Before our new structure as Catholic Ministry, we used the term Symposium because our members were spread worldwide and met on different dates and times. It may last a week, whereas a general assembly lasts only a few hours.

In Canada, the general assembly, commonly referred to as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or a members’ meeting, of a private non-profit corporation is governed either federally by the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (CNCA) or by the applicable provincial non-profit statute (such as Ontario’s ONCA or Quebec’s civil code/provincial rules)

• Must be held at least once every 15 months, and no later than 6 months after the corporation’s preceding financial year-end. We have it during a Council meeting between January 1st and February 28.
• Meetings must be held in Canada at the location specified in the by-laws, or outside Canada if all voting members agree.
• Electronic or hybrid meetings are widely permitted if allowed by the by-laws and the statute (Our Case)

Core Business

• Reviewing and approving the annual financial statements.
• Appointing or waiving the appointment of a public accountant/auditor
• Electing directors to the board.
• Approving or amending corporate by-laws (when required)

Voting Rights for only Class “A” Members

• Conducted by members (non-profit corporations without share capital grant voting rights to members as outlined in the articles or by-laws.
• Decisions are made by ordinary resolution (majority vote) or special resolution (usually a 2/3 or 3/4 majority for fundamental changes like by-law or article amendments).

As Catholic:

A council is a binding, legislative assembly of church leaders that can define doctrine and issue strict laws. At the same time, a synod is typically an advisory or consultative gathering of bishops, clergy, and sometimes laity that assists church authorities without issuing independent binding decrees open to all IAoC members.

Councils (especially Ecumenical Councils representing the global Church like Nicaea or the Second Vatican Council) hold supreme legislative and deliberative power. Their decrees on faith and morals bind the universal Church.

Synods (such as the modern Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church) are generally consultative. They offer counsel, pray, and submit recommendations or reports to a leader (like the Archbishop or a Superintendent Bishop), who retains final decision-making authority.

We use “synod” or “general assembly” as our regular regional, national, or overarching Canadian governing bodies of EMMI.

Our Councils are meetings of all our church partners as affiliates and Associates, who are full members.

• 2026.10.17 Saturday Synod
• 2026.10.15 Convocation for the Council, 90 days before, which will be Wednesday, January 13, 2027 so the Council date is Saturday, January 16, 2027
• 2026.10.10 Convocation for the Ordinary Synod on 2026.10.17

From our post yesterday: We are NOT a church; the first line, “We (EMMI) are Independent Catholics (ISM) and Clerics devoted to the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching authority,” is ambiguous to our readers.

Let me explain the differences.

1: We view Vatican II as a valid ecumenical council intended to renew the Church for the modern world. We think, as studies such as a National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper note, that Catholic Mass attendance and religious vocations declined measurably worldwide in the decades following the 1960s implementation of Vatican II.

2: We follow the mainstream Old Catholic churches in Europe (the Union of Utrecht), which actually moved in a progressive theological direction: 3: allowing married priests, 4: abolishing mandatory clerical celibacy, 5: ordaining women, and entering full communion with the Anglican Communion.

6: We agree with the Novus Ordo of the Mass, but the Roman reforms went too far; 7: they removed too much of the sacred (Britannica: diminished reverence, sacredness, and the sacrificial nature of the Mass), especially that lay people do not receive communion at Mass but have the host in a pyx and have communion later outside the church; I think that is worse than 8: open communion during the celebration of the Eucharist. As my friend, the Right Reverend Ashley Deutschmann, stated on his website: Christ at the Center. Everyone at the Table.

9: Open to LGBTQ members being part of the clergy.

10: We apply a strict ritual discipline, whereas Rome is more liberal

11: We agree with Local languages, even if the Archbishop (Me) is a member of the Confraternity of Saint Peter.

12: We agree with Active lay participation.

13: We agree with the universal call to holiness.

14: We agree with the Permanent diaconate: allowing qualified married men or women to be ordained as deacons.

15: We reject the collective blame of Jews for Christ’s death, condemn antisemitism, and recognize elements of truth in other world religions.

16: We affirm religious freedom as a fundamental human right, asserting that individuals should follow their conscience in matters of faith without coercion.

17: We position ourselves as a partner in addressing global concerns like poverty, war, and human dignity. Also involved in Mental Health Ministry and Prison Ministry, including drug abuse.

18. As Rome, we are open to Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue (IAoC Ministry and URI)

19: Brother Eric Michel Roman Catholic Ecclesial Affiliations 

20:.We apply Roman Canon 2335 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law

Like the Facebook group name is:

Not All Catholics Are Roman, But All Catholics Are One

We (EMMI) are Independent Catholics (ISM) and Clerics devoted to the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching authority.

The Difference between Church and Ministry

In Christianity, ministry is the office held by persons set apart by ecclesiastical authority as ministers called to special vocational service of general recognition. The type of ministry varies across churches. The form that developed in the early church and is retained by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Old Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant churches is episcopal (see episcopacy) and is based on the three orders, or offices, of bishop, priest, and deacon.

What is a Church?
A church refers to a physical building and the community of believers within it. It serves as a place for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Here are some key functions of a church: Churches provide a space for communal worship, where congregants come together to pray, sing, and participate in sacraments like baptism and communion. A church fosters belonging among its members by offering support through small groups, social events, and outreach activities. Churches often offer educational programs, such as Bible studies and Sunday school, to help members grow in their faith and understand scripture. Many churches run outreach programs that serve local communities and participate in missions to spread their beliefs beyond their immediate surroundings.

What is a Ministry?
A ministry is a specific service or function. Ministries can focus on various aspects of church life and operate independently or under the church’s umbrella. Here are some key functions of ministries:

Ministries often have a specific mission, such as chaplaincy, church association, or prayer ministries, to serve particular groups within the broader community. Our ministries give members opportunities to grow spiritually through specialized programs, events, and mentorship.

• These ministries aim to spread the Franciscan faith beyond church walls and organize events or initiatives to reach non-believers.
• The FoRCES Chaplain Ministry supports those in need through counselling, food drives, and other forms of assistance.

Understanding the distinction between a church and a ministry can deepen your appreciation of the roles each plays in a faith community. God says to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). It encompasses various activities and roles, from preaching and teaching to acts of service and charity. Ministry expresses one’s spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-7), calling believers to serve God and others in ways that reflect Christ’s love and compassion.

We are ministries independent of the church; the ministries are not “a church” but are to the church.

The EMMI Secular Franciscan Order is a community of Catholic men and women of any rite who adhere to Rome’s teaching authority. Our Mission Statement: “Our mission is to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of our holy father, Saint Francis of Assisi and the beautiful example of our beloved Saint Clare of Assisi and Saint Antony of Padua, who made Christ the inspiration of their lives, in a spirit of community, humility, adoration and compassion, mirroring Christ in our lives.”

We are a Canadian non-profit organization (NGO) founded in 2014 by the Archbishop, the Most Reverend Eric Gagnon (QC), and the Bishop, the Right Reverend Marie Arnold (NS). Our Ministries are under Jesus through the Holy Mary. We at Eric Michel Ministries International are part of the Franciscan family.

EMMI is an autocephalous ministry (literally, “self-headed”), meaning a church whose bishop is independent and does not report to any higher human authority, yet usually remains in communion with other affiliated churches. The Holy Synod (Symposium) is the ministry’s highest authority and sets the rules and regulations for church organization, faith, and the order of service. The principle of summoning a synod or council of ecclesiastical persons to discuss a grave question affecting the Church dates back to the Church’s earliest history. Since the Apostles met in Jerusalem to decide whether Gentile converts were to keep the Old Law (Acts 15:6–29), it had been customary to call such gatherings as occasion required. Bishops summoned synods of their clergy, metropolitans and patriarchs summoned their suffragans, and since 325, a succession of extraordinary synods representing the whole Catholic world has followed, known as general councils.

Many times in our text we mention the word church; we refer to the people as members of the ministry.

*** In EMMI Independent Catholic jurisdictions, governance structures differ significantly from the Roman Catholic Church, so a local district, synod, or clergy council appoints a Metropolitan Archbishop rather than the Pope. Because Independent Catholicism comprises many distinct autocephalous (self-governing) churches, each jurisdiction operates under its own unique code of Canon Law.

Synodical Selection: Many Independent Catholic jurisdictions use a synodical governance model in which the clergy, and sometimes laity, of a specific district or diocese vote on or appoint their leadership.

Autonomy from Rome: Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, where the Pope has sole authority to appoint bishops and archbishops, Independent Catholic bodies maintain local autonomy, allowing the district or province they oversee to have the final say in their appointment.

Valid Lines of Apostolic Succession: While the district makes the administrative appointment, the Archbishop’s spiritual authority is still established through the laying on of hands by other validly consecrated bishops, maintaining Apostolic Succession.

See Decretum de Statu Ecclesiastico, Primatu et Auctoritate, in Let be known to these presents may concern: III Of the Title of Metropolitan Archbishop.

• Act of Catholic Ecclesial Alignment
• Apostolic Mission and Jurisdiction Charter
• Decree Establishing the Official Seal and Instruments of Authority
• Decree of Primatial and Episcopal Authority
• Decretum de Statu Ecclesiastico, Primatu et Auctoritate

NOTE: The page Decretum de Statu Ecclesiastico was published on April 6, 2026. Only Cameroon appears; as for South Africa, the metropolitan jurisdiction was established August the 9th, 2026 and Nigeria on August 26, 2026.

On May 6, it is also the feast of François-de-Montmorency-Laval (fr).

TUESDAY, October 13th, 2026 MARKS THE 28th
WORLDWIDE CHILDREN OF THE EUCHARISTIC HOLY HOUR

• 7:00 PM New! Holy Mass on the Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. Holy Mass on the 109th Anniversary of the Final Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
• 9:30 PM: New! Holy Rosary From Lourdes
• 10:00 PM: Holy Mass in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima

New! Worldwide Children’s Holy Hour TV GUIDE

Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary
The Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great.

The New Testament was NOT dropped from heaven.
The New Testament was NOT delivered by an angel.
The New Testament was NOT found in a farmer’s field, as the Book of Mormon was.
The New Testament was NOT suddenly “discovered” in a clay jar with 27 “books” intact, like the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Nag Hammadi texts.

The process of canonization of the New Testament was complex and lengthy. In the early centuries of Christianity, many books were widely considered inspired, but the church had no single, formally recognized New Testament canon. The process involved compiling books that apostolic tradition considered authoritative for worship and teaching, relevant to the historical situations in which they were written, and consonant with the Old Testament. Writings attributed to the apostles circulated among the earliest Christian communities, and the Pauline epistles circulated, perhaps in collected form, by the end of the 1st century AD.

• One of the earliest attempts at solidifying a canon was made by Marcion, c. 140 AD, who accepted only a version of Luke that most New Testament scholars agree was a modified version of Luke.
• Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Tertullian held Paul’s epistles to be divinely inspired “scripture”. Other books were held in high esteem but were gradually relegated to the status of New Testament apocrypha. In the mid-2nd century, Justin Martyr mentions reading “memoirs of the apostles” on Sunday alongside the “writings of the prophets”.
• The oldest clear endorsement of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John being the only legitimate gospels was written c. 180 AD. Irenaeus asserted a four-gospel canon (the Tetramorph).The books considered to be authoritative by Irenaeus included the four gospels and many of the letters of Paul, although, based on the arguments Irenaeus made in support of only four authentic gospels
• By the early 200s, Origen may have used the same twenty-seven books as the Catholic New Testament canon. Origen was largely responsible for collecting usage information about the texts that became the New Testament. The information used to create the late-4th-century Easter Letter, which declared accepted Christian writings, was probably based on the Ecclesiastical History (HE) of Eusebius of Caesarea
• Eusebius, c. 300, gave a detailed list of New Testament writings in his Ecclesiastical History Book 3, Chapter XXV.

The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian Bible. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events relating to first-century Christianity. The first division, known as the Old Testament (based primarily on the Hebrew Bible), together with the New Testament, constitutes Christianity’s sacred scripture.

The New Testament is a collection of 27 Christian texts written in Koine Greek by various authors. It includes four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, epistles attributed to Paul and other authors, and the Book of Revelation. The New Testament canon developed gradually over the first few centuries of Christianity through debate, the rejection of heretical texts, and the recognition of writings deemed apostolic, culminating in the formalization of the 27-book canon by the late fourth century. Christian traditions have widely accepted it since Late Antiquity.

Literary analysis suggests many of its texts were written in the mid-to-late first century. Scholars have no consensus on the date of the latest New Testament text. The earliest surviving New Testament manuscripts date from the late second to early third centuries AD, with the possible exception of Papyrus 52.

The New Testament was transmitted through thousands of manuscripts in various languages, as well as church quotations, and contains variants. Textual criticism uses surviving manuscripts to reconstruct the earliest recoverable text and trace its transmission history. Christians receive it differently today. The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, evangelicals, and many other Protestants regard it as inspired holy scripture. Catholics and Orthodox receive the New Testament, along with sacred tradition, as a source of divine revelation, whereas Protestants hold that doctrine derives from scripture alone, without tradition. Evangelicals and some other Protestants believe the New Testament, as the written word of God, to be inerrant.

• https://bibleacademy.africa

SOURCE:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament

I wish that I could chat with CATHOLIC KNOWLEDGE AND BASIC, but he uses only WhatsApp, and I don’t, so the only choice is to post here, hoping that he will see it.

A Lady that I didn’t know anything about

OurLady of Walsingham

The Vision: In 1061, an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, Lady Richeldis de Faverches, had a vision in which the Virgin Mary led her in spirit to Nazareth and asked her to build a replica of the Holy House (where the Annunciation took place).

Medieval Importance: The “Holy House” became known as “England’s Nazareth” and grew into a major medieval pilgrimage destination, rivalling Canterbury and visited by numerous English monarchs.

Destruction: King Henry VIII ordered the original medieval priory and shrine destroyed in 1538 during the English Reformation.

Catholic Shrine: Pilgrimages resumed in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The 14th-century Slipper Chapel was restored and designated the Roman Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, later elevated to a Minor Basilica by Pope Francis in 2015

Anglican Shrine: The Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham was established in the 1930s in the village of Little Walsingham and features a new replica of the Holy House and a statue.

Feast Days: Celebrated on September 24 (Catholic/Anglican) and October 15 (Anglican translation).

Global Presence: The devotion extends worldwide, including institutions like the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, Texas, and the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

CATHOLIC KNOWLEDGE AND BASIC on Facebook has beautiful images to teach about Catholicism; I like it a lot. On October 9th, they posted the Sick-Call Kit.

That makes me remember that I do have one, not like the one from CATHOLIC KNOWLEDGE AND BASIC, which is sold for thousands of dollars; I have a humble kit, as you can see on the Google Shop page; mine is similar. It comes from Holyart.com for $300 CAD, not cheap and deceptive. I know the size was listed, but my mind didn’t process it, and it is very small; the case is only 7 inches. The only good part is that the pyx is a normal size.

I keep it in my briefcase for emergencies. If I’m called, I’ll bring my case; it’s called a catalogue case, and it is very large and tall. It contains real-size candles, a sprinkler, 4 oz of holy water, 4 oz of anointing oil, a 7-inch cross, and a regular-size stole. It also includes prayer books, a Bible, and my Book of Common Prayers.

God Bless

Brother Eric

Pope Leo on AI art: Beyond aesthetics, ‘there is an ontological difference’
Hannah Brockhaus via EWTN 04.10.26

The pontiff said the Catholic Church wishes to renew its alliance with artists.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV said there is a fundamental difference between the art humans create and what artificial intelligence can make based on the work of others, telling a group of artists on Friday.

“The Church needs you,” the pontiff said at the Oct. 2 encounter at the Vatican.

Read all about it here

Cenacle

When I created the page, The White Robed Monks of St. Benedict, yesterday, I used text and pictures from my previous site. I have been a member of the WRMSB Network only since last year, August 12, 2025; my text and pictures about Christianity and Buddhism are much older. I only have access to my backup files from 2020.

The WRMSB from South Africa is on Facebook, but I didn’t realize it has many groups. Several online communities and Facebook groups explore the intersection of Christian faith and Buddhist practice, focusing on shared values like compassion and mindfulness.

Dedicated Groups and Communities

• Buddhist Christian Group: A public group intended for individuals who find personal value and importance in both traditions. You can view it on the Buddhist Christian Facebook Group.
• Zen Christians: A community for people who combine Christian faith with the philosophy, discipline, and practice of Buddhism, looking for commonalities rather than divisions. You can check out the Zen Christians Facebook Group.

Common Discussion Themes

• Overlapping Teachings: Members frequently discuss how Jesus’s teachings on peace and loving-kindness align with Buddhist principles, often referencing literature like Thich Nhat Hanh’s Living Buddha, Living Christ.
• Practice vs. Doctrine: Discussions often address whether Christians can use mindfulness or meditation as a practical tool without compromising core theological beliefs about God and salvation.
• Theological Differences: Opinions in these public forums vary; some participants see deep harmony, while others highlight fundamental differences, such as Buddhism’s non-theistic focus on enlightenment versus Christianity’s focus on a personal creator God and redemption from sin.

1. I visited the FB group, Buddhist Christian. My opinion: too many AI pictures and a mix-up of Egyptian Gods and Hinduism.
2. FB Group: Zen Christians. Private group; couldn’t explore. I requested membership to follow…

Readings

• Wikipedia: Buddhism
• Wikipedia: Buddhist influences on Christianity

12 Little Laws of Karma That Will Change Your Life

BY STEVEN BANCARZ JULY 23, 2014 SELF DISCOVERY, SELF HELP, SPIRITUALITY

Live Buddhism: What is Karma? Karma is the Sanskrit word for action. It is equivalent to Newton’s law of ‘every action must have a reaction’. When we think, speak or act, we initiate a force that will react accordingly. This returning force may be modified, changed, or suspended, but most people cannot eradicate it.

This law of cause and effect is not punishment, but is wholly for education or learning.

A person may not escape the consequences of his actions, but he will suffer only if he himself has made the conditions ripe for his suffering. Ignorance of the law is no excuse whether the laws are man-made or universal.

To stop being afraid and to start being empowered in the worlds of karma and reincarnation, here is what you need to know about karmic laws.

1. THE GREAT LAW

• “As you sow, so shall you reap”. This is also known as the “Law of Cause and Effect”.
• Whatever we put out into the Universe comes back to us.
• If we want happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship… Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.

2. THE LAW OF CREATION

• Life doesn’t just HAPPEN; it requires our participation.
• We are one with the Universe, both inside and out.
• Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.
• BE yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your Life.

3. THE LAW OF HUMILITY

• What you refuse to accept will continue for you.
• If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait we find negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.

4. THE LAW OF GROWTH

• “Wherever you go, there you are”.
• For us to GROW in Spirit, it is we who must change – and not the people, places or things around us.
• The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES, and that is the only thing we control.
• When we change who and what we are within our heart, our life follows suit and changes too.

5. THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Whenever something is wrong in my life, something is wrong in me.
• We mirror what surrounds us – and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth.
• We must take responsibility for what is in our life.

6. THE LAW OF CONNECTION

• Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected.
• Each step leads to the next, and so on.
• Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.
• Neither the first step nor the last is of greater significance,
• as both are needed to accomplish the task.
• Past-Present-Future, they are all connected…

7. THE LAW OF FOCUS

• You can not think of two things at the same time.
• When our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.

8. THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY

• If you believe something is true, then at some point in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.
• Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned into actual

9. PRACTICE. THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW

• Looking backward to examine what was prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW.
  • Old thoughts, old patterns of behaviour, old dreams…
• Prevent us from having new ones.

10. THE LAW OF CHANGE

• History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.

11. THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD

• All Rewards require initial toil.
• Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.
• True joy follows doing what we’re supposed to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on its own time.

12. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION

• You get back from something whatever YOU have put into it.
• The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.
• Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole.
• Lacklustre contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.
• Loving contributions bring life to, and inspire, the Whole.

Join our community!

I indicate the source for this text, but when I verify it, it seems someone purchased the domain name for posts about science and metaphysics, but the original site no longer exists.

• See more at: http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/12-little-known-laws-of-karma-that-will-change-your-life-2/#sthash.X5k1CbAM.dpuf

NOTA BENE: We are a non-profit corporation; this site presents our religious denomination and is also used for teaching. We believe this published post of 12 Little Laws of Karma That Will Change Your Life is fair use, with no copyright infringement intended.

CathoBel

Quand la parabole évoque la violence des vignerons prêts à tout pour s’approprier les fruits de la vigne et l’héritage du maître, je ne puis m’empêcher d’y voir la spirale d’égoïsme et de violence qui gangrène nos sociétés et la…

A sacramental is a sacred sign, object, or action instituted by the Church, rather than directly by Christ, to obtain spiritual effects and holiness in daily life.

What is a Sacramental?

• Definition: Sacred signs that imitate the sacraments and signify spiritual effects through the intercession and prayer of the Church.
• Purpose: They prepare individuals to receive grace, inspire devotion, and turn ordinary moments toward God, rather than acting as magic or lucky charms.
• Difference from Sacraments: The seven sacraments (like Baptism or the Eucharist) were instituted directly by Christ and confer grace by His power. Sacramentals work through the Church’s prayer and the believer’s personal faith.

Common Examples

• Objects: Rosaries, crucifixes, scapulars, holy medals, and holy water.
• Actions: The Sign of the Cross, blessings, and genuflecting.
• Prayers: Special prayers of blessing or consecration for people and places.

Independent Sacramental Movement

The Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM) is a loose collection of autonomous Christian communities and clergy that practice historic, liturgical sacramental worship outside the jurisdiction of mainstream institutional bodies like the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Anglican Churches.

• Sacramental Focus: Celebrates the traditional seven sacraments (such as the Eucharist, Baptism, and Holy Orders).
• Apostolic Succession: Claims valid episcopal lineage and historic succession, often tracing roots through lines like the Old Catholic Church or independent consecrations.
• Structural Autonomy: Operates via self-governing micro-churches, house churches, or independent jurisdictions rather than a centralized hierarchy or papacy.
• Diverse Spectrum: Ranges from socially progressive and inclusive bodies (ordaining women and LGBTQ+ individuals, permitting married clergy) to traditional, esoteric, or conservative expressions.
• Clergy Model: Frequently relies on volunteer, bivocational, or solitary working clergy.

Origins

Many groups within the movement originated from historical schisms or departures from major traditional bodies, beginning notably with the Old Catholic movement of Utrecht in the 18th and 19th centuries and expanding through independent lines of succession.

Eric Michel Ministries International (EMMI) is an independent religious organization and non-governmental organization (NGO) based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Operating within the broader ecosystem of the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM), it runs an ecumenical network that supports small, self-governing Christian churches, ministries, and chaplains worldwide.