About the Church

CCSJ logoThe Catholic Congregation of St. John Preparer of the Way (CCSJ) is a community of convergence movement churches in the Philippines, India and Europe. This group of churches has come together to realize its catholic/universal calling to bring the love of God and proclaim and manifest His greatness to Filipinos and the world.

The Church began in 1979 as a fellowship of a small group of people and Loren Thomas Hines was called by God to lead them. The fellowship grew as a result of the many bible studies which were conducted in many parts of Metro Manila by Pastor Hines and the leaders of the church on a weekly basis. The church members grew not only in number but also spiritually, as they actively participated in the various ministries of the church – music, dance, media, ushering, ROHI cell groups, counseling, among others. The fellowship was known as a charismatic church and drew in many people because of its spirit-filled worship services and powerful teachings.

The journey of the church took a turn in 1994 when the Lord led it to the liturgical stream to make it complete. With its embrace of the liturgical stream, the church became liturgical and sacramental, evangelical and charismatic. In September of that year, Loren Thomas Hines was consecrated as the first bishop of the church with lineage that can be traced back to the church fathers of the early church.

As a church, we are convergent – fully charismatic in worship, sacramental in practice and evangelical in life. The three streams of the Kingdom are lived out in “Walking” with integrity, “Working” in righteousness, and “Speaking” truth from the heart.

We are administered by Bishops who function as they are led by the Spirit in caring for their flocks. Each area has its own Bishop, and the Bishops all work together led by love and not by law. Our canons are Holy Scripture given by the Holy Spirit to set the Church in order and ruled by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Consensus is our standard of agreement.

Aside from our presiding bishop, Archbishop Hines, CCSJ is also led by other bishops and has parishes in Greenhills, Tanay, Caloocan, Baguio and Montalban. The church in Tanay is led by Bishop Salvador Tarraya.

This convergence movement also ministers to Filipinos working overseas, particularly in Spain, Belgium, Monaco and Bahrain. The work in Europe is being headed by Bishop Felicisimo Cordero, Bishop Rolando Geronimo and Bishop Fernando Mallari. More parishes and mission churches are planned in Europe where the number of migrant Filipino workers continues to grow.

Bishop Thomas Jaison is the head of the Catholic Congregation of St. John – India and also serves as the Dean of the Academy of St. John in Chennai, India.

Bishop Hoang Truong Van is the first Vietnamese bishop of CCSJ in our mission church in Vietnam.

Bishop Richard Coleman is a longtime friend of Archbishop Hines, and is the bishop of St. Michael’s Cathedral -The Father’s House in Chattanooga, Tennessee.


Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines, D.D.
Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines, D.D.

Bishop Felicisimo Cordero
Bishop Felicisimo Cordero

Bishop Rolando Geronimo, D.D.
Bishop Rolando Geronimo, D.D.

Bishop Octavio Salvador Tarraya III
Bishop Octavio Salvador Tarraya III

Bishop Thomas Jaison
Bishop Thomas Jaison

Bishop Fernando Mallari
Bishop Fernando Mallari

Bishop Hoang Truong Van
Bishop Hoang Truong Van

Bishop Richard Coleman
Bishop Richard Coleman