Who We Are

St. Joseph of Arimathea American National Catholic Church is open to all people, the children of God. As an inclusive Catholic community, we are dedicated to creating an open and welcoming church. We believe that all people, regardless of who they are or what paths their lives have taken, are welcome into the fullness of our Catholic faith.

St. Joe’s strives to preach and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and share a faith that is relevant to our times. We are a national Catholic Church embracing our Catholic faith while remaining open to change in liturgy and Church law. As a community that maintains many of the cherished traditions of the universal Catholic Church, we believe in faith in action and strive to reach out to all our brothers and sisters.

statement of principles

• We believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• We believe that all people are equal as children of God.

• We offer the seven traditional sacraments:

  • Baptism

  • Eucharist

  • Reconciliation

  • Confirmation

  • Marriage

  • Holy Orders

  • Anointing of the Sick

• We practice an open communion, inviting all people to our Lord’s table.

• We believe in the endurance of love and that it knows no gender. For this reason, we administer the Sacrament of Marriage to all, including gay and lesbian couples.

• We encourage those who have entered into the Sacrament of Marriage to work and pray for the success of their lifelong commitment.

• We also recognize that marriage can fail for many reasons. When divorce becomes necessary, those who have experienced it remain fully embraced within our Catholic community.

• No one who is called shall be refused the Sacrament of Holy Orders (Ordination) based on sex, race, sexual orientation, or social condition.

• We welcome all to worship with us, no matter their circumstances. All shall be loved, affirmed, and respected within this community.

  This statement of Principles was adopted by a unanimous vote of the parish on March 30, 2008

what we believe

The American National Catholic Church affirms the core beliefs of the Christian faith as expressed in the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith shared by Catholics and many other Christian traditions.

While we are rooted in Catholic theology and tradition, there are aspects of our practice and teaching that visitors often have questions about. To help you better understand who we are, we have outlined some of these distinctive elements below. We also invite you to explore the ANCC's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more in-depth information.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Ordained Ministry

The American National Catholic Church embraces the traditional threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons. While we believe that the work of the Church is the shared responsibility of all the faithful, we also recognize that some are called to sacramental ministry through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Those who serve in ordained ministry are not considered superior to others. They are called by God to be examples of holiness and to serve in a unique way within the sacramental life of the Church.

Clerical Celibacy

Clergy in the American National Catholic Church are not required to take a vow of celibacy. Following the example of the apostles and the early Church, our clergy are free to marry and raise families.

Because of this, they understand firsthand the blessings and challenges that come with the Sacrament of Matrimony. Their lived experience helps them to walk with others in faith, compassion, and understanding.

Women Priests

A vocation is a calling from God. In the American National Catholic Church, we believe that the call to ordained ministry is not limited by gender. Women are fully eligible for ordination to the diaconate, the priesthood and may also be called to serve in the episcopal office of bishop.

Gay and Lesbian Inclusiveness

Contemporary understanding affirms that sexual orientation is an inherent part of a person’s identity. We believe that some of God’s children are gay or lesbian because God, in divine wisdom and love, has created them that way. All of God’s creation is good, and we fully welcome our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters into the life of the Church.

We do not support sacramental restrictions based on sexual orientation. For this reason, we joyfully celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony with same-sex couples and welcome the ordination of qualified individuals who are called by God, regardless of their orientation.

The Papacy

The pope, as the bishop of Rome, holds a unique and historically significant role in the life of the Church. He is recognized as the “first among equals” among the world’s bishops. Out of respect for this office, we hold the pope in high regard and include him in our prayers, along with the ecumenical patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople and Jerusalem.

At the same time, we align ourselves with the beliefs of the early undivided Church. In keeping with that tradition, we do not hold that the pope is infallible or that he possesses universal jurisdiction over the entire Church.

Conciliar Model

The American National Catholic Church (ANCC) follows a conciliar model of governance, which emphasizes shared decision-making and local autonomy. Individual parish communities govern and operate independently, while still adhering to a core set of church-wide policies and standards. Clergy across the ANCC are held to a unified set of requirements for acceptance into ordained ministry, ensuring consistency and accountability throughout the Church.

Our Worship

The American National Catholic Church is a Christian community of believers who worship in the Catholic Tradition. The official liturgy of the Church is the Novus Ordo, the mass of Paul VI, that was promulgated following the Second Vatican Council.

We worship using the liturgical form of the Roman Missal 2nd Edition and not the Roman Missal 3rd Edition as initiated by the Roman Church on the first Sunday of Advent, 2011. This means, we are "and also with you" Catholics, not "and with your spirit" Catholics. Our liturgical form of worship is very consistent with the Roman Church and similar to the liturgy used by Anglicans. We would love you to join us for worship.