Connexion Ordinary
Diocesan Bishop of Our Lady of the Cascades
The Rt. Rev. William (MATTHAIOS) Gameson, OSB, D.D., is a highly respected bishop in the continuing Catholic Church and the independent sacramental movement. He was ordained a priest in 2005 and has served the Church in various capacities since then.
Having a deep commitment to social justice His Grace has been involved in many initiatives aimed at helping the poor and marginalized. He has also been a strong advocate for the environment and has emphasized the importance of caring for God’s creation.
As a Benedictine monk, Bishop Gameson brings a rich spiritual depth to his ministry. He has a deep appreciation for the liturgy and the monastic tradition, and has worked to promote a greater understanding of these aspects of the faith.
Also known for his strong leadership skills and his ability to inspire others to action. He is highly respected by his colleagues and the faithful, and is seen as a beacon of hope and a voice of reason in an increasingly complex and challenging world.
Early Days and Formation
Having graduated secondary school a full year early, His Grace entered a Roman Catholic Olivetan Benedictine monastery located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucsan, at the age of 17 years old to begin his religious formation. His Grace was ordained a priest in 2005 at Saint Luke’s Church in Sedona, Arizona, and was consecrated a bishop in 2010 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio by H.S.B. Patriarch Isaac Kramer, H.S.B. Patriarch James Mondok, and Archbishop Frank Vandeventer.
His Grace later on shared episcopal lines sub-conditione with H.G. Bishop Mark Windon, O.S.B., H.G. Bishop Lon Eilders, O.S.F, and H.E. Archbishop Rusty Lowry, O.S.F. of the Orthdox Anglican Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After having completed two years in monastic retreat undergoing formation with the Diocese of Tucsan, His Grace also attended Sophia Divinity School and Holy Wisdom Theological Seminary.
From an early age His Grace has had passion for comparative religion and the professional practice of spirituality. Born into a spiritual family, Bishop Gameson felt an early calling to monastic life, and immersed himself in the ancient practices of Christian contemplation and lectio divina, becoming a spiritual guide for many. But his journey did not stop there. His spiritual hunger led him to explore the wisdom of other religious traditions, particularly Tibetan Buddhism.
Bishop Gameson spent several years in interfaith study, learning under Tibetan Buddhist teachers and engaging deeply with Eastern spiritual practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and compassionate action.
These experiences expanded his understanding of the contemplative life, allowing him to bring new dimensions of awareness, emptiness, and non-duality into his Christian spirituality. This integration has become a hallmark of his spiritual teaching, which emphasizes the importance of inner transformation as the foundation for social change.
Bishop Gameson completed his formation studies at Holy Wisdom Theological, receiving his Master’s degree in Divinity (M.Div.). He has also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity (D.D.) from Holy Wisdom Theological, as well as an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Religion (Ph.D.) from the Franklin Institute of Theology. His Grace currently serves the Convergent Catholic Communion as the Bishop Ordinary of the Connexion of Our Lady of the Cascades, Dean of Holy Wisdom Theological Seminary and Abbot General of the CCC Order of St. Benedict.
CONTACT THE BISHOP: Bishop@ladyofthecascades.org
Check out the Bishop’s blog for general spiritual wisdom and reflections on spiritual praxis.
Memorial Day – 2023
My dear brothers and sisters, As we gather today on this sacred Memorial Day, my heart swells with both gratitude and sorrow. Gratitude for the brave souls who have given their lives in service to our nation, and sorrow for the tremendous sacrifices made by these...