American Catholic Church in Nevada
Society of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
The Society of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria respects Catholic monastic tradition and spirituality. Reverends, Brothers and Sisters in the United States, in the Catholic tradition, may be married or single and are sent into the world as solitaires or in twos and threes to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Society of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria is an American Catholic Religious Society of men and women, living under a Rule of Life, within the Catholic faith, seeking to make the vision of church of
Although parishes are established, we remain a mission-based Order. The Zaccarian community consists of individuals, or families living at home or communally, joining their daily prayers and devotions to other members of the community. The radical freedom of the Gospel is the center of the life of the Zaccarian community. God is worshipped in the daily Liturgy of the Hours, the Eucharist, community service, and private prayer. Also offered to God are the Zaccarians’ daily manual work, study and correspondence.
We wish to assist any person seeking to become a candidate to our American Catholic Zaccarian communities. In Zaccarian Communities, we teach by example, leading visible Christian lives, reflecting Jesus within the world, outside the walls of a monastery. We strive to live out our vows and promises of chastity, conversion of life, obedience and stability according to our Rule of Life.
In the early Church, nearly all establishments were monastic, that is to say, that "parish" churches were usually associated with religious communities. Celibacy was not universal among monastics, even those in Holy Orders. We live lives of Chastity. Holy and life-affirming celibacy is but one chaste choice as is also family life and marital / committed relationships. We define Chastity as the expression of our God given sexuality exercised in healthy responsible ways consistent with a life of religious service, morality and glorifying God. The Society of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria is a religious order consisting of Reverends, Brothers and Sisters, living in community, or apart. We work in local parishes, secular careers and anywhere the Holy Spirit leads us in our vocation. As Reverends, Brothers and Sisters, we do not belong to a particular monastic house, but to a general order, and we work as individuals in the secular world.
Our Order is open to both men and women, married and single, to families and the elderly.
What is a Zaccarian?
We define a Zaccarian as any individual person, who wishes to join with others of like mind in following our Rule of life. Our vision is to embrace everyone who wants to encompass the Order’s Rule in their daily lives, whether they are clergy or laity. As an Order we recognize those in the covenant of marriage, those joined in Holy Union and those who choose to be celibate as being on equally holy paths to righteousness. The Society of St Anthony Mary Zaccaria recognizes the importance of the non-ordained members and ordained persons as equal in all things, save sacramental function, and critical for the support and work of the gospel mission.
On December 28, 1996, the Society of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria was founded in Las Vegas, Nevada with the ordination of two Reverends in Deacon’s orders. The Order’s current Bishop Protector is His Excellency Bishop Joseph J. Gouthro. At the founding of the Order, a rudimentary Rule Of Life was written. By so doing, we were following the example of the early Catholic communities.
Our Rule of Life helps an individual in leading a balanced life of work, study, and prayer centered on the daily celebration of the Liturgy Of The Hours united with the rest of the Order. It is a balance we seek to share. Our Rule of Life is based on gospel teachings, stressing simplicity and moderation.
The Rule of Life of The Society of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
A Zaccarian Rev., Brother, Sister or Oblate leads a life of Chastity:
We will be faithful to our vows of marriage, vows of Holy Union and if we are single we will live a life of Chastity. Holy and life-affirming celibacy is one chaste choice. We define Chastity as the expression of our God given sexuality exercised in healthy responsible ways consistent with a life of religious service, morality and glorifying God. Having, adopting and parenting children is completely consistent with a life of Chastity. Spouses are understood to be members of the Order by their commitment to, support and love of a Reverend, Brother, Sister, Postulant or Oblate.
A Zaccarian Rev., Brother, Sister or Oblate seeks Conversion of Life:
We will reflect on our own lives in daily self-examination, partaking regularly of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, believing that what God wants of us is growth toward the fullness of the Image in which we are made. We will strive to be open to the changes required by and for that growth. First Order Confessors and Spiritual Advisors guide Postulants and Oblates sacramentally to nurture and strengthen conscious connection to God.
A Zaccarian Rev., Brother, Sister or Oblate is obedient:
We will listen for the voice of God speaking to us in Scripture and the Sacred Tradition, in our daily circumstances and relationships, in the words of other people and in our own hearts. And hearing, we will try to translate God's word into action. We also respect differences in function and station within the Order and the American Catholic Church, International.
A Zaccarian Rev., Brother, Sister or Oblate’s life is centered in stability:
We will be steady and regular in our prayer life and in the obligations of family, work and community, especially daily Liturgy Of The Hours:
There are two levels of membership:
The First Order is “Reverend, Brother and Sister.”
A member of The First Order must profess vows and enter as a “Postulant.” “Reverends”, by definition, have taken Holy Orders. The First Order is indicated by the initials, “OZ” following the name in the religious life. Postulants to the First Order do not use the initials until after final vows have been professed.The Second Order is an "Oblate."
There are no vows, only promises. Oblates may choose to enter The First Order as postulants or remain in the Second Order.
Associate Membership in the Second Order as a Prayer Partner is open to everyone by sending an email to hi@accn.com. Prayer Partners pray for those listed on the Memorial Page and the Prayer Page forming the International Zaccarian Prayer Chain
Become a Prayer Partner today!
Back to Are You Called
Next to Anthony Mary Zaccaria