What Is the Holy Celtic Church International and What My Priesthood Means to Me

By Fr. Mark Colville

The Holy Celtic Church International is an independent Catholic church rooted in the ancient traditions of Celtic Christianity. It honors the early Christian communities that followed the teachings of Christ with simplicity, love, and deep reverence for the natural world. We are Catholic in spirit, but we are not Roman. We are inclusive, mystical, and guided by the Spirit—not by man-made walls.

This Church carries forward a sacred lineage that goes back to the apostles. It embraces those who feel called to serve but might not fit into traditional boxes. In this Church, the priesthood is not about power or titles. It is about healing, service, and walking alongside others through their joys and sorrows.

My priesthood is not something I chose lightly. It is a call I tried to ignore more than once. But the Spirit kept whispering, and eventually, I said yes. I was ordained through apostolic succession, which means my ordination traces back through generations of bishops all the way to the first followers of Christ. That sacred line matters to me—not for status, but for what it carries: the presence of Christ passed down through love and hands laid in prayer.

I serve as a priest for people who often feel left out—veterans, the grieving, the lonely, the curious, the doubting, the ones who can’t sit through a regular Mass without crying. I offer sacraments, blessings, spiritual direction, and comfort. I bring the presence of God into hospital rooms, recovery circles, and quiet living rooms where people are just trying to make it through.

Being part of the Holy Celtic Church International allows me to stay true to Christ while also being real about the world we live in. This path lets me offer healing without judgment, sacraments without barriers, and hope to those who thought the Church forgot about them.

This is not about religion as a set of rules. It’s about love made visible. It’s about being present.

And that’s what my priesthood is. It’s being there. One soul at a time.