www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Polish Byzantine Shrine

Greetings all:

I have a question that I hope someone here can answer. On the Eparchy of Passaic's official website, I came across an interesting note. Under the websites' section for Pennsylvania parishes, there was a listing of all the churches in the state, including one parish by the name of Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine in Doylestown. It drew my attention because Our Lady of Czestochowa is most usually associated with the Polish community. Of course, Our Lady, under whatever name/title is always a source of devotion for all Catholics, no matter the rite. However I am curious as to how an ethnically Polish shrine has come under a Byzantine Ruthenian eparchy. I visited the Shrine website, and it says that they are directed by the (Roman Catholic) Pauline Fathers. Can someone please let me know under whose jurisdiction this church belongs to.
I suppose what matters is that whether we be Roman or Eastern Catholics we remain Catholics nonetheless, but the question has perplexed me. So I'd appreciate any answers anyone may have.

God Bless,

ProCatholico

Dear PC,

I don't know anything about that shrine, but Our Lady of Czestochowa is not only a Byzantine icon - and has many venerated copies throughout the Eastern Slavic countries.

It was originally in Kyiv - brought as a gift from Byzantium and was then moved to Belz.

Vladislav Opolskie took the icon to Jasna Gora - and wherever his train stopped for the night, there miracles occurred afterwards and chapels and monasteries were built to mark the sites and to venerate copies of Our Lady of Kyiv-Belz/Czestochowa.

Our Lady of Hoshiv, very popular among Ukrainian Catholics, is a copy of the Czestochowa icon as well.

There are six major chapels at Czestochowa established by six families to honour the icon in perpetuity.

One of them is by the Jablonowskie family - a Ukrainian/Polish family of which I am descended through my paternal grandmother.

So the icon is highly venerated in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox circles as well and the Orthodox have an akathist in its honour.

Alex

Dear PC,

There is no doubt but that this Shrine is Roman Catholic and under the direction of the Pauline Fathers who direct the Shrine in Poland as well.

Perhaps it is listed under the Ruthenian listing as a Shrine of great interest to Eastern Catholics, since it is an Eastern icon?

Alex

Alex,
I would love to see you do a couple of pages on this topic, my Ukie brother.

Slava Isusu Christu,
james

All,

Thanks for the information Alex. I had no doubt that Our Lady of Czestochowa was venerated in the Eastern Catholic tradition. But I was surprised to know that she remains as important in the Orthodox tradition as well.
I still do find it odd however that the Eparchial website would list a church in its directory that would not be under its jurisdiction. There are no other such churches of "interest" in the directory. But thanks for the input and of course if any one has further ideas feel free to let us know.

God Bless,

ProCatholico

I believe that there is or was a Greek-Catholic mission holding services at the Doylestown shrine. This may have caused the confusion in the directory. Incognitus

I was just talking with a friend from that area -(close to Philadelphia, PA) who knew a little of the situation.

Apparently there was a Ruthenian mission parish of the Passaic Eparchy that rented space on the shrine property.
The mission moved to Hillstown PA when its married priest joined the OCA (?). They then rented in a RC schoolhouse and were administered to by Fr. John Danilak for a few years. The bishop closed the parish when he became ill in 1999 (?)and no replacement was available.

Sam

Incognitus,

Thanks for the input, it certaintly would seem plausible that the Passaic eparchy had a mission at the Shrine, rather than administer the shrine itself.

God Bless,

ProCatholico

Sam,

Well, thanks for the information. It would seem the question has become a bit more complex.
Even though the priest in question, which you stated, left the Church for the OCA, why do you think they'd change the church location? Also, on another note, I noticed that the Eparchy of Passaic updates its website with some frequency. This would mean that any change (such as the congregation moving to another location from the Shrine)would have had to have been a recent move. Again, does anyone know anything about this curious situation?

God Bless,

ProCatholico

The mission was started by Fr. Robert Lucas; in 1998, Fr. Lucas returned to the American CarpathoRussian Orthodox Church (Johnstown), as he was ordained there 45 years ago along with his seminary classmate, Metropolitan Nicholas.

After Fr. Lucas' departure, Fr. Danilak assisted the fledgling community, as did a few other priests here and there.

Pro-

I have no idea. Perhaps it was a leasing/financial issue?

I was told the parish no longer exists and formally closed in the spring of 2000. Perhaps it was an oversight on the part of the webmaster?

Sam

Dear Jakub,

You mean on the history of the icon?

As for the rest of the administrative stuff - it's too complicated for me!

Alex

Just the Icon Doc.

james

Ken & all,

Thank you for all of the informative details regarding Our Lady's Shrine in Doylestown. Though it is unfortunate when a Catholic faith community closes it brings me joy to know that new churches are starting up elsewhere. Does anyone know around how many new missions the American Byzantine Metropolia has founded in recent years? I would venture to say that each year, interest, in the Eastern Catholic tradition rises (especially among Roman Catholics and Protestants). Glory be to God!

God Bless

ProCatholico

Actually, in the Eparchy of Passaic, the Doylestown Mission was likely the last mission started.

Over the past few years, Bishop Andrew Pataki has had to close several parishes for many reasons; shortage of priests, small parish communities, have resulted in the doubling up of many clergy, and closing parishes and selling properties all over the Eparchy.

I don't know the status of the rest of the Metropolia.

In Christ

Ken