Vol 13 Issue 38

Christmas -Epiphany2020

“The Son of God

became a MAN to enable men to become

sons of God”
Editorial
This Koinonia comes after a year long pass. Well that's exactly what happened to our lives with the pandemic obstruct-
ing our life!
We have become stronger as a church, diocese and province with our committed faithful and clergy as others have
sought greener pastures. Some came seeking the vainglory and once they got it, out they went. Others were lured by money
and the reassurance that it gave them. Others could care less for the canons of the diocese and have become giddied with their
purple shirts. Those who have been inhibited cannot in good conscience continue to be pastors and are doing a disservice to the
church.
We have continued to rebuild God's kingdom faithfully and more especially during the pandemic. We have not given
into fear but hold on to true faith in the Living and Merciful God, seeking His face and grace.
Some heroic priests like Fr. George Georgetti do as many as 16 funerals a day as well as visiting those hospitalized with
Covid who reach out to him when none of the local RC clergy help. And yet Fr. George receives criticism by the same clergy who
refuse to help. It is in desperate times that people reach out to God and search for God.
We are featuring the renovation of St James and the Episcopal visitation of Bishop LuisCarlos Medina to Ecuador and
the commitment of the Franciscan Friars in Ecuador to the cause of God’s kingdom. Anglo Catholicism is well and alive!

HC appy 91st Birthday

hita Lebsack, the
Of
+ Leo
your Christian Charity, Please pray for my mother Mrs.
Thakela Michael, because of whom I'm your servant today.

President of St. Ga-

briel's Bishop's Committee In Memoriam
wins award for volunteering
6,000 hours and 14years at
the Northern Colorado Uni-
versity. This was from 8 years
ago. She has just celebrated
her 91st Birthday. Over 4
decades of faithful member-
ship to St. Gabriel's in Gree-
ley CO.

Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary welcomes

you!

Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary (HTAS) is

owned and administrated by the Holy Catho-
lic Church Anglican Rite of the diocese of Holy
Trinity and Great Plains. It’s location in Kansas
City, mid-America makes travel easy to meet the
campus schedule. It forms part of a long tradition
of the Holy Catholic Church of Anglican Rite and continues this import-
ant work of evangelization of the Kingdom of Christ in the United States Mrs. Thakela Michael
of America and beyond its mission territories. Born: September 22,1923
Entered Everlasting Life: September 20, 2020
With the advancement of communications, Holy Trinity Angli-
can Seminary will offer online and on campus training for its students.
Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary firmly believes that Good Formation
will ensure FRUITFUL Ministry. Keeping in mind the Great Commis-
sion of the Lord, HTAS will train its candidates in strong Scriptural foun-
dation, Sacramental worship in the Apostolic Tradition as enunciated in
the conservative Anglican Tradition. With qualified faculty and commit-
ment to the cause of priestly formation, Holy Trinity Anglican Seminary
is set to impart the traditional Anglican orthodoxy even in the emerging
social and pastoral challenges. The seminary will also offer courses for In the Koinonia masthead, the circle with the cross in the center symbol-
lay students as well. izes the paten and the diverse elements which form a whole. The Mosa-
The Seminary primarily serves the Holy Catholic Church An- ic represents the great cloud of witnesses and the church tradition. The red
glican Rite while students belonging to other denominations are wel- in the letters represents the blood of Christ with the font comprised of indi-
come to participate in our program of study and reflection. The Holy vidual pieces of letters that are not joined until the blood unifies them. Koi-
nonia is the official publication of the Anglican Province of the Holy Cath-
Trinity Anglican Seminary will soon be accredited with a view to confer- olic Church-Anglican Rite (HCCAR) aka Anglican Rite Catholic Church.
ring the Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. It is published quarterly at St. James Anglican Church, 8107 S. Holmes
Holy Catholic Church pays special attention to the forma- Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Phone: 816.361.7242 Fax: 816.361.2144.
tion of her ministers. Church directives require that candidate to the Editors: The Rt. Rev. Leo Michael & Holly Michael, Koinonia header: Phil
priesthood undergo a minimum of three years devoted to an intense and Gilbreath; email: koinonia@holycatholicanglican.org or visit us on the web
at: www.holycatholicanglican.org Cover picture: Virgin and Child with Saints
specifically priestly formation. These directives are implemented at this
Mary Magdalene, Peter, Clare, Francis, and an Abbess, The Museum of Fine
seminary, with particular emphasis on the Anglican traditions of the Arts, Houston, Texas (Photo by Bishop Leo Michael
Holy Catholic Church.
Koinonia 2
A
" ll therefore that the Son of God did and taught for
the world's reconciliation, we not only know as a matter
total character, so every particular Christian miracle
manifests at a particular place and moment the charac-
ter and significance of the Incarnation.
of past history, but appreciate in the power of their pres- As we participate in the greatest of miracle, we
ent effect" (Sermon 52, 1). St. Leo says that Jesus was see God the creator becoming one of us in everything
truly one of us, possessing a complete human nature. but sin. God could have done in any other way He
He did not merely appear in human form, as in the bib- chooses.
lical types and scriptural symbols of the Old Testament, We participate in the Divine Mystery that has a
like the patriarch Abraham or Moses. The mystery of hallmark on human history – Not just like any human
our reconciliation with God could not have occurred being but the Son of God born for us – Emmanuel God
unless he had stooped to assume our lowly nature even with us.
while fully possessing the divine nature of his heavenly The pregnant virgin and her betrothed husband
father. The Creator of time was born in time. ( St. Leo in search of a place to deliver their new born. This is
the Great) what the world had awaited – the Messiah – the One
This is the greatest of all miracle. C. S. Lewis who will save His people from sin.
says: The central miracle asserted by Christians is the There are shepherds keeping their night watch
Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every and the chorus of angels surprise them with Good
other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or re- News. Today in the City of David is born for you Christ
sults from this. Just as every natural event is the man- the Lord. Joseph and Mary were told that Mary would
ifestation at a particular place and moment of Nature’s bear the Son of God. As this is unfolding their boundless

Koinonia 3
joy knew no bounds. They
ponder all these things in
their heart.
There’s a song Mary
did you know. Yes Mary
knew when the Angel told
her of God’s plan. This was
confirmed by Joseph who
was also told in a dream
and they ought to name
Him Jesus.Tonight is the
night of redemption. A
Child is born for us, a Son
is given to us. He is wonder
counselor, might God, Ev-
erlasting Father, Prince of
peace. The government nay
the plan of salvation rests
on His shoulder.
Let us celebrate for
its your redemption and
mine.
And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, (and we beheld
His glory, the glory as of
the only-begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and
truth.
"Dwelt among us,"
or, as it might be rendered,
"within us," and oh, my Greatest Gift has been Given to us.
brethren, may it be so with us this day! He comes to
us as of old veiled in a mystery of lowliness, in mean GOD the greatest Lover
elements; He, "whose goings forth have been from ev- SO LOVED the greatest degree
erlasting,'" lies hid in Bethlehem, which is by interpre-
THE WORLD the greatest number
tation the House of Bread, Bethlehem the "little one."
May the Incarnate God Who disdained not the lowly THAT HE GAVE the greatest act
manger, come to visit us in this the humble mystery of HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON the greatest Gift
His Altar, and make His tabernacle within our souls: THAT WHOSOEVER the greatest invitation
may we have eyes to behold His glory, and in beholding
BELIEVETH the greatest simplicity
to be changed.
Celebrating the events of the Incarnation of the IN HIM the greatest Person
Son of God is not merely remembering past events, but SHOULD NOT PERISH the greatest deliverance
it is making present those mysteries that bring salva- BUT the greatest difference
tion. Today in the Liturgy, in the celebration of the sac-
HAVE the greatest certainty
raments, those mysteries become present and effective
for us. EVERLASTING LIFE the greatest possession
We all have our Christmas gifts, wanting to surprise the (Description anonymous)
other, to see the joy in giving and receiving. Tonight the ><> + Bishop Leo Michael

Koinonia 4
 Faith over fear
El Paso reverend works to comfort COVID-19 patient by Adriana Candelaria

T he whispers reciting the rosary pierced the silence

n the hospital’s parking lot on a hot El Paso night. The
have not allowed families to visit their loved ones for
months.
candles of a makeshift altar illuminated a statue of the That’s not the COVID-19 floor,” Georgetti said.
Virgin Mary as doctors and nurses came in and out of Georgetti knows about the hospitals’ technicali-
the hospital’s gliding doors, too preoccupied to notice ties. He is one of a few people allowed into the hospitals.
the group. I have to be in the hospitals when the people are
The group’s strength was not in the number of in need,” Georgetti said. “In particular during the pan-
participants, rather the vigorous devotion in which they demic, some people call me because no one wants to
prayed the rosary for COVID-19 patients and the souls go.”
who have left Earth. Georgetti has taken it upon himself to be on
Mostly every night at 10 p.m., Father George the frontlines of COVID-19. He wears personal protec-
Georgetti leads the rosary’s prayer through Facebook tive equipment just like medical professionals, but he is
Live from his home. On this specific night, he chose to more of a doctor for the soul.
recite the rosary outside of the Hospitals of Providence “When they close the [hospital room] doors, it’s
Transmountain Campus. Georgetti and about six others a feeling that you are on ground zero,” Georgetti said.
dispersed foldable lawn chairs and wore facemasks as “I’m feeling, ‘Well, this could be my last, or the
they carried out their amens. beginning of my last time in life’,” Georgetti said.
“If I need to attend somebody that is another Georgetti said he has underlying health condi-
religion, Muslim or Jewish, I pray in what they believe tions that could be detrimental to him if he were to con-
[in] and for Christians the same – Catholics or no Cath- tract COVID-19, but he is placing faith over fear when
olics,” Georgetti said. he enters rooms with COVID-19 patients.
A group of people crossing through the parking It’s a different situation. Some people, they are
lot caught Georgetti's attention. conscious. We pray together. Some people, they are no
“ They’re talking to him,” Georgetti said. more conscious. They’re in coma, and I pray for them
The group was waving at a patient looking down and I give their last rites,” Georgetti said.
and waving back from one of the top floors of the hos- Father George, as his community calls him, was
pital. Strict visitation restrictions due to the pandemic born in Argentina and was studying to be a priest when

Koinonia 5
the AIDS/HIV pandemic began. He arrived in El Paso
more than 20 years ago seeking a better future, and he
says he stayed because of the people.
Georgetti practices Catholicism Anglican Rite.
He is not part of the Roman Catholic Diocese.
He prays for everyone and says he doesn’t sepa-
rate them because of their church or denomination. His
practices have bound people together in their time of
need. He specifically recalls a Baptist man who was ask-
ing for prayers for his wife.
“He told me, ‘Tell my wife I love her.’ She couldn’t
speak, but she can listen, and she was crying when I said
that,” Georgetti said.
To the more than 13,000 people impacted by
positive cases of COVID-19, doctors and nurses, Geor-
getti said he wants them to know that he is praying for
them.
I will be there until God wants. If somebody is
in need to pray for their loved ones that they have in the
turned to him instead.
hospital, they can call me,” Georgetti said.
“The people say, ‘I don’t care if he’s Catholic (or)
“If El Paso is suffering, then I am suffering. If El
not Catholic,’ I do for families who request evangelical,
Paso is happy, I am happy. God bless you all,” Georgetti
non-denominational (services). And you know, if you
said.
are Christian, Catholic or not Catholic, Lord Jesus is
Giorgetti can be reached at rev.3ggg@gmail.com.
the same savior, for everybody,” Georgetti said.
EL PASO MATTERS (Above: Fr. George given Anointing and Last Rites to Lupita Cor-
tez, our cook manager Kitchen at Casa Vida for 18 years. Resident
El Paso religious funeral practices dramatically im-
soverliving, institutional founder member. She passed away since)
pacted by COVID-19 by René Kladzyk (elpasomatters.
Georgetti has been leading rosaries on Facebook Live
org)
as a way for grieving El Pasoans to connect remotely.
The Rev. George Georgetti, chaplain at Our
Lady of the Abandoned Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Note: Both the articles were published in KFOX14 by
said hospital nurses have helped him to Zoom call fam- Adriana Candelaria and René Kladzyk of El Paso
ily members from COVID units while he Matters.
gives a patient their last rites and anoints
them.
George Georgetti, an Anglican
priest, provides the last rites to a COVID-19
patient.
Georgetti has been inundated with requests
from family members of sick and recently
deceased El Pasoans, and said he averaged
16 funerals per day last week.
“I have a mission as a priest. If
somebody calls me, I need to go. And this
is what I am doing. But it’s critical, the sit- (Above: Still photo from the KFOX14 TV interview)
uation,” said Georgetti, who has been all the more busy
because the Catholic Diocese is not conducting funeral God bless you Fr. George for your commitment,
Masses. Georgetti is not part of the diocese, but prac- deidcation in being the sign and bearer of God's love
tices in the Anglican tradition, which has some simi- and mercy to all those who have passed and all those
larities to Catholicism. Consequently, many El Pasoans who have died in the Lord. We are thankful to have
who would have sought a Catholic funeral Mass have such a dedicated priest in you! + Leo
Koinonia 6
 Our Lady of the Abandoned Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite
Confirmations By Bishop Leo Michael! Fr. George Georgetti's
dedicated ministry' This photo was from the 2018 Episcopal
vist to El Paso. Texas. God's work continues from this small
chapel. The Kingdom of God is Alive and Well! Ever to the
greater glory of God and the salavation of souls!

Koinonia 7
 made allies with the Bishop of Nicomedia, Eusebius and
several other clergy from Syria. Arius and those who
supported him were finally condemned at the Council
of Nicea of which Athanasius was present and active in
defending the faith against the Arian heresy
In 328 a.d. Bishop Alexander died and Athana-
sius was elected and consecrated Bishop of Alexandria
and continued to contend for the faith against the Arian
heresy.
As it does to all who hold to the faith once de-
livered and preach the pure gospel and doctrines of the
Church, Athanasius became a target by his adversaries.
They sought to have him removed from his bishopric.
It was Bishop Eusebius who lead this attack on Athana-
sius. He refused to denounce Arianism and he enlisted
the help of the Meletians who were also propagating
false doctrines.
In 330 a.d. Eusebius went to the Emperor Con-
stantine and through lies and deceit convinced him to
command Athanasius to reinstate the Arians back into
the communion of the Church. Athanasius would not
comply by stating “Catholic Church could not hold
communion with heretics who attacked the divinity of
Christ.”
These heretics continued to attack Athanasius
even being so bold as to accuse him of murdering an-
other Meletian Bishop. The problem was that this Bish-
KNOW OUR CHURCH FATHERS op was still very much alive, and this false accusation
landed back into their laps and made them to be fools.

S t. Athanasius is considered one of the greats

among the early Church Fathers. He was Bishop of Al-
So many false accusations were made against Athana-
sius that a council was called to be held in Tyre against
him. This council was stacked against Athanasius. Atha-
exandria. He is listed as one of the great doctors of the nasius was exciled and went to Germany. From there he
Church. He championed the doctrine of the incarna- remained in contact with his flock who never stopped
tion so well and devoutly that it earned him the nick- supporting him. In 338 a.d. after 2 ½ years of exile, Ar-
name of the “Father of Orthodoxy.” Athanasius was the ius and the Emperor died and he returned from exile.
first person to identify the same 27 books of the New This was just the first of many exiles due to the false
Testament that are in use today. He was also one of the attacks of his enemies.
sharpest critics of the Arian heresy. He stood unwaver- Over the period of his life Athanasius contin-
ing against one of the greatest heresies to ever threaten ued to be attacked by the Arians and was exiled sev-
the Church. In doing so it caused much strife and anger eral more times. He once experienced violence in his
from his opponents. Church during mass when soldiers by the order of Ar-
He was born around 296 a.d. to 298 a.d. in Al- ian sympathizers rushed in and killed several parish-
exandria Egypt. He was the son of prominent Christian ioners. He barely escaped himself. His life was one of
parents at the time. He was ordained a deacon around constant persecution by his enemies. But through it all
318 a.d. and served as Bishop Alexander’s secretary. It he remained faithful and unphased in his work for the
was around this time that Athanasius wrote his first gospel and the defense of the incarnation of our Lord
theological work on the incarnation. He was witness against the Arians.
to the rise of Arius and the heresy he espoused. De- Much of what he suffered was very similar to the
spite Arius being rebuked, his writings condemned, way Christ and the Apostles suffered. He was betrayed.
and being deposed along with several other clergy who False accusations were constantly being thrown at him
supported him, he continued to spread his heresy and by His enemies. But through tribulations come bless-
Koinonia 8
ings. Because of all of the suffering, exiles, false accusa- THE ATHANASIAN CREED
1. WHOSOEVER will be saved, * before all things it is necessary that he
tions, etc., we have a treasure of writings and teachings hold the Catholic Faith.
from the hands of St. Athanasius. His writings shaped 2. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, * without
the church’s doctrine on the divinity of Jesus Christ and doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
3. And the Catholic Faith is this: * That we worship one God in Trinity,
His incarnation. He was a champion of the faith. He has and Trinity in Unity;
become one of the greatest examples for all Christians 4. Neither confounding the Persons, * nor dividing the substance.
5 For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, * and another
to follow, especially for the clergy. He never once waiv- of the Holy Ghost.
ered. He never once wanted to give up. He gave up all for 6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all
the defense of Jesus Christ and His Church and suffered one; * the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, * and such is the Holy Ghost.
many unjust hardships. He became one of the most pro- 8. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, * and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
lific writers of early Church doctrines. His writings still 9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, * and the
Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
to this day are used as a prime authority on the divinity 10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, * and the Holy Ghost eternal.
and incarnation of our Lord. Athanasius was a giant. A 11. And yet they are not three eternals, * but one eternal.
pillar of truth. A strong defense against the lies and de- 12. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, *
but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
ception of the devil and wicked men who seek not the 13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, * and the Holy
truth of the Lord, nor the primacy of the Lord, but seek Ghost almighty.
14. And yet they are not three almighties, * but one almighty.
out their own primacy in this world. 15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, * and the Holy Ghost is God.
Today many know his name because of the 16. And yet they are not three Gods, * but one God.
Athanasius Creed. There is some question of whether 17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, * and the Holy Ghost
Lord.
or not he was the primary author of this creed. But it 18. And yet not three Lords, * but one Lord.
matters not. It was written based on his teachings of the 19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity * to acknowledge
every Person by himself to be God and Lord;
incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is an expounding of the 20. So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion * to say, There be three
Nicene Creed. It is also considered authoritative in the Gods, or three Lords.
Western Church and revered also by many of the East- 21. The Father is made of none; * neither created nor begotten.
22. The Son is of the Father alone; * not made, nor created, but begotten.
ern Church. 23. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: * neither made, nor
I highly recommend every Christian become fa- created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; *
miliar with Athanasius and His writings. His doctrine is one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
sound. His writings on the incarnation of Christ can be 25. And in this Trinity none is afore, after other; * none is greater, or less
compared to no other. And His life is one that is to be than another:
26. But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together, * and co-equal.
emulated by all Christians. 27. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, * the Unity in Trinity, and the
Thankfully because of the technology we have Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
28. He therefore that will be saved * must thus think of the Trinity.
today the writings of St. Athanasius are available to ev- 29. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation * that he also
eryone via the internet. If you have not read or studied believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
the writings of St. Athanasius you are robbing yourself 30. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess * that our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
of precious doctrinal jewels. 31. God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; * and
You can go to https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/ Man, of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;
32. Perfect God, and perfect Man: * of a reasonable soul and human flesh
npnf204.html to read many of his select writings. You subsisting;
will certainly be enriched, and your faith will benefit. 33. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; * and inferior to the
He is commemorated by the Western Church which Father, as touching his manhood.
34. Who although he be God and Man, * yet he is not two, but one
observes his feast day on May 2nd. He is a shining exam- Christ;
ple. He is a pillar and defender of the faith, truly a giant 35. One; not by conversion of the God-head into flesh; * but by taking of
the Manhood into God;
who’s influence in the Church could never be overstat- 36. One altogether; not by confusion of substance, * but by unity of
ed. May we always keep is feast day and let us honor person.
him by going to his writings. By his preserved writings 37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, * so God and Man is
one Christ.
he still speaks, preaches and instructs the Church today. 38. Who suffered for our salvation, * descended into hell, rose from the
“GRANT us grace, we beseech thee, Almighty dead.
39. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father,
God: that we may believe in our hearts, and confess God Almighty; * from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the
with our lips, the true faith in thy Consubstantial Word; dead.
like unto that which thy blessed Bishop Athanasius 40. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, * and shall
give account for their own works.
maintained, and amid such innumerable labours and 41. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; * and they
persecutions. Through the same thy Son Jesus Christ that have done evil into everlasting fire.
42. This is the Catholic Faith, * which except a man believes faithfully, he
our Lord. Amen.” (Prayer from the Anglican Breviary). cannot be saved.
><> By Fr. Jay Rice.
Koinonia 9
 11:00 Descanso.
13:00 Almuerzo con la Curia Provincial.
14:30 Traslado al lugar de la reunión.
15:00 Reunión Capitular con la Curia Provincial.
• Tema: Información sobre el estado jurídico de
la Provincia
• Tema: Información sobre la estructura de la
Orden Franciscana de la Divina Compasión
– Provincia Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles y
Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Nube.
• Ágape fraterno.
• Tema: Información de la estructura de la Santa
Iglesia Católica de Rito Anglicano y de la
Diócesis de Atlanta y Sudamérica.
18:30 Traslado a la Capilla Nuestra Señora de la Nube.
19:00 Santa Eucarística de MISA CRISMAL en la capil-
la Nuestra Señora de la Nube.
21:00 Cena con la curia Provincial.
22:00 Rezo de Completa
22:30 Descanso.

VIERNES 04 DE OCTUBRE: SOLEMNIDAD DE

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS.
08:00 Desayuno.
09:00 Reunión fraterna con todos los hermanos de la
Provincia Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles.

The Episcopal Visitation of Rt. Rev. LUÍS GARCÍA MEDINA to Ecuador

10:30 Ágape fraterno.
De: + OBISPO LUIS CARLOS GARCÍA MEDINA 11:30 Reunión con el Formador y Párroco de la Parro-
Para: OBISPO LEO MICHAEL, - SANTA IGLESIA quia de Rito Anglicano Nuestra Señora de la Nube.
CATÓLICA DE RITO ANGLICANO. • Tema: Sacramentos.
Asunto: VISITA APOSTÓLICA A ORDEN FRAN- • Tema: Formación
CISCANA DE LA DIVINA COMPASIÓN – PRO-
VINCIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOS ÁNGELES, 13:00 Almuerzo Fraterno con todos los hnos., de la
ECUADOR. Provincia.
Fecha: GUAYAQUIL, 11 DE OCTUBRE DE 2019 14:00 Descanso
16:00 Preparación para la Santa Eucaristía de Orde-
nación Presbiteral.
El motivo de la presente Informe es para darle a 19:00 Santa Eucaristía de Ordenación Presbiteral.
conocer sobre mi visita a la República del Ecuador a 21:00 Reunión fraterna con todos los feligreses en general.
los miembros de la ORDEN FRANCISCANA DE LA 22: 00 Merienda fraterna con todos los miembros de la
DIVINA COMPASIÓN – PROVINCIA NUESTRA Orden.
SEÑORA DE LOS ÁNGELES, ECUADOR 23:00 Rezo de completas
ITINERARIO DE VISITA APOSTÓLICA DEL OBISPO
LUÍS GARCÍA MEDINA
SÁBADO 05 DE OCTUBRE
JUEVES 03 DE OCTUBRE 08:00 Desayuno
03:40 Salida de Colombia a Ecuador - Guayaquil 09:00 Paseo por la Ciudad de Guayaquil
08:25 Llegada del Obispo a Guayaquil – recibimiento, 13:00 Almuerzo fraterno con la Curia Provincial
09:00 traslado del Obispo al lugar de residencia 15:00 Salida del obispo del lugar de residencia al Aero-
10:00 Desayuno puerto
Koinonia 10
17:05 Salida de Ecuador - Guayaquil a Colombia Guardian de la Misión San Francisco de Asís y el Hno.
El Ministerio Sacerdotal de la Denominación Religiosa Postulante Christian Palma Tabares.
ORDEN FRANCISCANA DE LA DIVINA COMPA- Luego de ello, inmediatamente nos estaba espe-
SIÓN - PROVINCIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOS rando el vehículo que me trasladaron al Hotel N.P.
ÁNGELES, DE LA HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH Siguiendo el itinerario plenamente establecido
ANGLICAN RITE, se encuentra amparado por el con anterioridad, se dio la primera reunión con curia
artículo 11, 19 y 66 numerales: 8 y 11 de la Consti- Provincial de la Orden Franciscana de la Divina compa-
tución política de la República del Ecuador, el Decreto sión – Provincia Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles con los
Supremo 212, del 21 de julio de 1937 y el Reglamento siguientes Reverendos: Fray Luis Alberto Almache Mo-
de Cultos Religiosos, Decreto Ejecutivo 1682, del 11 de rales, Ministro Provincial y Representante Legal; Fray
enero del 2000, y Decreto Ejecutivo 410 de 14 de julio Vicente Augusto Robalino Reyes, Guardian de la Mis-
de 2010, de la República del Ecuador; y la Personería ión San Francisco de Asís y Definidor; Fray José Miguel
Especial (Eclesiástica) No.1158 del 17 de diciembre Rojas Rojas, segundo definidor y Secretario Provincial
de 2015, emanada del Ministerio de Justicia, Derechos y Fray Julio César Sánchez Ortega, Vicario Provincial y
Humanos y Cultos, por la cual la República del Ec- Párroco, en el cual dialogamos sobre los siguientes te-
uador reconoce a la Orden Franciscana de la Divina mas:
Compasión –Provincia Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, • Tema: Información sobre el estado jurídico de
de la Holy Catholic Chuch Anglican Rite, como una la Provincia
Entidad Religiosa debidamente reglamentada. • Tema: Información sobre la estructura de la Or-
En mi visita apostólica como Obispo Protec- den Franciscana de la Divina Compasión – Pro-
tor de la Orden Franciscana de la Divina Compasión vincia Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles y Parro-
– Provincia nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, he tenido quia Nuestra Señora de la Nube.
el grato honor de visitar el País de Ecuador, Provincia • Tema: Información de la estructura de la Santa
del Guayas, Cantón Guayaquil, donde se encuentra la Iglesia Católica de Rito Anglicano y de la Dióce-
Sede de la Orden Franciscana Anglicana de Rito An- sis de Kansas y Sudamérica.
glicano. Puedo informar a Ud., que los documentos
jurídicos de la Orden Franciscana se encuentran todo
Fui recibido en el aeropuerto Internacional de en orden, reconocido y certificado por el Estado del Ec-
Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo por los siguientes uador como una entidad religiosa debidamente regla-
Reverendos: Fray Luis Alberto Almache Morales, Min- mentada. Además, me he dado cuenta que tienen una
istro Provincial; Fray Vicente Augusto Robalino Reyes, buena estructura y un organigrama bien detallado para

Koinonia 11
 ORDEN FRANCISCANA DE LA DIVINA COMPASIÓN
PROVINCIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOS ÁNGELES-ECUADOR

Rvdo. Padre Fr. Luis Alberto Rvdo. Padre Fr. Armando Orellana
Almache Morales. OFDC Redrovan. OFDC.
Ministro Provincial Representante Legal Conventual San Pedro de Alcántara
Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com- Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com-
pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De
Los Ángeles. Los Ángeles.
Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite

Rvdo. Padre Fr. Julio César Sán- Rvdo. Fr. Celso Galarza Morán
chez Ortega. OFDC Conventual San Pedro de Alcántara
Vicario Provincial Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com-
Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com- pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De
pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De Los Ángeles.
Los Ángeles. Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite
Párroco
Nuestra Señora de la Nube
Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite

Rvdo. Fr. José Miguel Rojas Rojas. Rvdo. Fr. Edinson Vinicio Bravo
OFDC Loayza. OFDC
Secretario Provincial Conventual San Pedro de Alcántara
Definidor Provincial Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com-
Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com- pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De
pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De Los Ángeles.
Los Ángeles. Holly Catholic Church-Anglican Rite
Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite

Rvdo. Padre Fr. Vicente Augusto Rvdo. Fr. Kenny Christian Palma
Robalino Reyes. OFDC Tabares. OFDC
Definidor Provincial Conventual San Pedro de Alcántara
Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com- Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com-
pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De
Los Ángeles. Los Ángeles.
Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite Holly Catholic Church-Anglican Rite

HERMANO EN LA GRACIA DE
Rvdo. Padre Fr. Erwin Galarza DIOS
Morán. OFDC Rvdo. Padre Fr. Antonio Tobías
Conventual San Pedro de Alcántara Avilés Freire. OFDC
Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com- Orden Franciscana De La Divina Com-
pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De pasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora De
Los Ángeles. Los Ángeles.
Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite

Koinonia 12


su buen funcionamiento.
Me dieron a conocer en tres folios toda la doc-
umentación de la orden: Documentación debidamente
certificada por la secretaria de cultos, documentación
original de todo lo registrado y recibido en dicha secre-
taria de Cultos, un folio con todo el contenido de cada
hermano de la Orden bien detallado. Luego de haber
escuchado, revisado de lo bien documentada que está
la Orden, mi sugerencia fue que toda la documentación
esté debidamente escaneada como respaldo a cualquier
pérdida de los documento
Inmediatamente pasamos a celebrar la Santa
Eucaristía Crismal en la Parroquia Nuestra Señora de
la Nube con los miembros de la Orden Franciscana de
Rito Anglicano. Eucaristía llena de fe y amor siguiendo
nuestro propio Rito, de espalda al Pueblo de cara a Dios

Koinonia 13
La Santa Misa Crismal asistieron todos los feligreses de
la Parroquia además de los grupos que la conforman.
Después de haber celebrado tan hermosa Eu-
caristía Crismal y llegando al lugar de reunión les en-
tregué un presente a cada hermano en forma de sorteo
quedando todos muy contentos y agradecidos, la pasa-
mos fraternalmente muy bien.
Luego de ello tuvimos la cena con todos los her-
manos miembros de la Orden Franciscana, concluyen-
do el primer día de visita con el rezo de las completas y
agradecido con Dios se dio el descanso según el itiner-
ario planificado.
Se da inicio el segundo día de mi Visita y ense-
guida se da la reunión con todos los hnos. miembros
de la Orden Franciscana de rito anglicano - Provincia
Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
Luego del almuerzo y el descanso respectivo, se
dio la preparación para la ordenación de los Reverendos
Frailes; Erwin Gilbert Galarza Morán y Armando Vini-
cio Orellana Redrovan, que se tenía preparado para este
segundo de día de visita viernes 04 de octubre, solemni-
dad del Seráfico Padre San Francisco de Asís.
Después de revisar la liturgia de Ordenación
tuve un encuentro maravilloso con los hermanos can-
didatos al Orden del Presbiterado antes mencionados.
Pude revisar el Programa de formación para las
Sagradas Ordenes, quedando muy complacido ya que
es un programa de estudio acorde a la realidad civil y
religiosa de la Orden Franciscana de Rito Anglicano tal
cual me lo habían anunciado reiteradas veces. Después
de revisar minuciosamente el programa de formación

Koinonia 14
sugerí se incluyera el Idioma Lengua Extranjera (in- Rvdo. Diácono Fr. Erwin Galarza Morán. OFDC.
glés), ya que pertenecemos a una Iglesia con sede en E mail: frayerwingalarza.ofdc@gmail.com
Estados Unidos. Dirección: Guazmo Sur, Bloque 3
ORATORIO
Tuve también una reunión con el Reverendo Fray Julio NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL CARMEN
Sánchez Ortega, Párroco de la Parroquia Nuestra Seño- ENCARGADO
ra de la Nube y con el Reverendo Fray Luis Almache Rvdo. Fr. José Miguel Rojas Rojas. OFDC.
Morales, Ministro Provincial y Representante Legal, E mail: frayjosérojas.ofdc@gmail.com
donde hablamos sobre el tema relacionado a la Parro- Dirección: Guazmo Sur,
quia, mostrándome toda la documentación que los rige: ORATORIO
Declaración solemne de pertenencia a nuestra Iglesia, VENERABLE Y SIERVO JOSÉ GREGORIO HERNÁNDEZ
que, se les hace firmar a los padres de familia o repre- ENCARGADO
sentante legal del (a) niño (a) que realiza los distintos Rvdo. Padre Fr. Luis Alberto Almache Morales. OFDC.
tipos de Sacramentos en la Parroquia; formulario de E mail: frayluisalmachemorales.ofdc@gmail.com
inscripción de cada Sacramentos que se realiza; las ac- Dirección: Ciudadela Malvinas
tas de cada Sacramento que se entrega cuando estos los CAPILLA
requieran. CAPILLA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA NUBE
ENCARGADO
La Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Nube tiene a cargo
Rvdo. Padre Fr. Julio César Sánchez Ortega. OFDC.
o siguiente:
Párroco.
PARROQUIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA NUBE
E mail: frayjuliosanchez.ofdc@gmail.com
PÁRROCO
Dirección: Ciudadela Los Vergeles
Rvdo. Padre Fr. Julio César Sánchez Ortega. OFDC.
AYUDANTE
E mail: frayjuliosanchez.ofdc@gmail.com
Rvdo. Diácono Fr. Erwin Galarza Morán. OFDC.
CAPILLA
E mail: frayerwingalarza.ofdc@gmail.com
SAN JACINTO
AYUDANTE
ENCARGADO
Rvdo. Hno. Christian Palma Tabares
Rvdo. Padre Fr. Armando Vinicio Orellana Redrovan.
E mail: kenny-christi@hotmail.es
OFDC.
E mail: frayvinicioorellana.ofdc@gmail.com
Luego de todo lo acontecido, me trasladaron a lugar
Dirección: Recinto Cerecita
de Celebración para la Santa Eucaristía de ordenación,
ORATORIO donde nos acompañaron 60 personas adentro del Tem-
NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOS ÁNGELES plo Nuestra Señora de la Nube y afuera del Templo 100
ENCARGADO personas en sus respectivos asientos con pantalla gi-
Rvdo. Padre Fr. Armando Vinicio Orellana Redrovan. gante donde se pasó la Eucaristía en vivo y en directo
OFDC. para que no se pierdan los feligreses ningún detalle. Fue
E mailfrayvinicioorellana.ofdc@gmail.com una Misa de Ordenación al pie de la liturgia de nuestro
Dirección: Recinto Km. 47 propio Rito, que maravilloso acontecimiento. A con-
tinuación, algunas fotos.
ORATORIO
NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL CISNE Después de haber celebrado la Misa de Ordenación
ENCARGADO según nuestro Rito Anglicano, se dio inicio la solemne
Rvdo. Padre Fr. Vicente Augusto Robalino Reyes. Precesión para honra y Gloria de Dios a través del San-
OFDC. to Patrono de la Orden Franciscana de Rito Anglica-
AYUDANTE no SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS, hacia el lugar de re-
Rvdo. Fr. Celso Galarza Morán. OFDC uniones.
E mail: fraycelsogalarza.ofdc@gmail.com
Dirección: Ciudadela Mapasingue Una vez llegado al lugar de reuniones, tuve una reunión
con toda la feligresía general del la Parroquia Nuestra
ORATORIO Señora de la Nube junto con todos los hermanos de
SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA la Orden Franciscana, que maravillosa reunión señor
ENCARGADO Obispo Leo Michael, es una comunidad movida por el
Koinonia 15
Espíritu Santo de Dios, una comunidad de fe y amor,
se pudo compartir un ágape fraterno con todos los que
pudieron acompañar.
Luego de cenar y de rezar las completas, nos re-
tiramos a descansar.
En el tercer día de mi visita Apostólica, después
de desayunar en fraternidad con los hermanos de la
Orden franciscana, me llevaron a conocer la ciudad de
Guayaquil, me hicieron recorrer los lugares más em-
blemáticos de la ciudad. Las fotos hablan por si solas.
Luego un maravilloso paseo por la ciudad Sede
de la Orden Franciscana de Rito Anglicano, Invité a mis
hermanos a almorzar en un restaurante “LOMO A LO
POBRE”, el dueño de dicho restaurante Hno. Edinson
Cabezas pertenece a nuestra Iglesia de Rito Anglicano
como grupo de Apoyo de la Parroquia Nuestra Seño-
ra de la Nube.Después de una muy linda fraternidad
en el hermano País de Ecuador, Provincia del Guayas,
Cantón Guayaquil, me regreso a mi País natal Colombia
– Barranquilla. Muy agradecido con mis hermanos de
la Orden Franciscana de la Divina Compasión – Pro-
vincia Nuestra Señora de la Ángeles. Con mis deseos de
volver muy pronto.
Estimado Señor Obispo Leo Michael, este es mi
informe con respecto a mi visita Apostólica a la Orden
Franciscana de Rito Anglicano con sede en Ecuador,
Provincia del Guayas, Cantón Guayaquil. Es todo lo que
puedo informar en honor a la verdad.

Fraternalmente
The Rt. Rev. LUIS CARLOS GARCÍA MEDINA
Obispo Provincia de América del Sur
Obispo Protector de la Orden Franciscana de la Divina
Compasión – Provincia Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite

Koinonia 16
Our New and Permanent Home by the Grace of God!
St. James Anglican Cathedral, 342 N Water Street. Liberty
St. James is the name that’s been etched on the arch above the
narthex door since the mid 1800s. It’s Providence that this church
building, for sale, popped up on our radar while we were seeking
a new church home in an area where we could finally grow. St
James has been the name of our church for four decades in the
Kansas City area. It was God who brought us to this wonderful
land of Liberty, just outside Kansas City city limits and who gave
us this new home, St James, for our cathedral.
As you will read from the next article on the history of the
building, after being abandoned by the Roman Catholic Church
in the 1980s, St James had gone from a pigeon home to possible
demolition to an Inn and other venues.
St James sits on the top of a hill, in the historic district, just off
of Liberty Square at the Clay County seat. From north, south, east
and west of the city, the steeple, now a bit tarnished and in need
of repair, has always been visible as the highest point in town.
A year ago, late last summer, after signing closing documents,
the congregation couldn’t wait to get started on the renovations to
make St. James, a church again, our home church and the cathe-
dral.
We wondered how many sacraments—Holy Mass, baptisms,
confirmations, weddings and funerals had been celebrated in this
sacred structure and the work began to restore it back to a Sacra-
mental Anglican Church.
With the previous location in South Kansas City finally sold,

and with the help of our competent contractor, Matt Brandt, we

went to work dismantling the old St James, including the stained
glass windows, and repairing and restoring and then finally mov-
ing the contents into the new church.
We had a few dust-covered services with just the regular
congregation for a few Sundays, until Christmas. The congregation
worked hard to clean up the construction dust and prepare for the
celebration of the Birth of our Lord. We opened up to the public
for the first service with quite a few neighbors in attendance with
Lessons and Carols, followed by Midnight Mass.
In this past year, amid Covid19, St James has stayed open,
following the local restrictions. We continued with Morning Prayer
and celebrating Sunday Mass. We continue to offer Sacraments to
the faithful.
We continue with renovations to the undercroft area and
are finishing up the work in the church sanctuary. Still a lot more
work remains to be done in the undercroft to turn it into a fellow-
ship hall/coffee shop and bookstore. This past week we put down
new concrete for a wonderful patio area and hope to have the un-
dercroft finished this spring.
The steeple is our main concern now and finding someone
to work on the 100-foot steeple has been a challenge. We hope to
take on that project this spring as we continue to work to preserve
this 173 year-old majestic Church building. We will restore a cross
Koinonia 17
to the top and St James will continue to be a church providing
the Living Water on Water Street.
><> Holly Michael for the Vestry of St. James Cathedral

Koinonia 18
 The Old St. James Catholic Church
by Courtney Ryan

Courtney Ryan is a sophomore English and organizational communication

major at William Jewell College. She is a member of Mu Beta, William Jewell’s
chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (English honor society). Her other home is Friend,
Nebraska, with her parents, three younger sisters, and pets. Courtney enjoys
reading, watching action and horror movies, and spending time with family and
friends.

During the early 1800s, a line of bishops and fathers tried to establish a Catholic following in
Liberty; their efforts led to the establishment of St. James Catholic Church. The first mention of
Catholicism in Liberty occurs in letters sent from Father Joseph Anthony Lutz, a priest of the St. Louis
diocese, to Bishop Joseph Rosati, a French diocesan priest on loan to the St. Louis diocese from Lyons,
France. In a letter dated November 12, 1828, Father Lutz wrote that he “‘went recently to the town of
Liberty and found there only one Catholic soul’” (Garraghan 31). At the time, Father Lutz was
attempting to start a mission among a tribe of Native Americans along the Kansas River. Five years after
the unsuccessful effort, Bishop Rosati sent Father Benedict Roux to minister to Catholics at Kawsmouth.
When Father Roux arrived in Liberty, Missouri, on November 4, 1833, it “was the most
considerable settlement at the time in Western Missouri, with a population at about six hundred”
(Garraghan 40). He became the first resident priest in that quarter of the St. Louis diocese. On
November 5, 1833, Father Roux left Liberty for Clinton County and spoke with William Hughes, who
had expressed to Bishop Rosati a desire for a Catholic settlement to be established. Father Roux thought
that Liberty would be a suitable place for Hughes’ proposal. Intolerance by Methodist and Baptist
inhabitants of the area presented a prominent problem, so Father Roux ruled the area not ready for a
Catholic establishment at the time. Father Christian Hoecken and other Jesuit missionaries decided to
open a parish in Plattsburg and Liberty four years later.
In 1847, Father Patrick Ward, the out-mission priest, and the congregation worked to build their
first parish church in Liberty. Previously, they worshipped in a facility donated by Hughes where the

Koinonia 19
house of worship would be built. The new structure cost $2,500 and was located at 342 North Water
Street; at the time, there were 170 members (“St. James Parish History”). Archbishop Peter Kenrick
consecrated the church in 1848. Father Bernard Donnelly, the previous priest, also aided with
construction.
A parish house was added to the grounds in 1870 and a two-story brick school building in 1874
by three Sisters of Humility of Mary. Later, the congregation tore down the original church and rectory
to replace them with new buildings. Located one space north of the church, the brick building served as
a school, convent, and dormitory for pupils. At the end of term in 1880, the Sisters gave the school
building to the father of the time and left the area. From 1883 until 1890, the building became the
Hawthorne Institute, a non-sectarian school for girls. After June of 1890, the second floor of the building
became priest’s quarters and the first a place for worship services because the church building had been
declared unsafe. When a new rectory was built in 1927, the brick building was sold as a private
residence—a fire of unknown cause burned it to the ground in 1935.
Until Father Edward Mallen took over the parish in 1912, St. James did not have a resident
priest. There were only 8 to 12 families attending at the time. When Father Mallen came to Liberty the
year prior, Excelsior Springs had the only other Catholic church in Clay County. As the church was in
shambles, plans were made to construct a new one. While traveling through Rome, Italy, and Austria,
Father Mallen gathered hundreds of photos of churches and cathedrals in Europe and enlisted the help of
Mr. LaPeer, a local architect. Told to consider the size of the congregation and its financial situation,
LaPeer designed a blueprint based on Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1913 at 312 North
Water Street (which was later renumbered as 342 N. Water St.); despite incredible effort on the part of
the parishioners, the building could not be finished according to the plans due to lack of money. Father
Mallen held the first mass in 1914 on Easter Sunday, and the church was dedicated that summer. Thanks
to the effort of the congregants, the church paid its debt by the second Christmas after the building was
built.
The church was built of vitrified brick with Carthage and Bedford stone trimmings. It had a 100
foot tower with a large bell. Five years after construction, a painting of the Crucifixion by a German
painter graced the west wall of the sanctuary. Mrs. Jim McGowan donated Stations of the Cross, hand-
painted on copper, in honor of her husband. Through the generous giving and work of the congregation,
stained glass windows were installed shortly after the Stations of the Cross.

Koinonia 20
 Father Mallen served as St. James’ priest until 1955, except for a couple years of service in
Oklahoma. During Father Mallen’s time as priest, the number of parishioners increased from 170 in
1938 to 255 in 1949. It continued to grow and reached 1,650 in 1984. For a church designed to seat 400,
this presented a problem. Even before membership escalated to that point, the church tried to gather
funds for a newer and larger church in 1959; however, this dream was not realized. Instead, the church
underwent a serious renovation in 1965: a new heating/cooling system was put in place, the old altar was
replaced with a walnut alter, matching pedestals were bought to hold the tabernacle and the statue of the
Virgin Mary, new matching pews were installed, the walls of the nave were painted light blue and the
ceiling white, walnut paneling was mounted, and fluorescent cove lighting brightened the new interior.
When the Precious Blood Fathers took control of the parish in 1977, mass transferred to the
Precious Blood seminary chapel on Ruth Ewing Road because the church was too small. Although
several sites were considered, authority figures decided in 1978 that a new church would be built at 309
South Stewart Road. The property, consisting of a church, rectory, and parish offices, was finished in
1981 and dedicated on April 5, 1981. In 1996, the church expanded to include an activity center,
complete with a stage, kitchen, gym and meeting rooms; a cafeteria; music and art rooms; six more
classrooms; and more parking spaces.
After the congregation left, the church building on North Water Street faced new owners,
renovations, and the threat of demolition. In 1982, George and Normalee Carter bought St. James and
worked hard to restore it in hope that another congregation would make it their home. The Carters
cleaned up a lot of pigeon guano from the belfry, polished the bell, restored some of the windows,
removed the carpeting and cleaned the maple hard-wood floors, and used many gallons of paint. Despite
the care the Carters put into the building, no church family adopted the building; instead, Howard L.
Miller, a St. Joseph developer, purchased it sometime in the mid-1980s. Miller tried to turn it into low-
income housing, but the financing fell through so the building sat dormant for several years while he
tried to sell—Miller even offered demolition as an option while under pressure from officials concerning
code violations. Ending the debate over whether the building was worth saving, David Kimbrell bought
the church in December 1990 with the intention of launching a dinner theater. His alternative plan, if
zoning officials would not agree, was to turn it into a private residence. Neither of these plans
transpired: Kimbrell alternatively opened James Inn, a bed and breakfast, in 1993. Some officials and
citizens struggled to come to terms with the building’s new identity; however, Kimbrell and others
considered it a way of preserving history.

Koinonia 21
 Kimbrell’s dedication led to a striking finish that resulted in full rooms most weekends after only
seven months of operation (Garrison). Check-in took place at an altar with a brass cash register, above
which hung the original mural depicting the Crucifixion from 1918. Guests could relax in a whirlwind
pool in the old choir loft or an outdoor hot tub on the deck, exercise on the lower level, or check out the
library. Visitors enjoyed breakfast in a nook with 40-foot high ceilings surrounded by natural light from
25-foot high arched windows. The seven bedrooms had four-poster, queen-sized beds, a Jacuzzi, and
local antiques for décor. With the renovations also came full access for persons with disabilities.
It is unclear when James Inn sold, but the next owners, Richard Held and Matthew Wilson,
opened the Steeple Inn and Spa on October 1, 2007 (Borgedalen). According to reviews still available
online, it was well-received. Steeple Inn boasted between four and six guest quarters with queen-sized
beds fitted with handmade bedding, cable television, wireless internet access, and lofted bathrooms with
two-person jet tubs. Guests could enjoy the spa services, a hair salon, the restored sanctuary, live grand
piano music, the library, or utilize one of the meeting rooms.
In 2011, Family Bible Church of Liberty opened Kidzone Creations after the Steeple Inn closed
(“Imagine a place where your child”). Kidzone is a faith-based early learning childcare center, and
remains the current function of the address. The diverse history of 342 N. Water St. makes it a true
testament to historic preservation. Through the hard work and care of many owners, the structure has
survived threats of demolition, the discontent of city officials and residents, and times of abandonment.
With each new identity, the former St. James Catholic Church building takes a step into the future and
leaves footprints in history.

Works Cited/Consulted
Borgedalen, Angie Anaya. “Innkeepers open newest Liberty project.” Liberty Tribune. 4 Oct. 2007.
Clay County Archives. Print.
Coleman, Mike. “Liberty, Clay County, St. James (The Great) Parish.” 1991. Clay County Archives.
Print.
Eldridge, Vera Haworth. Article. Sun [Liberty, MO]. 17 Aug. 1983. Clay County Archives. Print.
Fisher, Kevin. “History of St. James Parish 1830-1914.” Clay County Archives. Print.

Koinonia 22
 Garbus, Kelly. “Now it’s OK to sleep in church.” Kansas City Star. 27 April 1993. Print.
Garraghan, Gilbert J. Catholic Beginnings in Kansas City, Mo. Loyola University Press, Chicago, Ill.
Rpt. “Liberty Parish.” Clay County Archives. Print.
Garrison, Dale. “James Inn mixes past and present in Liberty.” Kansas City Star. 16 Jan. 1994.
“Historical Summary of St. James Parish Liberty, MO.” Clay County Archives. Print.
“Imagine a place where your child.” Kidzone Creations. 26 March 2012. Web.
“Liberty Clay County St. James (The Greater) Parish.” This Far By Faith. Vol. II. Marceline, MO:
Walsworth Pub. Co., 1992. Clay County Archives. Print.
McMaster, Kady. “Old Liberty church gets a new owner.” Kansas City Star. 3 Jan. 1991. Clay County
Archives. Print.
Rooney, Mrs. James S..“History of St. James Catholic Church.” 1968. Clay County Archives. Print.
“Steeple Inn & Spa, Liberty.” Yahoo Inc.!. Yahoo Travel. 28 March 2012. Web.
“Steeple Inn & Spa, Liberty, Missouri.” InnSite. 28 March 2012. Web.
“St. James Parish History.” St. James Catholic Church. 2012. 7 March 2012. Web.

Note: We couldn't track down the author and since it is available on the google forum with good faith we have
published it in its entirety to help folks understand the historicity of this building. Thanks to the author!
Bishop Leo Michael And below is the interior of St. James restored! To God be the Glory ! All @ St. James!

Koinonia 23
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Faith As the Lord Taught, As the Apostles Preached

As the Fathers of the Church Preserved
www.HolyCatholicAnglican.org

Publication of the Anglican Province of the

Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite
St.. James Anglican Cathedral
342 N Water St, Liberty MO 64068