Christ Catholic Church

For the church founded by Karl Pruter, see Christ Catholic Church (Pruter)

Christ Catholic Church is a church of the Old Catholic tradition.

History

It was founded in 1937 when several independent Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches joined together to create the Polish Old Catholic Church. Most of these churches were within the state of New Jersey, like New Brunswick, South River, Dover, and Dunellen, although individual churches as far away as Tampa, Florida were included as well. They elected Joseph Zielonka to be their first bishop. In 1959, the church changed its name to Christ Catholic Church to more clearly indicate that individuals and churches of all nationalities would be welcome in the church.

The following year, 1960, the church was found to consist of 22 parishes with about 7,200 members.

In 1961, Bishop Zielonka died and his suffragan bishop, Peter A. Zurawetzky, was elected as his successor. Bishop Zurawetzky started a new mission program within the church, and oversaw rapid growth within the church. Among the developments would be the founding of the Church of the Transfiguration in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1965, and, two years later, the creation of the Diocese of Boston under Karl Pruter, who was consecrated at the Diocese's first bishop. The following year the Christ Catholic Church, Diocese of Boston was formally recognized as an independent entity and became known as the Christ Catholic Church. It was for many years headquartered at the Cathedral of the Prince of Peace, in Highlandville, Missouri. At a later date, the Liberal Catholic Church of Ontario (Canada), formerly part of the Liberal Catholic Church International, merged with the Christ Catholic Church but eventually, the original Church reformed under Bp. Pruter's jurisdiction. Bishop Karl Pruter died November 18, 2007. Prior to his death in 2007 Pruter entrusted his ministry at the Cathedral of the Prince of Peace to Bishop Brian E. Brown, a bishop of Christ's Catholic Church: An Ecumenical Free Catholic Communion, whom he had consecrated sub-conditionally September 9 of that same year.

Practices

The traditional seven sacraments of Christianity are all administered by this church. It follows the Gregorian calendar. It also engages in such practices as the Matins and Vespers prayer services, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary, novenas, and Stations of the Cross.

References

• Christ Catholic Church official website
• Cathedral of the Prince of Peace official website
• Christ's Catholic Church: An Ecumenical Free Catholic Communion official website
• Melton, J. Gordon. The Encyclopedia of American Religions:Religious Creeds. Detroit, MI: Gale Research COmpany, 1988. ISBN 0-8103-2132-7.