Is anyone here a member of the St. Louis Byzantine Mission? I have a few question if you do. I am a Roman Catholic who has actually been attending a local Greek Orthodo* church's services and faith class. I have some lingering doubts about breaking with Rome, but I do not want to give up Eastern practices or liturgy. However, it does seem nearly impossible to switch rites within the CC and I have small children who will still need Chrismation/confirmation. How does that work if we just attend the Mission without switching rites?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.

Kelly

Kelly,

Welcome to the forum. Canonical transfer between Churches is not as impossible as you might think, though it will require a bit of time and patience. As regards the St Louis Mission, I think that we do have at least one poster here who is a member of the mission - though I'm blanking at the moment as to who.

The mission has a wonderful website, well worth exploring, or you can get details such as times and directions at it's directory entry.

As regards your last question, I want to be sure that I understand it correctly. Are you asking whether the children can be chrismated without formally transferring your canonical enrollment? If so, that would be a question best addressed to the priest who administers the mission, as one can get different answers, depending on the particular priest's interpretation of the Canons.

I'd highly recommend visiting the mission. It looks to be a very vibrant and welcoming community. (When a parish webmaster takes the time and makes the effort to alert us whenever the information on our directory entry needs to be updated, it tells me that the parish seeks to be inviting and is very conscious of the importance of doing so.)

Many years,

Neil

Thank you for your response Neil.

I had read different places that it may be possible for the children to be chrismated without changing rites. My oldest made his FHC in 2010 but hasn't been confirmed, #2 is supposed to make his FHC ne*t year and then there are two more after that. I don't want my kids to be denied the sacraments because we are Latin rite but attend an Eastern Catholic church. And I have read some horror stories about trying to change rites.

That is good to know about the website. I will plan to head into the city ne*t Saturday for Divine Liturgy there. I don't have enough time to get there tonight.

Kelly

I would recommend calling Father Selzer this week for a heads up and explain who you are and your situation. I think there are four priests who serve the Liturgy. They have a facebook page as well on which they post current announcements.

In Christ,
Adam

I'd probably suggest, instead, calling Father Eugene (Selzer) - the administrator of the mission - and seeing if you can set up a time to speak with him face-to-face. (My personal opinion, these kind of discussions do better that way than over the phone.)

Adam is correct, pastoral care of the mission is currently provided by 4 bi-ritual priests, who rotate in serving the Divine Liturgy. As a result, Father Eugene isn't going to be there every week and I agree, it is him with whom you want to speak about the matter.

Many years,

Neil

May I have the link to the facebook page? I was unable to find it. Thank you! (and I will put a call into Fr. Selzer too.)

Kelly

It's called St. Louis Byzantine Catholic Church. the direct link is https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/54279936671/

Thanks, Adam, I've added the link to their directory entry.

Many years,

Neil