About the Parish

We believe that all are welcome at the Lord's Table and provide a spiritual home for any who want to be part of an inclusive faith community in the Catholic tradition.
St. Mary of Grace Parish is a community in the Independent Catholic Christian Church. We profess the same ancient creeds that most other Christian churches profess, and we celebrate the same seven sacraments that other Catholic churches, such as Roman Catholic, Episcopal/Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox churches, celebrate. We also share the same lines of apostolic succession of deacons, priests and bishops as that of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches. The mass used at the parish is primarily taken from the modern Roman Catholic liturgy (Novus Ordo), which is similar to the liturgy in other sacramental churches, such as the Episcopal/Anglican and Lutheran churches.

We welcome and embrace all who want to be part of a faith community.
  • At our liturgies, we invite all baptized Christians to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.
  • We recognize the right of women to equality at all levels of society and the Church, including ordained ministry. 
  • We reserve to couples the right to plan their families in a responsible way.
  • We offer the opportunity for lay or ordained ministry, admitting individuals to religious life and to all levels of Holy Orders regardless of marital status, race, physical disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
  • We offer the Sacrament of Marriage for sufficiently prepared couples, regardless of gender, as well as second marriages for those who are divorced and who are properly disposed to remarry.

Over the years, our community at St. Mary of Grace Parish has:
  • baptized the children of LGBT parents whose home parishes refused them baptism,
  • married same-sex couples recognizing that their relationships are more than a blessing--they are sacrament--sign and symbol of God's grace and love in the world,
  • provided financial assistance to congregations of various faith communities that have been the target of hate crimes,
  • married opposite-sex couples who were looking of an inclusive community that would welcome their whole family regardless of denomination or sexual orientation,
  • helped organize the first catholic Mass at the Philadelphia TransHealth Conference,
  • talked to LGBT students and youth to let them know that it is possible to be faithful Catholic Christian and LGBT,
  • offered anointing of the sick to those who found it difficult to approach more conservative clergy,
  • hosted tables at Outfest and Equality Forum,
  • welcomed families from different Christian denominations so all could receive communion together during Sunday Mass,
  • provided a supportive community where LGBT parents or those with LGBT family members can raise their children to grow in the Catholic faith.
We are a community in the Independent Catholic Christian Church. The Independent Catholic Christian Church stands in solidarity with the trans community. We baptize trans people, we welcome trans people to the table to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we ordain trans people, we marry trans people. Trans people baptize us, trans priests celebrate the Eucharist for us, trans bishops ordain us, trans priests absolve our sins and anoint us for the healing of our sickness. We are enriched by the gifts of those who are trans.