Hi everyone. As you can tell, I'm new here. I'm a Latin Catholic, but I frequently attended a Ruthenian and Melkite parish back home in Virginia. I now live in Vermont, and I have to say, I really miss both parishes. I guess I've always felt more at home in those parishes. So this brings me to the point of this thread, does anyone know of any Eastern Catholics in the state of Vermont? I know we have no missions or parishes here, but would anybody know of any that might be anywhere near Vermont? Thank you!

None in Vermont, but there are Melkite and ukrainian parishes in Manchester, NH.

Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church - Manchester, New Hampshire

http://home.myfairpoint.net/vze84mch/index.html

There are Eastern Catholics in Vermont!
A group of Melkites near Hinesburg.
Served by Fr Anthony. I have celebrated with them on several occasions.
Also there are many Melkites in Barre Vermont but unfortunately they have been absorbed into the Latin Church when there were no Melkite clergy in the area.
Most of them are Lebanese.
Stephanos I

VTCatholic,

The Maronites have a retret center in VT - about 10 miles from you. I don't know whether it is staffed year-round or not:

St. Rafka (Maronite) Retreat, Spiritual and Youth Center
6420 Route 116
Shelburne, Vermont 05482-7191
802 660-2528
FAX: 802 660-0868

Father Stephanos references Melkites in Hinesburg and 'Father Anthony'. I'm aware of a small Lebanese community in that area (less than a dozen individuals, I believe). And there was a community of Lebanese stone-cutters in Barre, but I thought they were all or mostly Maronites.

I suspect that Father Anthony of whom Father Stephanos speaks is Father Anthony Nachef, a Lebanese-American Latin priest, who formerly served St Mark's (Latin) parish in Burlington. However, I don't believe Father is still serving in that diocese and I can't find him listed elsewhere. Whether his bi-ritual faculties are Melkite, Maronite, or both, I'm uncertain.

An interesting graduate study of Lebanese Christians in ME and VT, focused on the role of food in Lebanese culture, described these isolated Lebanese populations as very, very assimilated into American culrure and resistant to being perceived as Arab-Americans or Lebanese-Armericans - wanting very much to only be thought of as 'American'. Persons interviewed by the writer of the study traced this attitude back as far as the 50s, rather than it being any reaction to the current attitudes toward Arabs in general.

Many years,

Neil

Thank you all greatly for the information. Unfortunately, Manchester is a good four hours from me, although I was able to worship with the Melkites there last year when I was in town for a concert.

I'll have to look into the Maronite retreat center, thank you for that. I was not aware of that at all and Shelburne is only a bus ride away.

It would be wonderful if there was a stable enough of a community to at least have a mission in the state, maybe one day!

Btw, welcome to the Forum, VTC.

Your comments suggest that you formerly worshipped at Holy Transfiguration in McLean and Annunciation in Falls Church. There are several folks here who presently or formerly worshipped at each of those parishes.

Many years,

Neil

Those were indeed the parishes I frequented. I have so many fond memories there. I can greatly credit the East for pulling me away from my associations with a certain out of communion Latin Mass society. For that I will be forever thankful. I owe my renewed zeal for my Catholic faith to those two parishes.

Sorry I meant to say Maronites!
Stephanos I

Dear VT Catholic,
There is Sts.Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Granville,NY.It's just over the border from West Pawlet,VT.It would be a bit of a drive for you,but closer than Manchester,NH.

It was a nice community however I don't know what the present state is after the last priest left.
Stephanos I

I visited there in the late spring of 1998,just after Pentecost.The priest there did say that his community was down to about 20 or so souls.

VC,

See here - it's the most current info I have on the parish to which Father Al refers.

Many years,

Neil