Page "Old Catholic Church" Paragraph 23

Mathew sent missionaries to the United States, including the theosophist Bishop J. I. Wedgwood ( 1892 – 1950 ) and Bishop Rudolph de Landas Berghes et de Rache ( 1873 – 1920 ).

De Berghes arrived in the United States on 7 November 1914, hoping to unite the various independent Old Catholic jurisdictions under Archbishop Mathew.

Bishop de Berghes, in spite of his isolation, was able to plant the seed of Old Catholicism in the Americas.

He consecrated a former Capuchin Franciscan priest as bishop: Carmel Henry Carfora.

From this the Old Catholic Church in the United States evolved into local and regional self-governing dioceses and provinces along the design of St. Ignatius of Antioch-a network of Communities.