Who We Are

The Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA) is a self-governing Catholic Church, a member of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church established by Our Lord Jesus Christ to bring the Gospel to all people.

CACINA’s history: The Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA) is the daughter church of the Catholic Apostolic Church in Brazil, founded by Bishop Carlos Duarte-Costa, a Roman Catholic Bishop who left communion with Rome in 1945 because of matters of conscience related to social justice. Bishops in CACINA primarily trace their apostolic succession to Duarte-Costa, but they also have Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Episcopal lineages. Despite this rich tradition, CACINA maintains a thoroughly Catholic identity. We are not Roman, Orthodox, or Anglican; we are grateful the Lord has called us to be CACINA Catholics. The Catholic Apostolic Church was brought to the United States by the late Bishop Estefan Meyer Corradi-Scarella who had been consecrated a bishop for that purpose January 23, 1949, from which date CACINA dates its establishment. Today CACINA has Catholic Apostolic jurisdiction in all of the United States and Canada, together with their respective Territories, Protectorates, and Possessions. CACINA has Parishes in Virginia, Florida, New York, and Oregon. CACINA is a completely independent and self-governing body, neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant, but simply Catholic.