The Old Catholic Diocese of Napa

Ancient Faith. Welcoming and Inclusive Church. Serving the Modern World.
Fe Anciana. Iglesia Acogedora e Inclusiva. Al Servicio del Mundo Moderno

Clergy and Incardination

Present Clergy

Deacons (of the Diocese of Napa)

The Rev. Louis Souza-Fuentes, deacon. Associate Pastor, Holy Family in Fairfield.

Priests (of the Diocese of Napa)

The Rev. Francisco Castro, priest. Pastor, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe in San Jose.

The Rev. Stephen Bartlett-Re, priest. Serves as chaplain at Laguna Honda Hospital

(owned by the County and City of San Francisco),

San Francisco, CA

The Rev. Mary Goudreau, priest. Ministers in Livermore, CA as needed.

The Rev. Joseph Jacobs, priest. Lives in Santa Cruz County.

He is establishing a parish in Santa Cruz, CA

The Rev. Reuben Martinez, priest. Retired
Clergy in Residence

Clergy Candidate in Discernment (Diocese of Napa)

Clergy under the Epsicopal Protection of the Bishop of Napa
The Rev. Linda Harrison, priest. Pastor, Emmaus Old Catholic Community, Germantown, MD. Dean, the Old Catholic Diocese of Washington, DC. For more information, go to www.efcgermantown.org or www.oldcatholiddioceseofwashingtondc.org

The Rev. John Robison, Assists at Emmaus Old Catholic Community, Germantown, MD, Old Catholic Diocese of Washington, DC. Will be planting a parish in Laurel, MD in 2017

The Old Catholic of Diocese of Washington was placed under the episcopal supervision of the Bishop of Napa in December 2010, when the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, DC resigned. The House of Bishops has deferred the election of a local bishop until such time that the Diocese of Washington DC has three parishes.
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The Rev. Michael Clancy, priest. Pastor, St. Paul the Apostle, Brooksville, FL

The Rev. Suzanne Dilts, deacon. Associate Pastor, St. Paul the Apostle, Brooksville, FL

The parish of St. Paul requested joining TOCCUSA in 2013, asking also for the incardination of its clergy. The parish and its clergy were placed under the episcopal supervision of the Bishop of Napa. The parish was incardinated in April 2014. It is hoped that a diocese can be established with local leadership elected. For more information, go to www.spcath.org.

The Rev. Robert Swick, priest. Organizing Pastor, St. Francis Mission, Clearwater, FL.
www.stfrancisclearwater.org. Fr. Swick was incardinated in 2015. He founded the mission in in January 2016.
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Clergy requesting incardination to TOCCUSA and who live outside the Church's established dioceses, may request incardination as clergy ministering in mission territory. The request, if made to any of the diocesan bishops, is taken to the House of Bishops for consideration. The House of Bishops will assign one of the bishops as the episcopal protector while incardination is pursued. Clergy requesting incardination undergo the same discernment requirements as outlined below. If the requesting clergy is a pastor of a parish or mission, the lay leadership and eventually the members of the parish, must vote to join TOCCUSA. If and when a diocese is created, the clergy and parish in mission areas will become of part of that newly created diocese.

Ordination requirements

The Diocese of Napa ordains both women and men. Clergy may be married to either gender. Unmarried clergy may reserve the right to marry after ordination or chose to remain celibate.

Persons who have privately discerned that they are under a calling and wish to be ordained should approach the Bishop of the Diocese, after consulting with one's parish clergy, to begin the application process. Under normal circumstances, the Bishop will meet with the candidate monthly for at least 6 months, praying with the candidate to confirm a calling. During the entire time, the candidate must be attending Mass regularly. If the Bishop has determined with the candidate that there may be a calling, the candidate will be assigned a discernment team comprised of laity, if possible, who will begin to meet with the candidate to confirm the calling. The discernment team will meet with the candidate at least monthly for an unspecified amount of time (minimally 6 times). It is the discernment team who will recommend to the Bishop whether the candidate should be ordained.

All candidates for ordination must earn a either a Masters degree in Theology or a Certificate in Theological Studies from a recognized theological program. Clergy without divinity degrees will still be considered for ordination; they must earn at lest 32 units in theology. The candidate for ordination must also earn a Certificate of Old Catholic Studies through TOCCUSA's Institute of Old Catholic Studies. Candidates may also undergo psychological testing, and submit to a background check. The candidate will bear the cost of testing, background check, and education.

Once the candidate has met the requirements, an ordination date will be set. All ordinations are public events.

Incardination Process

Clergy who have been ordained by a bishop who is not a a bishop of TOCCUSA will undergo a similar discernment process. Those seeking incardination must apply to the Bishop, and based upon discussions, they together will determine the length of time before being fully incardinated. Those seeking incardination must obtain in writing release from their present bishop. If the clergy person does not have a ministry or parish, the one seeking incardination must commit to founding a parish or establishing a ministry. It should be understand that parish formation is a priority of the Diocese. Faculties normally will not be extended until the incardination has taken place, unless the clergy requesting incardination has an active ministry. All incardinating clergy must undergo psychological testing, background checks, and if without a degree, agree to earn a Master’s degree in Theology or a Certificate of Theological Studies from approved theological programs. All clergy requesting incardination must also earn a Certificate of Old Catholic Studies from TOCCUSA's Institute of Old Catholic Studies.

Clergy seeking incardination who have parishes can also be incardinated, provided that the parish has voted to join the Diocese of Napa. Prior to that vote, the parish leadership will meet with the Bishop, along with their clergy. If leaving a diocese, a letter of release will need to be received from that parish's present bishop. After the leadership has met with the Bishop, a pastoral visit will take place. Even with a parish, clergy must agree to meet the educational requirements. Once the vote to become a part of the Diocese has taken place, a public reception Mass will take place at the parish's church.