www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Can we afford "business as usual"?

Dear Dan and Michael,

You guys are O.K. in my books.

Now would anyone like to say something nice about me?

Alex

Well spoken, Dan. I hope someday we can call you "Fr. Dan" no matter what jurisdiction ordains you. Please remember to invite me and my family to your ordination.

Axios! Axios! Axios!

Joe Thur


Joe

One can only listen to "Ruthenians are cowards", "that priest is wicked", and "our leaders are failures" for so long before starting to believe it.

Fortunately, I know better than that. Ruthenian Catholics are not cowardly. "That priest" is not a wicked man. Our leaders have tried to make the best of an incredibly difficult situation; some have been more successful than others, but they were all sincere in their convictions.

It is I who am not worthy of them; not the other way around.

Lemko,

"It is I who am not worthy of them; not the other way around."

This is true and it applies to me as well. Yet, there are many things that can be done to get out of the difficult situation we are in. You have made something out of my words that were not intended. I apologize for my failure to communicate better. But you could have read my comments in context and we might have been spared this misunderstanding.

Dan Lauffer

Dear Cantor Joseph,

And I wish the same for you, as you do for Dan!

But I think some here feel that Dan already has an "Axios" to grind concerning some matters

Alex

Alex,

Me thinks Dan has an Axios to grind in the harvest of souls. Best to kick him out into the vineyard for the harvest before the neighbors pick our fruit.

"Axios!" to Dan to serve the Church as a presbyter! Hooray for Father Dan Lauffer! Another Illinois priest to serve our faithful.

Time to let the wild stallions out of the pen. Yahooooooooo! ... err, Axios, Axios, Axios!

Dear Cantor Joseph,

Well, perhaps if others poached some of our own, our Churches would sit up and take notice - and act on the very real needs our communities have?

A future Father Dan would serve the BC Church very well.

He would help us divest ourselves of Latinization.

Is Dan married, by the way?

Alex

I just received my copy of Eastern Catholic News and noted with despair of the deaths of two more of our priests. One was only 37 years old.

Without thinking, my first response that came from my lips was "WHY God???? WHY????"

Now I know I have no business even asking this question. The word "why?" said in God's presence, usually indicates that one has a serious disagreement with God's sovereign choice in a situation, rather than submitting to what has happened.

And now I read this thread and find myself in agreement with Dan's frustrations.

I wonder why our bishops don't take a stand on being EASTERN and begin a serious search for OLDER married men who wish to finish their lives out serving the Lord and His people in that capacity. I think that this would be wise since most men over 50 are in a position where their demands are fewer and their free time somewhat more. Over 60 is even better.

I have wanted to start an evangelism program at St. Ann's for over a year, yet I know if I am given permission to do so, I will most likely be the only one who will go out from door to door. My plan is quite simple and non-confrontational (for those who are nervous about discussing the Faith). I have made up a flyer to put in the doors of the houses around St. Ann's.

Simple. No contact needed.

It is still on hold. Fr. Mike has the flyer. All I need is the permission to try to start this up. But I think the advisory board is nervous about this. I guess it smacks of Protestant Fundamentalism in some ways (ah, we never quite ever leave our past, do we? )

But unless we have an influx of converts (and I assume that most of our parishes are like St. Ann's) we will see the population of the parish slowly die off and not be replaced. And then it will be gone, along with all the beauty and majesty of the Byzantine worship.

How sad.

We have such a treasure. Why can't we get people concerned and excited about seeing that the next generation to come along has the opportunity to drink deeply of these riches?

And finally, WHY does it take so long for deacons to be ordained. I ask this question fully expecting to be told that I don't know what I am talking about, but here it is:

WHAT is more important in a deacon -- education or godliness and commitment to the parish?

IT SHOULD NOT TAKE 5 YEARS TO ORDAIN A DEACON!!!

To me ( and as I said, I am probably gonna git blasted fer this ) THAT IS NUTS!!!!

When we have a distinct shortage of deacons to help our priests, when my priest YAWNS at the altar because the running of the parish has the poor man hardly able to get sleep for need of help, when this situation is over the whole of the Church, then perhaps this is being approached wrongly.

HOW did men get into the diaconate in the Early Church? Did they have to go to school for 5 years while the priest waited for the help he needed?

I think not:

Ac 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

What a novel idea!!! Godly men. I'm sure that every parish has some who would be willing to serve. I'm not suggesting that they serve without training, but 5 years is not needed if this is done right.

Just my .02

Let us continue to pray for our church, that the Lord would raise up answers for these problems and that he would give our bishops wisdom to impliment the answers given.

Cordially in Christ and the Blessed Virgin,


Brother Ed

Dear Brother Ed,

Why does it take so long for married priests to get ordained?

Alex

Alex --

If you are asking me to tell you from a standpoint of eclessiastical administration, I simply have no answer.

If, however, you are asking me why in terms of the need to have a priest who KNOWS what he needs to know, then the answer is that it takes time to learn all that one needs to know to become a good priest.

In my post, I just tried to state that a shorter time for ordaining deacons would be a big help to the priests we already have and who are quite overworked.

Brother Ed

Lemko,

You said that you are "self excommunicated". Yet, you seem passionately supportive of the Church. Will you tell us why the discrepancy between these two positions?

"Fortunately, I know better than that. Ruthenian Catholics are not cowardly."

If this is true, it is the first group to exist in history that have no cowards. I think our Church is better than any other but we still have some cowards.

**"That priest" is not a wicked man.**

Gratefully, I don't know any wicked priests either. I guess this statement depends upon which priest you are talking about.

"Or leaders have tried to make the best of an incredibly difficult situation;"

Many have. Many have not. Some of the problems depend upon expectations and training.

"some have been more successful than others, but they were all sincere in their convictions."

I suppose it has much to do with expectations and training.

Dan Lauffer

Alex, Joe, and Brother Ed,

With members likes you we have a bright future. Thank you for your kind words. I love our Church. I'm committed to do the very best I can in whatever capacity God allows me to serve.

Thank you friends,

Dan Lauffer

"And our Lord said, "Go out and do nothing. Keep your lamp under a bushel basket, burry your talents, don't wait up for the bridegroom. You have other things better to do than give the impression that you take your faith seriously or believe in me. Join the money-changers, establish more bingo palaces. Play it safe. At least the bingo money will pay the bills. Don't rely on the disciples. Stay where they have contempt for me and my Word. Don't shake the sand out of your sandals because it will make a mess. Hang around and ignore any missions. I will not send a Paraclete if you ask. Call more meeting, more conferences, and more committees. More glossy pics giving the impression that something is being done. I like it when nothing gets done. I like missionaries who have the gift of the gab and blow steam around the room rather than evangelizing." And the people looked on in horror for they noticed it was not the Lord Jesus, but the Evil One smirking behind the beard. In the distance, a jackal could be heard howling. Fear fell on all those who once had energy to go out and preach the Good News.

Alex,

"Is Dan married, by the way?"

36 years of marital bliss.

Dan Lauffer

This needs to be repeated:

"IF YOU HAVE A VOCATION, DON'T LET ANYTHING OR ANYONE STAND IN YOUR WAY. IF YOU GET THROWN OUT THE FRONT DOOR, GET BACK IN THE BACK DOOR OR SIDE DOOR." (said by Orthodox Catholic above)

I chose to repeat this, because in the times in which we live,the potential priests need all the
prayers and all the human encouragement they can get. The situation is actually more complicated since the Holy Father has asked us to restore our Eastern traditions.

:p

And it is also true as we resurrect traditional monastic life.

TO ALL THE POTENTIAL MONKS AND NUNS READING THE FORUM: Please pray and follow Jesus Christ. It won't be easy. But it will be the best thing you ever did!!

Traditionally the monastics (monks and nuns) were the spiritual heart of the Church. Let us be a very spiritually healthy heart for our respective Eastern Catholic Churches!!!

:p :p