Fall 2021 Mini-Synod
A quorum of the clergy members of the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas met in Synod the afternoon of October 17, 2021.
The first item on the agenda was a fruitful discussion about being familiar with other forms of Christian Worship beyond those in which we were raised. As an ecumenically oriented jurisdiction—in which chaplaincy takes a place of honor—we were encouraged to become familiar with the wide spectrum of options for worship so as to be able to serve the largest number of persons sent out way.
The bulk of the gathering was spent in a preliminary discussion of how we are going to choose a successor to the current bishop. +David has informed us that he would like to lay hands on his successor—a “bishop coadjutor with the right of succession”—so as to keep the succession he received within our body. In addition to discussions of the “process” we also acknowledged that this will be a time in which we will also determine what we want our body to look like as we prepare for the next generation.
The first item on the agenda was a fruitful discussion about being familiar with other forms of Christian Worship beyond those in which we were raised. As an ecumenically oriented jurisdiction—in which chaplaincy takes a place of honor—we were encouraged to become familiar with the wide spectrum of options for worship so as to be able to serve the largest number of persons sent out way.
The bulk of the gathering was spent in a preliminary discussion of how we are going to choose a successor to the current bishop. +David has informed us that he would like to lay hands on his successor—a “bishop coadjutor with the right of succession”—so as to keep the succession he received within our body. In addition to discussions of the “process” we also acknowledged that this will be a time in which we will also determine what we want our body to look like as we prepare for the next generation.
Name Change of The Chapel
Upon prayerful reflection the name of Father John's new chapel has been changed to Christ the King Chapel.
Third Quarterly Mini-Synod of 2021
The members of the clericus voted to forgo a Summer Mini-Synod. We will schedule our next meeting sometime in the Fall.
Towards the Establishment of Christ Chapel
Second Quarterly Mini-Synod of 2021
On Sunday, April 18, 2021, the clericus affiliated with the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas met for our second quarterly Mini Synod of 2021 via the medium of ZOOM. Five clerics were present and discussed our current calls. We also received status reports from two of our members who needed to be absent.
Your prayer support would be appreciated …
• for discernment over one call for the establishment of a new chapel and healing ministry to be planted in the greater Boston area;
• for the successful transition and housing needs of our new missionary in North Carolina;
• for one cleric who is starting to study Spanish to better meet the needs of new comers in his ministry area;
• for direction for the establishment of a Chapel, Outreach and Community Center for the LGBTQ+ community in West Virginia;
• for our ministries of presence in both Maine and Massachusetts;
• for discernment over the possible establishment of a retreat house in Massachusetts;
• for a new day job for one of our clerics who is a worker-priest;
• for health needs for two of our clerics suffering from respiratory matters; and,
• for one of our clerics working towards licensure requirements.
Some of the newer ventures will need financial backing so we are also asking the Lord to provide the wherewithal and call new benefactors to join us in supporting our ministries.
Thank you to all who heeded our request for prayer support during the hours of our mini-synod. May the LORD bless you for your kindness.
Your prayer support would be appreciated …
• for discernment over one call for the establishment of a new chapel and healing ministry to be planted in the greater Boston area;
• for the successful transition and housing needs of our new missionary in North Carolina;
• for one cleric who is starting to study Spanish to better meet the needs of new comers in his ministry area;
• for direction for the establishment of a Chapel, Outreach and Community Center for the LGBTQ+ community in West Virginia;
• for our ministries of presence in both Maine and Massachusetts;
• for discernment over the possible establishment of a retreat house in Massachusetts;
• for a new day job for one of our clerics who is a worker-priest;
• for health needs for two of our clerics suffering from respiratory matters; and,
• for one of our clerics working towards licensure requirements.
Some of the newer ventures will need financial backing so we are also asking the Lord to provide the wherewithal and call new benefactors to join us in supporting our ministries.
Thank you to all who heeded our request for prayer support during the hours of our mini-synod. May the LORD bless you for your kindness.
LENT 2021 in The Mission Diocese
DURING LENT WE ARE TAKING NAMES …
Special Masses will be offered every weekday of Lent [M-F] at our oratory in Medford and we invite you to submit your intentions to DailyMass@themissiondiocese.rocks.
A special Healing Mass will be offered on most Fridays of Lent at our oratory on Cape Cod. We invite you to send your petitions to Healing@themissiondiocese.rocks.
Our weekly Memorial Masses for our beloved dead will continue to be celebrated on the Saturdays of Lent and we invite you to submit the names of those you would like remembered to Memorial@themissiondiocese.rocks.
Ongoing prayer requests may also be submitted and will be shared with our clergy members and friends in Massachusetts, West Virginia, New Mexico, Maine, and New Jersey. Your ongoing prayer requests should be sent to Prayers@themissiondiocese.rocks
Remember there are no charges or fees or suggested donations; this is not a fund raiser for The Mission Diocese, this is our Lenten gift to you.
Nevertheless, as Lent is a time for almsgiving, we suggest that donations to your local food bank or feeding program in this time of great food insecurity would be very appropriate.
Blessings and prayers for a Holy Lent …
+David
Special Masses will be offered every weekday of Lent [M-F] at our oratory in Medford and we invite you to submit your intentions to DailyMass@themissiondiocese.rocks.
A special Healing Mass will be offered on most Fridays of Lent at our oratory on Cape Cod. We invite you to send your petitions to Healing@themissiondiocese.rocks.
Our weekly Memorial Masses for our beloved dead will continue to be celebrated on the Saturdays of Lent and we invite you to submit the names of those you would like remembered to Memorial@themissiondiocese.rocks.
Ongoing prayer requests may also be submitted and will be shared with our clergy members and friends in Massachusetts, West Virginia, New Mexico, Maine, and New Jersey. Your ongoing prayer requests should be sent to Prayers@themissiondiocese.rocks
Remember there are no charges or fees or suggested donations; this is not a fund raiser for The Mission Diocese, this is our Lenten gift to you.
Nevertheless, as Lent is a time for almsgiving, we suggest that donations to your local food bank or feeding program in this time of great food insecurity would be very appropriate.
Blessings and prayers for a Holy Lent …
+David
First Quarterly Mini-Synod of 2021
On Sunday, January 17, 2021, the clericus affiliated with the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas met for our first quarterly Mini Synod of 2021 via the medium of ZOOM. Among the topics discussed were clergy licensure, the relationship of clergy to their bishop, and the distribution of the Holy Eucharist during this time of pandemic. Plans were also discussed for a possible Lenten Series via ZOOM.
First Quarterly Mini-Synod of the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas
On Sunday, October 18, 2020, 85% of the clericus affiliated with the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas met in the first of what will now be quarterly Mini Synods via the medium of ZOOM. It was a wonderful time of celebrating our communion, talking vocations, and caring for one another in the midst of the worldwide pandemic. [Lest anyone accuse us of "putting on airs" some may wish to note that for us 85% means six out of our seven members.]
April 28, 2020
On April 28, 2020, Bishop David welcomed ANTHEM MINISTRIES OF NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA into the family of our Mission Diocese. The Rev. Jennifer Jones-Sales serves as pastoral administrator.
February 9, 2020
On Sunday, February 9, 2020, David was guest preacher at the First United Methodist Church of Hamilton [located in South Hamilton, MA].
Feast of Saint Nicholas (2019)
Troparion of Saint Nicholas [Antiochian Orthodox]
You were revealed to your flock as a measure of faith.
You were the image of humility and a teacher of self-control.
Because of your humble life, heaven was opened to you.
Because of your poverty, spiritual riches were granted to you.
O holy Bishop Nicholas we cry out to you:
Pray to Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
You were revealed to your flock as a measure of faith.
You were the image of humility and a teacher of self-control.
Because of your humble life, heaven was opened to you.
Because of your poverty, spiritual riches were granted to you.
O holy Bishop Nicholas we cry out to you:
Pray to Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Emergency Wedding
Often the work of the clergy of The Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas is hidden in that we minister to folks at profoundly personal moments that don't lead themselves to photos and videos. One ministry where the presence of cameras seems very inappropriate is our Hospice Work. Last night we had a rare picture snapped by a family member as a Wedding was held by a Hospice patient's hospital bed. Our greatest joy is to be able to bring Christ's love into these very private times. As we give thanks for Father John's work in Hospice, please also pray for the newlyweds and their families.
Fall 2019 Clergy Gathering
On Saturday, November 2, clergy affiliated with the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas gathered at the Bishop's Residence for a celebration of Holy Eucharist, a shared meal, and a time of fellowship and discussion.
Among the topics discussed were ministry to folks abandoned by their own clergy and the need to recruit vocations to our ordained ministry.
Copies of the latest version of the Saint Nicholas Liturgy -- the proper liturgy for our diocese -- were distributed.
Thank you to all who prayed for us.
Please email Bishop David for additional information via eldadandmedad@aol.com.
Among the topics discussed were ministry to folks abandoned by their own clergy and the need to recruit vocations to our ordained ministry.
Copies of the latest version of the Saint Nicholas Liturgy -- the proper liturgy for our diocese -- were distributed.
Thank you to all who prayed for us.
Please email Bishop David for additional information via eldadandmedad@aol.com.
Synod 2019
The clergy of the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas and their invited guests gathered in Hyannis, Massachusetts over the weekend of April 26-28, 2019 for their Synod 2019. Participating were Bishop David Dismas (Medford, MA), Pastor Carol Bolstad (Hyannis, MA), Pastor Rebecca Sommer-Petersen (Dover, MA) and Father John F. Sugden, Jr. (Dover, MA) and our guests Pastor Michael Edwards (New Jersey), Bishop Joseph Menna and Father Shane Neese (Pennsylvania) and Dr. Julie Lytle (Hyannis, MA).
Check out our new Facebook pages
Both The Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas and The Prayer Society of Saint Florian have instituted Facebook pages as of October 2018. Please find us, check us out, and like our pages. Thank you.
Spring 2018 Clergy Gathering
On Saturday, May 12, clergy affiliated with the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas met at the Bishop's Residence for a shared meal, celebration of Holy Eucharist, and a time of fellowship and discussion. The afternoon ended up as a celebration of our unique approach to ministry when compared with other member jurisdictions within the Independent Sacramental Movement. Then followed an impromptu discussion of Apostolic Succession, Apostolic Tradition, and what is necessary for a catholic church to consider itself Catholic. We have proposed to have similar gatherings at least once each calendar quarter, i.e., Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
Establishment of the Mission Diocese
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Peace and Apostolic Benediction to all the Faithful in Christ.
Be it known that I, David Dismas, by the grace of God and in apostolic tradition, exercising my office as Bishop in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, in the Town of Framingham, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in The United States of America, in the year after the incarnation of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ Two Thousand Seventeen, being also the eighteenth year since my episcopal consecration, and by the powers conferred upon me thereby—in light of the recent dissolution of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh, and after requests by certain of the clergy then under my episcopal care for me to continue as the grantor of their ministerial faculties—have this day established The Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas as an autocephalous, non-territorial missionary jurisdiction within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, with dependence upon neither the former Diocese of Rumney Marsh nor any other ecclesiastical body notwithstanding those Communions and Fellowships with which we will choose to voluntarily associate.
Given this third day of December, Two Thousand Seventeen—being also the First Sunday of Advent—at my residence in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.
+ David Dismas, bishop
Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas
Peace and Apostolic Benediction to all the Faithful in Christ.
Be it known that I, David Dismas, by the grace of God and in apostolic tradition, exercising my office as Bishop in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, in the Town of Framingham, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in The United States of America, in the year after the incarnation of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ Two Thousand Seventeen, being also the eighteenth year since my episcopal consecration, and by the powers conferred upon me thereby—in light of the recent dissolution of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh, and after requests by certain of the clergy then under my episcopal care for me to continue as the grantor of their ministerial faculties—have this day established The Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas as an autocephalous, non-territorial missionary jurisdiction within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, with dependence upon neither the former Diocese of Rumney Marsh nor any other ecclesiastical body notwithstanding those Communions and Fellowships with which we will choose to voluntarily associate.
Given this third day of December, Two Thousand Seventeen—being also the First Sunday of Advent—at my residence in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.
+ David Dismas, bishop
Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas
