The Eldad and Medad Project
AKA The Mission Ordinariate of Eldad and Medad
Saint Ignatius of Antioch (1st c. A.D) is quoted as saying: "Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.'' Some, through the history of the Christian Church, have taken this to mean that each validly consecrated bishop gathers around him or herself a valid expression of the Body of Christ—namely, a "local Church."
As this term implied, the Local Church was originally viewed as a single entity—later a "group" of parishes, missions, or ministries that were geographically "local" or nearby. According to this understanding of Church polity (governance), many, many local churches existed throughout the Catholic (Universal) Church. Each local church was united under a local bishop as the Universal Church was (is) united under the headship of Jesus Christ.
The Eldad and Medad Project [AKA The Mission Ordinariate of Eldad and Medad] builds upon this understanding of Church polity. A "local church" existing under the pastoral jurisdiction of a bishop—currently David Dismas—we are headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts. Yet, in the modern age when travel is much easier and, for that matter, folks can be in visual contact in an instant via electronic means, this idea of what constitutes the “local church” can be, and has been, expanded significantly.
We believe that no parish, mission or ministry should try to "go it alone" without the support and oversight of a bishop and invite any and all unattached Catholic Christian ministries and missionaries to consider aligning with our Ordinariate. While currently limiting our idea of “local” to the continental United States, we are very open to your and/or God’s changing our minds on that.
As this term implied, the Local Church was originally viewed as a single entity—later a "group" of parishes, missions, or ministries that were geographically "local" or nearby. According to this understanding of Church polity (governance), many, many local churches existed throughout the Catholic (Universal) Church. Each local church was united under a local bishop as the Universal Church was (is) united under the headship of Jesus Christ.
The Eldad and Medad Project [AKA The Mission Ordinariate of Eldad and Medad] builds upon this understanding of Church polity. A "local church" existing under the pastoral jurisdiction of a bishop—currently David Dismas—we are headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts. Yet, in the modern age when travel is much easier and, for that matter, folks can be in visual contact in an instant via electronic means, this idea of what constitutes the “local church” can be, and has been, expanded significantly.
We believe that no parish, mission or ministry should try to "go it alone" without the support and oversight of a bishop and invite any and all unattached Catholic Christian ministries and missionaries to consider aligning with our Ordinariate. While currently limiting our idea of “local” to the continental United States, we are very open to your and/or God’s changing our minds on that.