About Us - Overview

A Short Introduction

The Brothers and Canons Regular of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Institute is an Old Catholic(1) community focused on spiritual and educational growth. Founded independently of the Jurisdiction of the Holy See of Rome in response to Christ's call, it seeks to inspire through Prayer, Liturgy, Service, Community, Education, Social Media and Faith. Some Brothers and Canons regularly dedicate themselves to one activity - for example, Prayer - or a combination of activities, such as Prayer and Social Media or Community and Education.

The Canons Regular also engage in an Apostleship of Influence, a specific duty of their Ministry as ordained Priests, calling on decision-makers’ duty of care and responsibility at all levels of public, private and corporate Governance, either national or international. This specific Apostolate is central to the Canons Regular’s Charisma to raise awareness of themes as varied as Peace, War, economic exploitation of the poorest, and whenever the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Gospels and the New Testament are challenged by leadership or policy.

We are geographically dispersed and remain integrated in our home communities and work environment, and this is the key difference by comparison to traditional religious communities, orders and institutes. We live amongst secular society and laity and experience everyday life in the same way as everyone else. 

(1) Old Catholics are sometimes referred to by the names ‘Reformed Catholics’ or ‘Liberal Catholics’.

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The Institute’s Charisma

The Eucharist

At the heart of the Canons and Brothers Regular stands the profound mystery of the Holy Eucharist, where Christ is truly, wholly, and substantially present - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity -. This sacred truth, instituted by Christ Himself at the Last Supper, is the fulfilment of His eternal promise: “This is My Body… This is My Blood” (Matthew 26:26-28). In the Eucharist, He remains with us, not as a mere symbol, but as the living God who nourishes and sustains His people.

Through the miracle of transubstantiation, the bread and wine, consecrated by the priest, become the very substance of Christ, though their outward appearance remains unchanged. This divine mystery, affirmed by Sacred Scripture and upheld by the Church since its earliest days, draws us into intimate communion with our Lord, who gives Himself entirely for our salvation.

In the Eucharist, we encounter the boundless love of Christ, who desires to dwell within us and transform our hearts. As we receive Him, we are strengthened in grace, renewed in spirit, and united more perfectly with His divine life. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, and the radiant sign of God’s enduring presence among His people.

Therefore, we approach the Blessed Sacrament with reverence, adoration, and faith, knowing that in this most sacred mystery, Christ Himself comes to dwell within us. Let us always cherish this divine gift, worship Him in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and live as witnesses to the immeasurable love of our Eucharistic Lord.

Our Faith - Our Core Tenets

The Catholic Creed - particularly the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed approved at the Ecunemical Council of Constantinople in 381AD - serves as a foundational statement of Christian belief, encapsulating the Canons and Brothers Regular’s core tenets of the faith. It is the only authoritative ecumenical statement of the Christian faith accepted by the Catholic Church (with the addition of the Filioque), the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Church of the East, and much of Protestantism, including the Anglican communion. Here is a comprehensive summary based on its principles:

The Catholic faith is rooted in the profound mystery of the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We profess belief in one God, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, who has formed all things visible and invisible in His divine wisdom and love. He is the source of life and truth, sustaining all creation by His eternal power.

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was begotten, not made, and is consubstantial with the Father. Through Him, salvation was brought into the world. For our sake, He took on flesh by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, fully divine and fully human. He suffered, died, and was buried, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. On the third day, He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures, conquering sin and death. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

We profess faith in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is worshiped and glorified alongside them and has spoken through the prophets, guiding the Church into all truth.

We believe in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, founded upon the teachings of Christ and entrusted with the mission of proclaiming the Gospel to all nations. Through the sacraments, especially Baptism, we receive the gift of divine life, becoming children of God and members of His body. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the call to a life of holiness, shaped by grace, faith, and the love of God.

Finally, we hold firm to the hope of the resurrection of the dead and the promise of eternal life. Christ’s victory over death assures us that those who believe and remain faithful will be raised in glory to dwell forever in God’s presence.

Joining the Institute

The Brothers and Canons Regular of the Sacred Heart of Jesus welcome Brothers and Sisters from all walks of life, and following the loving and welcoming example of Jesus, we do not discriminate against anyone whatsoever. In order to be a well integrated Brother, Sister or Canon Regular, you must be able to love Love. No matter whether you are single, separated, divorced, married or in a civil union, straight or LGB, you are welcome to be part of the CRSHJ Institute.

However, there are some prerequisites to becoming a CRSHJ Member Brother or Sister:

  1. You believe in the fundamentals of our Charisma, especially the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the Core Tenets of the Christian Faith (the Creed), as summarised above on this page.

  2. You accept that our Liturgy Guidance follows the Latin Rite, also known as the Roman Rite and the Liturgical Calendar as annually set by the Holy See of Rome.

  3. You promise to respect and observe obedience to the Principal Canon Regular, who is the Head of the CRSHJ Institute and to the Bishop Ordinariate the Institute reports to.

  4. You accept the Pope is the First among Equals - The Primus inter Pares principle - which gives His Holiness the Holy Father a prominent position of due respect within our Institute, but does not equate to a duty of institutional obedience to the Roman Catholic Church.

  5. You fully understand and accept that the CRSHJ Institute is broadly speaking a Reformed Catholic institution, also sometimes identifiable by other denominations such as Old Catholic or Liberal Catholic.

  6. You accept and unreservedly subscribe to the principle of openness to all, and in particular those who suffer rejection by traditional churches, including but not limited to divorced, single parents, lesbian, gay and bisexual, same-sex couples, etc.

  7. You confirm you are a person in good and proper standing to be a Brother or Sister, and you must not have unspent convictions (other than minor traffic offences), and you absolutely must NOT be registered as a sexual offender.

  8. If you have been a Brother for at least TWO YEARS, you are eligible to apply to Priestly Holy Orders and you must accept that you will be subject to the strictest vetting, including but not limited to a full Enhanced DBS Disclosure, inclusive of thorough searches in all UK Offenders’ Registers, Sexual Misconduct Offenders Registers, Police Registers and Police Computer systems, bankruptcy and fraud records, etc.

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NOTES ON ADMISSION TO HOLY ORDERS

The CRSHJ-Canons Regular of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Institute follows the Gospel’s example in regards to admission of male-only candidates to Priestly Holy Orders. This means Presbyteral Holy Orders are currently not available to women, in keeping with the Legacy inherited from Jesus and His Apostles, who were all and only male. However, Priestly Holy Orders at the Institute are open to single or married men, whether straight or gay, in proper and good standing, provided their marital and family life is in good and proper standing and enjoying time-tested stability in Life. Answering the calling to Priestly Holy Orders is an extremely serious decision which requires calm and timely discernment, stability, propriety, sobriety and good standing.