Its newest church location is on Harbour Way, which provides, also, a generous meeting room, booknook, and a research library in Historic Downtown Richmond. Raphael, the Archangel, LCC has been serving the Bay Area since 1925. We invite you to join us at our newer location serving the Richmond community and environs giving Communion and solace to those in need. We offer Sunday services beginning with the Ritual to Our Lady at 10:00AM; the Holy Eucharist mass and communion for all immediately follows. Coming soon: our gift shop and book nook providing rosaries, prayer cards, and books encompassing spiritual paths and wisdom traditions. We hope you will take some time to discover what "church" stands for from the Liberal Catholic perspective and find your own individual path toward inner mystical union with God. All are welcome to join us in fellowship and are invited to explore with us our own inner mystic through the ageless wisdom that is the foundation of our Christian-oriented doctrine. Mysticism is a universal form or expression of spirituality, and as such, it cannot be limited to any one religious tradition or belief-system. Like prayer, or meditation, or worship (spiritual qualities that can exist both inside and outside of any one religious path) so, too, mysticism is an expression of spirituality that has a Jewish form, a Muslim form, a Hindu form, a Pagan form, and even a Buddhist form, as well as a Christian form. The Liberal Catholic Church/USA has its foundational roots in catholicism and in the ageless perennial wisdom, known by some as theosophy. We provide, here a synopsis of our belief system. In the words of the Rt. William Downey, Regionary Bishop of The Liberal Catholic Church, Province of the United States:
"The Liberal Catholic Church is an independent and self-governing body; neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant — but Catholic. It aims at combining the traditional sacramental form of worship — with its stately ritual, its deep mysticism and its abiding witness to the reality of sacramental grace — with the widest measure of intellectual liberty and respect for the individual conscience. It therefore permits to its members freedom in interpretation of the scriptures, the creeds and the liturgy. Regarding the mind as one of the great avenues to spiritual apprehension, it encourages among its adherents the freest play of scientific and philosophic thought. The Liberal Catholic Church is a living Christian church which maintains that the form of religion should keep pace with human spiritual growth and enlightenment; but it also holds that the church has handed down a very precious heritage from Christ himself. In short we are a progressive, non-dogmatic, mystically-oriented Christian Church that offers the Holy Eucharist to people of ALL faiths. The orders of the clergy of The Liberal Catholic Church were derived through the Old Catholic Church of Holland which became independent from Rome over two centuries ago. Through this Apostolic Succession, unbroken since the time of Christ, The Liberal Catholic Church aligns itself with the historic church in past centuries. The clergy are neither forbidden nor enjoined to marry. They serve without personal remuneration. The clergy claim no authority over the individual conscience; rather, stress is laid on their function as ministers of the Divine Sacraments, ready to serve those who may ask or need their help. A CEREMONIAL CHURCH: It teaches the Christianity of the Christ and administers the seven Sacraments which are regarded as channels of His blessing. It is a church wherein there is intellectual and religious freedom and a natural balance between ceremonial worship, devotional aspiration, scientific and mystic thought. It uses a revised Liturgy, a Liturgy devised to sound a note of joyous and uplifting aspiration. The Liberal Catholic Church welcomes all and everyone to its services, those who have faith and those who have lost faith; those who believe in the literal exposition of the scriptures and those who accept the allegorical spiritual interpretation. Above all, it wishes to serve those who are earnestly seeking spiritual enlightenment. FREEDOM OF BELIEF: The Liberal Catholic Church erects no barriers around its altars. All who come in a spirit of reverence are welcome to Holy Communion and to all other services of the Church. What opinions or beliefs an individual holds is considered to be his/her own affair. The mind that is free is in the best condition to grow. Growth into spirituality enhances the perception of truth which each one must discover for himself/herself and in his/her own way. Anything less than full mental freedom is thought to re**rd progress. Thus, our difference lies in the fact that with the ancient sacramental worship have been associated the widest measure of intellectual freedom and respect for the individual conscience.
