What Makes St. Raphael’s Different?
We were founded when Fr. Mark Kurowski began celebrating outdoor Masses in Centennial Park, Munster, IN, near the Farmers Market in 2017. Fr. Mark would walk the park in vestments before Mass, blessing people and their pets, and offering prayers and confessions.
A community of people who had been alienated from church began attending. Market vendors noted it was the only year without rain on Sunday mornings. As the community grew, they moved indoors to the Munster Community Center, setting up and tearing down the worship space each week.
When the Center was renovated, we relocated to our current space at First United Methodist Church in Hammond in August 2023.
Our parish welcomes people who’ve experienced church hurt, exclusion, or who’ve simply been away. We often say we are like “the parish of misfit toys,” yet we are kind-hearted, faithful people.
Fr. Mark Kurowski is a graduate of Indiana University (BA, Political Science), Duke University (Master of Divinity), and Mundelein Seminary (M.Div. equiv). He has been in ministry for over 40 years, originally as a United Methodist pastor. His deep belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist led him into the ICAB. He is known for his pastoral care and preaching. You can find him on Instagram @TheJoyfulPriest.
What Makes St. Raphael’s Different?
Our pastoral approach is to reflect on how God loves us and wants us to be renewed in our faith, our life, and our relationships with others. For example, we welcome those who are divorced and remarried to receive Holy Communion without an annulment. We are a great place for those who are in a mixed Catholic/Protestant marriage. We allow all who are baptized in the Trinitarian Formula to receive Holy Communion, thus, not dividing the family. Our priests can marry and know the challenges which are presented to married couples. We have a commitment to social justice because our founder Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa challenged the Roman Church in his day to be more accomodating to the poor and oppressed.
Focus on healing and renewal
Welcoming divorced and remarried catholics
Welcoming blended Catholic/Protestant Marriages
All Baptized receive Communion
Our Priests can Marry
Commitment to Social Justice
Mission Priest
Father Mark Kurowski, M.Div.
Fr. Kurowski has 40 years of experience in ministry and nearly 20 years of those as clergy.
Plan a visit
Our dream is a diverse parish of all ages and backgrounds.
We desire vibrant worship, dynamic formation, deep fellowship, and outreach.
Local F.A.Q.
The Church of Saint Raphael the Archangel (ICAB) – Hammond, Indiana
What kind of church is Saint Raphael’s?
Saint Raphael the Archangel is a parish of the National Catholic Church, part of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church (ICAB). We are a welcoming, sacramental, liturgical, and inclusive community rooted in Catholic tradition and open to the needs of today’s world.
Do you celebrate the traditional sacraments?
Yes. We celebrate all seven sacraments with reverence and beauty. Our liturgies follow the Catholic tradition and are celebrated in English with a solemn and sacred atmosphere..
Can I receive communion at Saint Raphael’s?
Yes, if you are baptized and come with faith in Christ, you are welcome at our altar. We believe in an open table for those seeking God’s grace through the Holy Eucharist.
Where are you located, and how can I visit?
We are located in Hammond, Indiana, in the Northwest Indiana portion of the greater Chicago metro area. Visit our website or call to plan your visit—we’d love to welcome you personally.
Who is welcome at Saint Raphael’s?
Everyone. We especially welcome those who may feel excluded from other churches: the divorced and remarried, spiritual seekers, and anyone looking for a loving, Christ-centered home.
Is the Mass at Saint Raphael’s valid and truly Catholic?
Yes. Our priests are validly ordained in apostolic succession. We believe in and celebrate the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, using traditional Catholic prayers and vestments.
What kind of community life can I expect?
Saint Raphael’s is a small but vibrant parish with pastoral care, adult formation, beautiful worship, community meals, spiritual conversation, and acts of mercy. We believe in building relationships—not just filling pews..
National F.A.Q.
The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church in the United States (ICAB / National Catholic Church)
What is the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church (ICAB)?
The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church (ICAB) was founded in 1945 by Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, a Roman Catholic bishop who stood for reforms in the Church, including the use of the vernacular in the liturgy, married clergy, and social justice for the poor. ICAB is a validly Catholic and apostolic church that remains sacramental and liturgical but independent from the Vatican’s governance.
How is ICAB different from the Roman Catholic Church?
While both share core Catholic beliefs and sacramental theology, ICAB differs in several important ways:
- Married clergy are permitted.
- Divorced and remarried individuals may receive the sacraments, including the Eucharist.
- No centralized papal governance—local bishops exercise jurisdiction in collegiality and freedom.
- A more pastoral and inclusive approach is taken in moral and sacramental matters.
Is ICAB truly Catholic?
Yes. ICAB maintains apostolic succession through Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who was consecrated a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. The Church upholds the Nicene Creed, celebrates the seven sacraments, and believes in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Does ICAB recognize other Catholic sacraments?
Yes. ICAB recognizes the validity of the sacraments celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches. We also welcome all baptized Christians to our altars who approach the sacraments in good faith.
What is the mission of ICAB in the United States?
ICAB in the U.S. serves under the name The National Catholic Church, offering a fully sacramental Catholic life to those who seek a Church that is inclusive, traditional in liturgy, but progressive in pastoral practice. Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with compassion, liturgical beauty, and apostolic integrity.