The Order of St. Joseph
Is an ecumenical order of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, formerly the Liberal catholic Apostolic Church. The Order was promulgated on the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity on the 18th September in the year of Our Lord 2011. The Order of St Joseph is an ecumenical ecclesial order recognizing and revering the qualities to honour the memory of St Joseph. The Order has no historic or present connection with any other Order bearing the name of St. Joseph. The character of the Order is that of a religious order of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church which is specifically fraternal and Christian in nature. The Order is not a secular order of chivalry.
The Order fulfills the following purposes:
1. to honour the memory of St Joseph and the valiant qualities he represented.
2. to encourage members to commit themselves further to the service of Christ in a chivalric and fraternal spirit.
3. to recognise meritorious service among members of the Church.
4. to further ecumenical relations with other Churches and similar bodies.
Governance
1. The Order is in the specific gift of the Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, as Archbishop-Abbot of the Order.
2. The Archbishop-Abbot may appoint such First Class members of the Order as necessary for the efficient governance of the Order from time to time.
Membership
1. Membership of the Order is available to both men and women who are baptised Christians over the age of twenty one years.
2. Although it is intended that membership of the Order be conferred for life, members wishing to resign their membership may do so in writing to the Archbishop-Abbot, but having resigned, may not be readmitted.
3. Members may be removed for cause. A member facing proceeedings for their removal shall first be entitled to a hearing before the Archbishop-Abbot. A member who is removed may not wear the decorations or use titles of the Order.
4. Clergy of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church and Ordinariate Churches become eligible for appointment at the bequest of the Archbishop-Abbot.
Classes of Membership
There are two Classes of Membership:
1. Members in the First Class shall be persons, lay or ordained, who are members of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church according to its definitions of membership.
2. Members of the Second Class shall be persons, usually ordained, who are senior members of other churches which enjoy ecumenical dialogue and relations with the Old Catholic Apostolic Church.
Members of the Order may use the postnominals of O. S. J
Application for membership is given to candidates who must be members of either of the two Classes given above, and nominated by a member of the clergy of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church on the basis of personal knowledge and proven merit. Lay members of the public not having any connection with the Church and not being members of either of the two Classes given above are ineligible for any form of membership. There are no passage fees associated with application for membership.
Oath of Allegiance
Incoming Members shall commit themselves to the Order via the following Oath of Allegiance:
I (name), a poor sinner, acknowledge that the Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross has redeemed mankind and secured salvation for the world. Now before God and ny brothers and sisters I take myself the commitments of a members of the Valiant Order of St Joseph. In so doing , I do solemnly swear allegiance to Jesus Christ my Saviour and to His One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I recognise the mission of the glorious St Joseph and pray that I may follow worthily his example in the way of Truth, Courage and Valour, to this end, I pray that God will give me strength and faith according to His will. Amen.
Insignia
The insignia and mantle of the Order shall be promulgated from time to time. As an alternative to the Order's own insignia, all members may wear a Relic medal of St. Joseph. The medal may be suspended from the neck by a purple cord or ribbon.
St Joseph is the man God ordained to be both protector and provider to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ. He represents the saintly integration of faith in both private and public life. For him, there was no conflict between the sacred roles of believer, spouse, parent and worker. He is the perfect example of a fully integrated man and therefore, a perfect role model for all men and women of today.
The role of the Order is to bring all men and women together in a deeper, personal commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church.
Members are also encouraged to;
say prayers in the morning, followed by the Litany of St Joseph;
offer prayers at noon time - The Angelus;
offer prayers at Night with spouse and family members;
say a Chaplet to St Joseph once a week;
offer their work to Our Lord;
perform spiritual or corporal works of mercy
Colours associated with St Joseph are ; white, gold and purple.
Is an ecumenical order of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, formerly the Liberal catholic Apostolic Church. The Order was promulgated on the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity on the 18th September in the year of Our Lord 2011. The Order of St Joseph is an ecumenical ecclesial order recognizing and revering the qualities to honour the memory of St Joseph. The Order has no historic or present connection with any other Order bearing the name of St. Joseph. The character of the Order is that of a religious order of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church which is specifically fraternal and Christian in nature. The Order is not a secular order of chivalry.
The Order fulfills the following purposes:
1. to honour the memory of St Joseph and the valiant qualities he represented.
2. to encourage members to commit themselves further to the service of Christ in a chivalric and fraternal spirit.
3. to recognise meritorious service among members of the Church.
4. to further ecumenical relations with other Churches and similar bodies.
Governance
1. The Order is in the specific gift of the Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, as Archbishop-Abbot of the Order.
2. The Archbishop-Abbot may appoint such First Class members of the Order as necessary for the efficient governance of the Order from time to time.
Membership
1. Membership of the Order is available to both men and women who are baptised Christians over the age of twenty one years.
2. Although it is intended that membership of the Order be conferred for life, members wishing to resign their membership may do so in writing to the Archbishop-Abbot, but having resigned, may not be readmitted.
3. Members may be removed for cause. A member facing proceeedings for their removal shall first be entitled to a hearing before the Archbishop-Abbot. A member who is removed may not wear the decorations or use titles of the Order.
4. Clergy of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church and Ordinariate Churches become eligible for appointment at the bequest of the Archbishop-Abbot.
Classes of Membership
There are two Classes of Membership:
1. Members in the First Class shall be persons, lay or ordained, who are members of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church according to its definitions of membership.
2. Members of the Second Class shall be persons, usually ordained, who are senior members of other churches which enjoy ecumenical dialogue and relations with the Old Catholic Apostolic Church.
Members of the Order may use the postnominals of O. S. J
Application for membership is given to candidates who must be members of either of the two Classes given above, and nominated by a member of the clergy of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church on the basis of personal knowledge and proven merit. Lay members of the public not having any connection with the Church and not being members of either of the two Classes given above are ineligible for any form of membership. There are no passage fees associated with application for membership.
Oath of Allegiance
Incoming Members shall commit themselves to the Order via the following Oath of Allegiance:
I (name), a poor sinner, acknowledge that the Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross has redeemed mankind and secured salvation for the world. Now before God and ny brothers and sisters I take myself the commitments of a members of the Valiant Order of St Joseph. In so doing , I do solemnly swear allegiance to Jesus Christ my Saviour and to His One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I recognise the mission of the glorious St Joseph and pray that I may follow worthily his example in the way of Truth, Courage and Valour, to this end, I pray that God will give me strength and faith according to His will. Amen.
Insignia
The insignia and mantle of the Order shall be promulgated from time to time. As an alternative to the Order's own insignia, all members may wear a Relic medal of St. Joseph. The medal may be suspended from the neck by a purple cord or ribbon.
St Joseph is the man God ordained to be both protector and provider to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ. He represents the saintly integration of faith in both private and public life. For him, there was no conflict between the sacred roles of believer, spouse, parent and worker. He is the perfect example of a fully integrated man and therefore, a perfect role model for all men and women of today.
The role of the Order is to bring all men and women together in a deeper, personal commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church.
Members are also encouraged to;
say prayers in the morning, followed by the Litany of St Joseph;
offer prayers at noon time - The Angelus;
offer prayers at Night with spouse and family members;
say a Chaplet to St Joseph once a week;
offer their work to Our Lord;
perform spiritual or corporal works of mercy
Colours associated with St Joseph are ; white, gold and purple.
