The Old Catholic Church in Italy is the Italian member church of the Union of Utrecht, which is in full communion with the Anglican Communion (so that members of both communions are permitted to receive the sacraments in the others churches). It has parishes in Milan, Turin, Rome, Latina, Sabaudia, Reggio Calabria with missions in Florence, Pisa, Livorno, Verona, Legnago, Palermo and Catania.

The church was under the episcopal oversight of the bishop of the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland until 2011. On June 21 of that year the bishop of the Old Catholic Church of Switzerland, in agreement with the International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference, decided that the Union of Utrecht would end its mission in Italy "due to the problematic internal situation". The parishes were "offered a model that guarantees their continued pastoral care."[1]

Worship

The worship of the Old Catholic churches is much like the worship of the Anglican churches. The Italian church has Mass very similar to liturgies used within Anglicanism but is in the Italian language. It also has its similarities with the more traditional Tridentine Mass. The priest faces the altar, the deacon and the subdeacon both have active roles in the Mass and there is usually an altar rail.

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