B9000 Gent, België

Tel. 09.222.28.58  Email : fb060913@skynet.be

               X Ghent, May 12, 2009

St. Michael the Archangel

Apostolic Old Catholic Church

Vicarage:

Father Hans Bjoern Kroneberg
30000 Hasley Canyon Rd.
House # 9
Castaic, CA 91304

USA

Dear Reverend Father Hans Björn Kroneberg,

Dear Parishers,

By this means, I wish to congratulate you all at the occasion of the 31^st. anniversary of your Old Roman Catholic Mission, taking place on May the 31^st., 2009.

I remember the preface of the Dedication of a Church, reading: “We thank you now for this house of prayer in which you bless your family as we come to you on pilgrimage. Here you reveal your presence by sacramental signs, and make us one with you through the unseen bond of grace. Here you build your temple of living stones, and bring the Church to its full stature as the body of Christ throughout the world, to reach its perfection at last in the heavenly city of Jerusalem, which is the vision of your peace.”

Remember, “Christ is our Victory”. This victorious is manifested in the Lord’s grace.  It is our privilege, clergy and believers, all the baptised and confirmed to minister as we and you do in your parish church through prayer and faith, in the loving patience of the Lord.

The apostle Paul was not perfect, yet he had a profound belief in the power of God’s spirit, manifested in Christ’s victory in him, in you and I today, how difficult life may be. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth  me. (Phil. 4: 13)” His glorious testimony regarding the ministry in which he and his companions were engaged was, “Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.”

The Cross of Christ in you and me is something infinitely vaster and more fundamental in its significance than any trial or difficulty. The Sacrifice of the Holy Mass is suffering, death and resurrection, complete and all-embracing; it is Christ’s life, full, abounding, dynamic and triumphant. In the believer, it is the consummation of the work of God’s Word.

In “unity” with you all on the 31^st of May 2009,

Yours in Christ Jesus,

X Philippe Laurent De Coster, B.Th., D.D.

Archbishop of the Old Roman Catholic Church of Flanders

(Emeritus)

Reverend Father Hans Bjoern Kroneberg

Prière Matinale d’un Paysan

Dès que j’ouvre la porte, toute la création pénètre avec l’air frais. Mon cœur se remplit de votre amour, Dieu créateur, Dieu notre Père.

Je vous donne cette nouvelle journée.

Je vous offre ceux qui dorment encore dans la maison et ceux qui s’empressent déjà vers le travail. Nous vivrons tous aujourd’hui avec vous, comme vivaient Marie et Joseph à Nazareth.

Dans la cheminée, le feu s’allume ; rallumez en mon cœur un amour plus vif pour vous, pour les miens, pour tout le village.

Dans l’étable, les bêtes déjà transforment en vie leur pâture inanimée. Aidez-moi, Seigneur, à rendre plus humain et plus chrétien tout ce qu’aujourd’hui je verrai et toucherai.

Que mon travail continue le vôtre ! Que mes joies et mes peines s’unissent à votre joie et à la messe de notre prêtre !

Le soleil inonde de lumière nos champs. Les arbres et les haies, les près et les labours sont tout neufs dans la clarté nouvelle ; c’est le grand sourire de la terre.

Donnez à mon cœur et à tous nos cœurs votre lumière et votre grâce, votre amour et votre paix.

Bidden voor een Goede Groei en Oogst.

Priester: Zegen, O Heer, dit jaar de wateren van de rivieren, het zaad, het kruid en de veldplanten, de hemelwinden en de vruchten van de aarde.

P. Laat ons bidden.

Allen: Wij bidden U, verhoor ons Heer.

Allen: Bidt voor het zaad, het kruid en de  veldplanten, de hemelwinden en de vruchten van de aarde, voor de wateren van de rivieren, dat Messias onze God deze zegene deze met mate late toenemen en het aanschijn van de aarde verblijde: aan ons, mensen, het voedsel en aan het vee het welzijn geven en onze zonden vergeeft.

P. Laat ons bidden.

A. Wij bidden U, verhoor ons Heer.

Priester: Zegen, O Heer, dit jaar de hemelwinden en de vruchten van de aarde, de wateren van de rivieren, het zaad, het kruid en de veldplanten.

P. Laat ons bidden.

A. Wij bidden U, verhoor ons Heer.

Allen: Bidt voor de hemelwinden en de vruchten van de aarde, voor de wateren van de rivieren, voor het zaad, het kruid, en de veldplanten, dat Messias deze zegene opdat zij groeien, zich vermenigvuldigen en vele vruchten mogen voortbrengen, en dat Hij zich ontfermt over het maaksel van Zijn Handen en onze zonden vergeeft.

P. Laat ons bidden.

A. Wij bidden U, verhoor ons Heer.

Priester: Zegen, O Heer, dit jaar, het zaad, het kruid en de veldplanten, de wateren van de rivieren, de hemelwinden en de vruchten van de aarde.

P. Laat ons bidden.

A. Wij bidden U, verhoor ons Heer.

Allen: Bidt voor de wateren van de rivieren, voor het zaad, het kruid, en de veldplanten, voor de hemelwinden, de vruchten van de aarde, de bomen, de wijngaarden en alle vruchtbomen in de hele wereld, dat Messias deze zegene en hun bloei zich zonder schade voltooie en onze zonden vergeeft.

P. Laat ons bidden.

A. Wij bidden U, verhoor ons Heer.

Priester:

Laat ons tot slot bidden:

Doe deze met mate toenemen volgens Uw genadegaven. Verblijdt het aangezicht van de aarde en besproei de beploegde akkers en vermenigvuldig hun vruchten. Maak de aarde geschikt voor de opneming van het zaad en voor de oogst: bestuur ons leven, zoals U het passend vindt. Bekroon het jaar met de gaven en bewijzen van Uw Goedheid, omwille van de armen onder Uw volk, omwille van de weduwen en de wezen, de ontheemden, de gasten en omwille van ons allen die op U hopen en Uw Heilige Naam aanroepen want alle ogen zijn op U gericht omdat U ons alle spijs te rechter tijd geeft. Handel met ons naar Uw goedertierenheid, U die spijze geeft aan al wat leeft, vervul onze harten met blijheid en vreugde, opdat wij in alle opzichten, te allen tijde van alles genoegzaam voorzien en in alle goede werken overvloedig mogen zijn. Door Jezus, de Messias. Amen.