Our Presiding Bishop
and
Our Beginnings
Our organizational beginnings date back to 1987 when Bishop Matthew saw a need for a Catholic Church that did not have the “man-made” controls of the long-existing churches. As a Priest, he had a longing in his spirit for a church that was traditionally Catholic in its essence; that permitted the faithful to grow, each individual according to personal needs and desires through the Grace of God.
Having experienced limits and rejections of the Roman Catholic Church, he searched and prayed for some possible way to make the way clear for his own personal needs and to reach out to the faithful – so that he and others could grow and experience the full potentials of being a Christian and Catholic.
Along with the limits and controls placed on individuals within the institutional Catholic Church that he had been a part of, he realized that the church seemed to place more importance on faith in the church and its hierarchal authorities than it did on the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. Members of that church were, for the most part, aware of Jesus as Savior; but they did not have that personal experience of really knowing Jesus. More often than not, the faithful experienced fear more than the Love of God. This fact consumed his spirit to the point that he was determined to find a way.
He had left the Roman Catholic Church by that time and later came to realize that there were ‘independent’ Catholic Churches, which functioned quite well in spite of the Roman church. These independent churches viewed the Pope as the “Bishop of Rome” as it was originally intended for him to be.
Having investigated many possibilities of independent Catholicism, he contemplated the possibilities of ‘linking together’ clergy member of various independent Catholic churches as a means of extending the availability of ministering to the faithful. He did not desire that these independent churches become united as an organized church, but simply to make themselves available to each other. But this was not to be.
It was quickly discovered that within the independent churches were many clergy members who also had no desire to affiliate with others of like intent. Again, a letdown.
After more seeking, prayer, and consideration, he sought other priests who had left the Roman Catholic Church, or Orthodox Churches, but were not in communion with any other church organization. The idea was to explore the possibilities of simply organizing them together as a group to independently minister as priests. Thus, at that time, the name: “The Independent Catholic Alliance” did come into being. This undertaking proved to be short-lived in its growth since, in short time, other clergy members decided that they preferred to exercise their priesthood under the direct authority of a bishop which the “Independent Catholic Alliance” did not have as an immediate superior over its priests. (And, it must be noted here that in all reality a priest must function under the direction and authority of a bishop.) The number of priests within the “Independent Catholic Alliance” eventually diminished to the point of there being only a few left.
Again, more prayer and thought were needed. After conferring with the fellow priests who were left in the “Independent Catholic Alliance”, it was agreed that we should have a bishop. It was further agreed that the authority of the bishops within “Independent Catholic Alliance” would be limited so as not to have the ‘controls’ that were found in so many other Catholic churches.
On June2, 1996 he was consecrated as a bishop and elevated to Presiding Bishop of “Independent Catholic Alliance”. Now we would have a bishop to ordain deacons and priests, to preside at other appropriate functions – yet at the same time we could afford our clergy and faithful the freedom to grow in love and service of Christ without the habitual controls that others have had to experience.
We envisioned and planned more outreach to clergy and faithful. As we were to expand to other geographical areas, there would be a definite need for additional men and women to be ordained priests and consecrated bishops in order to minister to the needs of the faithful.
God had a plan and through prayer and perseverance we came to realize how to minister to a church in a way that is loving, yet non-invasive or controlling to one’s personal life.
On July 14, 1998, (the now) Bishop Matthew was ‘re-consecrated” by Archbishops within the Russian Orthodox tradition and inherited their lines of Apostolic Succession which were much stronger than those he already had.
Then, on October 30, 1998 he was consecrated to Archbishop and elevated to Metropolitan within “Independent Catholic Alliance”, bringing more ability to function as leader of this growing church.
By February 1999 there were five bishops within “Independent Catholic Alliance”; and on the last weekend of that month the first Synod of Bishops was held. The name of the church was changed to reflect its dual personalities and Bishop Matthew was elevated to Patriarch of that church.
Thus, "Patriarch Matthew I", became the first Patriarch of the “Holy Catholic and Orthodox Church”.
In early 2004, after further growth of the church to other distant areas and countries, including South America and Asia, "Patriarch Matthew I" retired as head of the “Holy Catholic and Orthodox Church”.
Patriarch Matthew continued with personal spiritual development by study and research into various teachings. After a time of personal diversified growth, found that he could include additional devotions to the Lord through Bhakti (Devotion) and include that as part of his personal spiritual life. Also, the Episcopal tradition was found to be of great joy for Patriarch Matthew, and he began to attend the local Episcopal Church. There, Patriarch Matthew found a spiritual home with acceptance, sincerity, joy, and Christian love demonstrated.
Now, Patriarch Matthew, (now to be commonly called "Brother Matthew"), would endeavor to incorporate what he had learned into an active spiritual community. Thus, we come to the beginnings of Aum Ashram, where there will be continued spiritual experiences and new growth in the Episcopal traditions along with the Bhakti traditions of devotion, all for the greater glory and love of Jesus the Christ.
Those residing at Aum Ashram will be active at the local Episcopal church as permitted, and also live an active spiritual life according to the ‘Rules’ that are to be for those residing at Aum Ashram.
Indeed, a “Viable Alternative” of growing in love of God and Bhakti devotion continues to develop in our Spiritual Life at Aum Ashram.
Our primary purpose to be on this earth is to give Devotion and Glory to God!!!
Peace and Apostolic Blessings.
+ Matthew I
(Brother Matthew - at Aum Ashram)
