HOUSE OF LAITY
February Fellowship
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The word “February” comes from februa, Latin for purification. In ancient Rome, it was a month for ritual cleansing.
As Lent is upon us, we are invited to participate in some spiritual house cleaning. As Psalm 51 pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
Purification begins with naming injustices. During Lent, prepare not only for ashes but for transformation. We ask our Divine source to give us courage, clarity, persistence and trust. Cleanse our hearts of fear. Make us people of extraordinary truth, extraordinary compassion, and extraordinary faithfulness. Refine our love into action. Amen.
Excerpts from the Hon. Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias
from Extraordinary Catholics
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This month, we remember the trailblazers
who dared to dream,
break barriers,
and inspire generations.
Every story of courage,
creativity,
and
determination
reminds us that history is alive
in our everyday choices and achievements.
Let's honor the past by building a brighter, more inclusive future!
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As we celebrated Black History Month,
It’s important to remember this:
Our history is not defined by our oppression.
Slavery is not black history,
It is a reflection of white history.
Black history is about our resilience,
Our joy that survived despite attempts to erase it,
Our culture, creativity, brilliance and community.
It’s about what we built,
Loved,
Protected
and
Passed down
Even while navigating systems designed to break us.
If Black History Month only focuses on our suffering,
It misses the point entirely.
We will not be defined
By what was done to us,
But by what
We continue to build.
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10 FIRSTS TO HONOR
During Black History Month
1. Phyllis Wheatley was the first African American author to publish a book of poetry.
2. Madam C.J. Walker was the first African American female self-made millionaire.
3. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
4. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to travel to space.
5. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military pilots in the U.S. Armed Forces.
6. Barack Obama became the first African American President of the United States of America in 2008.
7. Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to be integrated into an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960.
8. Daniel Hale Williams founded the first African American-owned Hospital in America in 1891 and performed the world’s first successful heart surgery in 1893.
9. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball.
10. Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman
elected to the U.S. Congress.
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At All Souls, we collected items for Berks Coalition to End Homelessness.
In February, we are participating in the Help A Girl Out Campaign. We are collecting sanitary products and diapers to distribute to women and young girls who may not be able to afford these products.
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All Souls members participated in the ICE Out protest that was held on Saturday, February14. Early estimates are that over 1000 people participated in the protest.
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All Souls is participating in A Good Thyme for Life.
This is a dine out event that is held the first week in March. Area restaurants participate in the event on a specific day during the week and donate a portion of their proceeds to Co-County Wellness Services.
All Souls is a host for two local restaurants. This year, we will have close to 30 raffle baskets. All proceeds will be donated.
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Several members from the Rocky Mountain Region ECC attended a Region wide workshop; "Compassionate Listening- Healing Our World from the Inside Out"
This workshop provided core practices of compassionate listening including:
+Cultivating compassion for oneself and others-including forgiveness,
+Suspending judgment/becoming a fair witness,
+Maintaining balance in the heat of conflict/managing our triggers,
+Listening and Speaking from the heart.
This workshop provided a foundation for continued growth and exploration while building trust, connection and respectful dialogue.
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Facilitator, Julia Halaby, explains listening for facts, feelings and values as central to compassionate listening.
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Members and friends of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion who attended the compassionate listening seminar.
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The Light of Christ adult formation committee has a social justice book collection as a lending library. During the month of February, all are invited to check out a book to celebrate the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans.
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HOLY ANGELS CHURCH
Santa Ana, California
Community Updates
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Field Trip Reflection
Holy Angels recently organized a field trip to the Shroud of Turin exhibition at Christ’s Cathedral in Orange County. It was a wonderful experience exploring the exhibition, the cathedral, and the surrounding grounds.
We particularly enjoyed the Rosary Garden, which offered a beautiful opportunity to experience the rosary while walking through each Mystery represented by artwork. Pictured is the Annunciation from the Joyful Mystery.
The exhibit also included a projection of the likeness of Jesus based on deep images from the Shroud.
Opportunities like these greatly enrich our community life and strengthen our relationships with one another.
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WELCOME MARIA BUDGETT
TO
HOL STEERING COMMITTEE
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The HOL Steering Committee is delighted to welcome Maria Budgett as our newest member.
Maria joins us from Holy Trinity Church in Long Beach, California, where she is an active and inspiring leader, especially with the youth.
Through MMS grants, she led a successful and spirit-filled youth program, offering CPR training, self-care classes for youth navigating stressful times, and joyful gatherings like movie nights. Maria also volunteers as a Bible study teacher, nurturing faith and community among parishioners.
We are grateful for her ministry
and look forward to working together
in this new season.
| | CALL FOR SYNOD VOLUNTEERS | |
MMS YOUTH and YOUNG ADULTS
SYNOD GRANT
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Mary Magdalene Society Advisory Committee
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Dear Friends,
Are you looking for a way to volunteer a little time for a very worthwhile cause?
Would you like to see children and teens learn about the Catholic faith as we practice it in ECC?
Would you like to see our ECC Clergy team grow?
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Our Mary Magdalene Society (MMS) may be what you are looking for! This is a group dedicated to fundraising for clergy development and youth activities. It was established by long-time members of the ECC to build a strong faith community.
We are looking for a few of our precious ECC members
to help guide our Society through membership
on our Advisory Committee.
Committee members meet by Zoom once each quarter, participate in MMS fundraising activities, and make decisions about distributing the funds raised for clergy development and youth activities.
If you have questions or are interested in serving,
please contact our Committee Chair:
Sheila Leander Kis
at sheilalean@gmail.com
or 636-448-8317
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February 2026
Dear ECC Communities,
Greetings from the ECC Finance Ministry. We hope this message finds you well. We want to share an update on the financial status of the Communion as we begin 2026. Included here is the 2025 Year-end Financial statement.
We extend our gratitude to all those working in the ECC Finance Ministry; Christine Garst (Emmaus ECC, Washington State) for her continued service as Treasurer and to Mary Vonderheide (St. Louis, MO), who remains our OPB Finance Administrator; John O’Grady and Leo Champagne (St. Francis ECC, Largo, FL), who continue as Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, along with the other dedicated members, Paula Hayford and Claudia Kilby. All their efforts — and your ongoing support — ensure the continued financial stability of the ECC.
We deeply appreciate your continued cooperation, stewardship, and commitment to the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. Your faithful financial partnership allows us to carry out our mission with integrity and strength. Thank you for being a part of the Team: Team ECC.
We recently sent out letters to all of our ECC communities with the 2026 Financial Reporting Letter and 2026 Tithing Worksheet. If you did not receive this, please let us know. finance@ecumenicalcatholics.net
May God bless the ECC Communities with a healthy, prosperous, and Spirit-filled New Year.
With gratitude and blessings,
Leo Champagne & John O’Grady
ECC Finance Co-Chairs
Christine Garst
ECC Treasurer
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Have you had the opportunity to participate in the Healthy Boundaries training program that your ECC Community offers?
Please contact them for more information!
| | HOL Steering Committee Members | | |
Chair:
Claudia Kilby, Holy Angels, CA
claudia.kilby@gmail.com
Co-Vice Chairs:
Erin Duffy-Burke, Dorothy Day House Church, St. Louis, MO
erinduffyburke@gmail.com
John Duffy-Burke, Dorothy Day House Church, St. Louis, MO
jburkebze08@gmail.com
Ben Renkus, All Saints ECC, Reading, PA
brenkus1502@gmail.com
Christine Garst, Emmaus, Olympia, WA
cbgarstecc@gmail.com
John O’Grady and Leo Champagne, St. Francis, Largo, FL
johnnleo@yahoo.com
Mary Lu Stenson, Rocky Mountain Region, Colorado
luloc@comcast.net
Paula Hayford, Charis ECC, Eden Prairie, MN
eoldoulaoshkosh@gmail.com
Thomas Klein, Charis ECC, Eden Prairie, MN
tjklein13@me.com
Victoria Greene, Holy Angels, CA
gingygirl1427@gmail.com
Wendy Boyd, All Saints ECC, Reading, PA
allsoulsecc@gmail.com
Maria Budgett, Holy Trinity Church, Long Beach, CA
tmbudgett@yahoo.com
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This Newsletter was created by the House of Laity with Carolyn Sue Cecil. Please send any questions and inquires to Claudia Kilby claudia.kilby@gmail.com or Mary Lu Stenson luloc@comcast.net.
All photos in this newsletter were taken by Bishop Pablo Burson, Tom Moos, Carolyn Sue Cecil, members of All Souls, Holy Angels and Light of Christ. Other graphics used with permission from Pixaby.com.
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