Hello,

I'm Russian Catholic and I read here that my Bishop would be the local Latin rite Bishop, but then I heard that in some cases, the Latin Bishop appoints the Russian Catholics to the care of another Eastern rite, like the Ukrainian rite.

Then I realized I don't know who my Bishop is. I would ask the chancery or Bishop's office but they're really busy. Is there a list somewhere, does anyone know? Or anyone have any information? I live in Canada.

thank you!

I believe, in the U.S. and Canada, that all Russian Catholics are under the care of the local Latin bishop. In certain other countries I know that some Russian Catholics are under the care of the Melkite bishop. Write a short letter to the chancellor of the Roman diocese you live in and simply ask for clarification. A letter will give the chancellor time to research the matter and get back to you - much better than trying to phone him.

Dear sister-
You should return to your spiritual father with this question. Since he is familiar with the many issues you continue to struggle with he is in the best position to advise you.

May the most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos aid you to peace.

http://www.cccb.ca/site/

Above is the link to the website of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. On the left side of the page there is a map of all the Roman Catholic dioceses in Canada. Below the map is a listing of each diocese. If there is no mention of a bishop in the diocesan listing, such likely reflects that the see is vacant at present. If you have no luck with this, send me an e-mail with the name of your city, town or village and I will let you know what Roman Catholic diocese you reside within.

Thank you for the replies!

I do know which Roman Catholic diocese I would be in, but I'm not sure if my Bishop is the Roman Catholic Bishop, or an Eastern rite Bishop.. because my church, Russian Catholic, doesn't have its own bishops.

The various Eastern Rite Catholic bishops in Canada have no jurisdiction over Russian Rite Catholics. Thus, the Roman Rite Catholic bishop in whose diocese you have a domicile (the place where you usually reside) is your bishop. Unfortunately at present, there are no Russian Rite Catholic parishes in Canada. If you are ever in Brampton, Ontario please join us at St. Elias.

www.saintelias.com

Monica,

As Deacon David correctly notes, Russian Greek Catholics in Canada are subject to the Latin ordinary within whose geographic diocesan territory they reside.

The situation that you describe hearing of - the commitment of Russian Greek-Catholics to the spiritual omophor of other Byzantine hierarchs is unique to the US, Australia, and, possibly, Brazil, where there are established RGC parishes. It is the parishes as entities (and their parishioners) that have been committed to the omophor of other Eastern hierarchs.

There is presently no RGC parish in Canada. The sole former Canadian parish, Presentation of the Virgin Russian Greek-Catholic Church in Montreal, was canonically suppressed in 1997 - memory eternal!

Many years,

Neil

Thank you! That definitely helps then my Bishop would be the local Latin Bishop.