The parish, Church of the Holy Apostles, has been led by Catholic and Episcopal co-pastors for more than 30 years. Parishioners say it’s an arrangement that has allowed families in mixed marriages to worship together and has helped build bonds that transcend denominational boundaries.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond has told the nation’s only blended Catholic and Episcopal parish that it must change its worship services so that Catholics and non-Catholics meet in separate rooms for Holy Communion.

The parish, Church of the Holy Apostles, has been led by Catholic and Episcopal co-pastors for more than 30 years. Parishioners say it’s an arrangement that has allowed families in mixed marriages to worship together and has helped build bonds that transcend denominational boundaries.

In an emotionally charged meeting Monday with parish leaders, representatives of the Catholic diocese voiced support for the ecumenical congregation, said the Rev. Michael Ferguson, the parish’s Episcopal pastor.

But the officials made it clear the current worship practice – using a combined liturgy in which the priests move to separate altars in the same room to say the Eucharistic prayers – was unacceptable, Ferguson said.

They instructed the parish to come up with a plan that provides for separate liturgies in separate rooms, Ferguson said.

“What was left in our laps was to develop a way to be together in those parts of the service where it would be acceptable to the diocese for us to be together, and then to separate… without making it disjointed,” Ferguson said.

Once a plan is developed, Ferguson said, it will need approval of Catholic Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo and Bishop Herman Hollerith of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.

Ferguson said he is confident an acceptable arrangement can be worked out.

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