Founders, Coordinators, Volunteers

Brother Tomas Martin, OpD and the first Sisters of OPD

Our Founders

Bp. Tomas Martin Bell, OPD, DD

Sr. Dominica Marie Schiliro, OPD

Sr. Michael Martin Finouli, OPD (inactive)

Sr. Martin Margaret DeSantis, OPD (inactive)

Coordinators, Volunteers, and Partnerships

Br. Tomas Martin Bell, OPD, DD
bishop and presiding minister

Sr. Dominica Marie Schiliro, OPD
senior councilor (Warmth of Love ministry)

Br. John Matsya, OPD
internal communications 

Sr. Terese Terry, OPD
virtual convent 
vacant - public relations

Br. Matthias lo Presti, OPD

Ongoing intellectual formation, personal aide to bishop Tomas 
Br. Tomas Martin Bell OPD
Work with non-Christian communities (Co-Founder/Co-Facilitator, Priesty and the Witch) 

Honorary Members

Bishop John Hesson, OSB, DD

Brother Tomas Martin, OpD and Bishop John Hesson, OSB

Bishop Hesson and our Bishop Tomas met in 1998 and developed a true friendship over the years.  After the formal founding of the OPD Community in 2006, Bishop Hesson was the first to ask to be received as an honorary member and to be given the privilege of the habit.  Bishop Hesson also invited the OPD to minister in his community.  Bishop Hesson played an integral role in Bishop Tomas Martin's formation as a bishop and was our bishop's primary formator in the administration of the traditional latin sacraments.  Bishop John Hesson is now retired from ministry and is enjoying his retirement in Florida.  The Bishop continues his loving support of Bishop Tomas and the OPD continues to pray for Bishop Hesson. He is truly one of the fathers of our community.  

"Bishop Hesson studied at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa staffed by the Benedictine Monks. He graduated cum laude in philosophy in 1963, then entered the theology dept. on campus. In 1966, Bishop Hesson earned a Master of Divinity degree magna corn laude in systematic theology. On may 20, 1967, he was ordained to the sacred priesthood by the Ordinary of Camden, Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano. For fifteen years the then Father Hesson labored in the field of education at Paul VI High School, Camden Catholic High and as dean of men and chairman of the theology department at St Mary's Prep Seminary in Penndel, Pa. During this time, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Moral Theology from La Salle College in Philadelphia.  Since November of 1982, Bishop Hesson has served traditional independent Catholic chapels and missions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and throughout the USA. On June 12, 1991, he was consecrated a bishop by the Most Rev. Bishop Oliver Oravec who was assisted by Most rev. Bishop Robert Fidelis McKenna, OP and Most rev. Bishop Vida Elmer as co-consecrators." (from the bishop's biography)

Archbishop Gilbert Lyons, AOC

Brother (now Bishop) Tomas Martin, OpD and Archbishop Lyons

Archbishop Lyons has been an important presence in the OPD since its founding. His prayers and guidance have helped form our community and its members. As one of the four bishops to lay hands on our bishop passing on his lineage, he is honored as a consecrator of our community.  Archbishop's own community is a blending of the Franciscan, Dominican, and Usui traditions, following the lifestyle of St. Francis and honoring St. Martin de Porres as its patron.

The African Orthodox Church was organized in America in 1921 by Archbishop George Alexander McGuire. In 1934 Archbishop Daniel William Alexander organized the African Orthodox Church through out East Africa and established a Seminary in Kenya where over 10,000 persons were affected by the African Orthodox Church of Africa.

Brother Tomas Martin, OpD being ordained as a Catholic cleric

About our bishop, Br. Tomas Martin Bell

After studying Human resource management and completing five years of Religious formation, Brother engaged in advanced studies in Sacred Theology. His work focused on a study of the Gospel of John in Aramaic. After work in biblical studies, Brother went on to advanced studies in Pastoral Ministry in preparation for ordination a bishop.

Early Ministry

Br. Tomas Martin began teaching grammar school level religion in 1994 and adult faith formation in 1999 and continued teaching until elected head of his community in 2006. In 1999 Brother was received into the Dominican Order as a tertiary. He made his perpetual promises in 2003. From 1999-2007 Brother served the Catholic Dominicans in various capacities including: local chapter council member, local third order vocations director, local formation director, local sub-prior, regional vice president, regional president, third order provincial council member, and communications committee chair for the third order provincial council. In 2007 Brother resigned from the Catholic Dominicans in order to devote his full ministry to the Ecumenical OPD. 

Ordination in the OPD Community

In 2006-2008 Archbishops Gilbert Lyons, AOC and  James Bostwick, OCCA, Bishops John Hesson OSB and Sherman R. Mosley, DD recognized the OPD community; and Tomas Martin was ordained a catholic cleric. In June 2009 Tomas Martin, OPD was consecrated a bishop in Apostolic Succession and became the first presiding minister of the OPD Community. On September 8, 2009 Bishop Tomas-Martin began his written dialogue to the office of the Holy Father in Rome. Whereas the community is not dependent upon the Vatican, Bishop Tomas-Martin's love for the people of the Catholic Church serves as a solid reason, based in love, for his continuing effort at open communications with Rome.

Ministries with the OPD

The Community has helped build fresh water drinking wells in Uganda, Africa and provided assistance to missionary priests and religious in need. With the help of many dedicated benefactors across the country he hopes to continue this ministry in the future. The Community has built ministerial partnerships with Bishops of the Orthodox, Anglican, and Independent Catholic Traditions and will continue to engage in outreach to all people of God.  In addition to the ministries mentioned, the community has engaged in Deliverance Ministry, Homeless Ministry, Ministry to the Sick and Dying, Private Spiritual Direction, Holistic Healing Ministry, and an active ministry to those who have been cut off from the Church. Br. Tomas Martin has offered courses to communities in the Roman Catholic Church, Traditional Catholic Movement, Independent Sacramental Movement, and Non-denominational associations across the country.

Apostolic Succession information:

Antiochian - Jacobite Succession:
Peter the Apostle 35 A.D.
Eyodius 44
Ignatius (Martyr) 68
Earon 107
Cornelius 137
Eados 142
Theophilus 157
Maximus 171
Seraphim 179
Asclepiades (Martyr) 189
Philip 210
Zebinus 219
Babylos (Martyr) 237
F'abius 250
Demeirius 251
Paul I 259
Domnus I 270
Timotheus 281
Cyrilus 291
Tyrantus 296
Vitalius 301
Philogonius 318
Eustachius 323
Paulinus 338
Philabianus 383
Evagrius 386
Phosporius 416
Alexander 418
John I 428
Theodotus 431
Domnus II 442
Maximus 450
Accacius 454
Martyrius 457
Peter II 464
Phiadius 500
Sergius 544
Domnus III 547
Anastasius 560
Gregory I 564
Paul II 567
Patra 571
Domnus IV 586
Julianus 591
Athanasius I 595
John II 636
Theodorus I 649
Severus 668
Athanasius II 684
Julianus II 687
Elias I 709
Athanasius III 724
Evanius I 740
Gervasius I 759
Joseph 790
Cyriacus 793
Dionsius I 818
John III 847
Ignatius II 877
Theodosius 887
Dinousius II 897
John IV 910
Evanius 922
John V 936
Evanius II 954
Dionysius 958
Abraham I 962
John VI 965
Athanasius IV 987
John VII 1004
Dionysius III 1032
Theodorus II 1042
Athanasius V 1058
John VII 1064
Basilius II 1074
Abdoone 1076
Dionysius V 1077
Evanius III 1080
Dionysius VI 1088
Athanasias VI 1091
John IX 1131
Athanasius VI 1139
Michael I (the Great) 1167
Athanasius VIII 1200
Michael II 1207
JJohn XI 1253
Ignatius IV 1264
Philanus 1283
Ignatius Baruhid 1293
Ignatius Ishmael 1333
Ignatius Basilius III 1366
Ignatius Abraham II 1382
Ignatius Basilius IV 1412
Ignatius Bahanam I 1415
Ignatius l~aIejih 1455
Ignatius John XII 1483
Ignatius Noah 1492
Ignatius Jesus I 1509
Ignatius Jacob I 1510
Ignatius David I 1519
Ignatius Abdullah 1520
Ignatius Naamathalak 1557
Ignatius David II 1576
Ignatius Philathus 1591
Ignatius Abdullah II 1597
Ignatius Cadhal 1598
Ignatius Simeon 1640
Ignatius Jesus II 1653
Ignatius A. Massiah I 1661
Ignatius Cabeed 1686
Ignatius Gervasius III 1687
Ignatius Gervasius IV 1708
Ignatius Siccarablak 1722
Ignatius Qervasius III 1746
Ignatius Gervasius IV 1768
Ignatius Mathias 1781
Ignatius Bahanam II 1810
Ignatius Jonas 1817
Ignatius Gervasius V 1818
Ignatius Elias II 1839
Ignatius Jacob II 1847
Ignatius Peter III 1872
Mar Paul Athanasius - 1877
Julius Xavier Alvarez - July 29, 1889
Joseph Rene Vilatte - June 5, 1892
George Alexander McGuire 1921
George Ford 1934
Vincent M. Waterman 1983
Gilbert O Lyons 1997
Tomas Martin Bell 2009

Apostolic Succession, Part II:

Pope Clement XIII (Carol della Torre Rezzoni) 
Bernadinus Giraud 
Alexander Matthaeus 
Petrus Franciscus Galetti 
Iacobus Phillipus Fransoni 
Carolus Sacconi 
Edward Howard 
Mariano Rampolla Marchese del Tindaro 
Joaquin Arcoverde de Albuquerque-Calvancanti 
Sebastiao Leme de Silveira Cintra 
Carlos Duarte Costa 
Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez 
Justo Gonzalez 
Donald J. Buttenbusch

Gilbert Lyons

Tomas Martin Bell