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

Lemko,

I'm sorry that I've left that impression with you. I don't know why you think this way. Sometimes all of us need a rationale, whether it is realistic or not, for the things we do. Do what God calls you to do, Lemko. I will join you in prayer that you find your way to His Church. As for me I am happier than I've ever been. The BC Church is exactly where I am supposed to be. It has a marvelous and wonderous calling and with God's help that calling will be fulfilled.

I'm sorry if you are not happy with your decisions.

Dan Lauffer

BTW I tried to respond to your request about why I came to the BC Church and why you might consider the BC Church once again as your own. I'm on your ignore list. Funny, I've never felt it necessary to do that. I wanted to respond privately because I needed some clarification from you about what exactly you were asking and ask you where you live.

Here are a couple of brief answers. I cam to the BC Church because it combines the beauty of the Eastern liturgy with communion with Rome. I love my local parish because as Father says, it is an A+ parish. It has a vision and for the most part lives up to it. I don't know what has happened to you in your relationship with the BC Church. Bad things happen to good people. Why not talk with a priest about it. Find a parish through which you can fulfill your vocation. Find a parish in which you can make a positive contribution. If you live near us come and visit. If you don't, I'm sure you can find a good parish through which you can serve.

Joe,

I think I need to back track on something I wrote to you. I misunderstood your post asking who's we?

You were suggesting that many of our clergy have left for other jurisdictions because we did not put them anyplace or we would not ordain them. I've heard many such reports. In this way we do collect vocations and then send them on to other Churches. That is a sad state of affairs. Let's pray that it changes.

Sorry about my confusion on this point.

Dan Lauffer

Thanks once again for evading my questions and turning it back onto me. Whatever. I hope you leave a better impression in person about how happy you are with my Church than you do in writing -- 'cause I'm not convinced.

Lemko,

I'm no more responsible for your feelings than you are for mine. You say "My Church"? I thought you said that you had exhiled yourself from it. I don't know why you want to grind this axe but I'm no part of it. Make peace with "your church" and be happy, or don't and be unhappy. It's up to you.

I don't really care whether you are convinced...of what I don't know. But what is it that you think I am evading? Am I supposed to explain to you why you feel something or other? I don't think I can do that. Nor can you psychoanalyze me from whatever distance we reside.

"Thanks once again for evading my questions and turning it back onto me. Whatever. I hope you leave a better impression in person about how happy you are with my Church than you do in writing -- 'cause I'm not convinced."

Dan Lauffer

BTW You write "thanks again". I don't recall that you've ever thanked me before. Has that happened?

Dan, Lemko is right. You do come across as a very angry, unhappy person. I too hope that you don't come across like that in person. I would hate to think you were giving the general public the impression that all Byzantines were like you or even worse, if you were only attracting other unhappy misfits from other churches like yourself. Lemko is also correct when he says you have ignored his questions...always trying to turn it back on him, or anyone else you can't get the best of in an argument. Moe

Dear All:

Do the "Byzantine Catholic" bishops in North America ordain married men? If not, maybe that would be a good place to start.

Just a thought.

Yours,

kl

Moe,

Generalized accusations are easy to make. How does one defend oneself against them?

Do you have a comment on the topic or are you only interested in attacking me for some reason? I don't know why you are so angry, but there you have it. I hope that you too are nicer in person than on this forum. I would hate to see what kind of people you attract.

Does that kind of venom help anything? Why don't you talk about the issues at hand?

Dan Lauffer

kl,

"Do the "Byzantine Catholic" bishops in North America ordain married men? If not, maybe that would be a good place to start."

Not yet. There is some hope that it might happen in the future. I believe you are correct about it being a good place to start.

Dan Lauffer

Dear Dan,

Many of us have been serious about vocations for a long time.

Please pray for those vocation seeds planted in our vineyard, but were harvested elsewhere.

Joe

Dear Friends,

I think that the topic of vocations can truly be one big hot button for many of us.

I know it is for me. The issue of a possible vocation and why I passed it up still gnaws at me.

It still makes me feel depressed to go and see my colleagues get ordained as either Eastern Catholic or Orthodox clergy - as happened on St Thomas Sunday last.

In addition, what makes me feel bad about it all is that I know that our church hierarchy and institutions can sometimes (or often?) place roadblocks of varying sorts in the way of perfectly good candidates for the priesthood.

There are a number of you writing on this board right now who should have really been ordained to the priesthood a while ago.

I think that whenever a parish goes without a priest, that is always a sad thing.

The blame falls on the people themselves, but also on the institutional life of the church that can be cold and unresponsive to those who, but for such circumstances, might be priests today.

I don't know the answers and it is not for me to tell bishops how to run the church.

But I do believe that if one really has a vocation, then one has to not only put up with circumstances that militate against its realization - one has to positively do BATTLE against them.

I can tell you stories about priest-friends and what they went through to become priests.

Yes, people shouldn't have to go through things like that to become priests. But they fought hard and they won. Others I know fought hard and didn't, though.

But if a Church is imperiled with lack of vocations, sometimes it is not enough to leave things to the bishops.

Sometimes the laity must respond in concerted ways and sometimes those with a priestly vocation must take the Kingdom with the "violence" that our Lord spoke of in the Gospel.

If you have a vocation, and you know it, 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.

Or else go to another building, if you must.

But don't let the Evangelical Energies in you go to waste.

Struggle in the Spirit and you will be victorious.

Anything less will be deemed as an "excuse" by our Lord!

Alex

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic:
[QB] Dear Friends,

"I think that the topic of vocations can truly be one big hot button for many of us.

I know it is for me. The issue of a possible vocation and why I passed it up still gnaws at me.

It still makes me feel depressed to go and see my colleagues get ordained as either Eastern Catholic or Orthodox clergy - as happened on St Thomas Sunday last."

Alex, I know how you feel, it used to gnaw at me to, but try not to be depressed when someone is ordained..ask our Lord to help you rejoice, both for the ordinand and the church who have gained another priest! I felt I had "passed up" a monaastic vocation, at this time in my life I believe I am called to pray for vocations in a very personal way. Whenever I meet someone whether in person or online who is considering a religious vocation, in seminary, in postulancy or novitiate I add them to my "vocation prayer list" and pray for them several times a week. I also pray for specific religious communities and orders on a regular basis, frequently asking Basil, Marcrina, Francis, Julian of Norwich and other monastic saints to join me in interceeding for them. It has enriched my prayer life immensely.

David AOJN

Dear David,

Thank you for sharing that.

I believe our vocations can come to fruition in ways that we don't expect.

I have asked God to let me know what it is He wants me to do.

Like you, I know that a priesthood/ministry of prayer is something that can make a difference for many in the Church.

Let us both take up that vocation and embrace it wholeheartedly, walking in the Spirit, in carefree Divine self-abandon, like leaves driven by the wind!

Alex

Dear All:

I know it's off the topic, but allow me to echo the suggestion that many of us are called to lay vocations within our parishes and churches.

We in the UGCC are somewhat fortunate that Ukraine is apparently producing enough priests that they are able to come over and serve North American parishes.

Most of them are young and married (I promise not be beat a dead horse on this issue - so I stop right there).

Yours,

kl

Lemko and Moe and all,
I have had a chance to meet a few of the posters on this forum and I have had a chance to meet and converse with Dan on several very fruitful occasions, as well as hear him speak publicly.

We all labor under the difficulty of expressing ourselves in this one dimensional, black and white type and it's quite a challenge.

I don't know all the circumstances that you may refer to but I have I have read many of Dan's posts and his passion does come through. Something I have noticed in others (like myself) as well. I suppose that it may be like his preaching style in print! If you didn't know Dan you might not realize the sincere devotion and love this man has for his faith and our Byzantine tradition.

I just want everyone to know that Dan is not full of anger when he writes, but eagerness. I wish I had some of that verve! He can't wait to get the job started. He would walk the miles and shout from the rooftops for us. And I am proud to know him as I am sure you would be too, should we all get the chance to meet some day!

God bless you all,
Michael, sinner

Michael,

You are very kind. I just hope I can live up to half of the billing. God bless you. You are a wonderful encouragement to me and to our congregation.

To all, Michael is a very kind and intelligent man. He is a wonderful asset to our congregation and to our entire Church.

Whether I am ordained or not I have had many opportunities to serve the Lord already and am thankful to God that He has lead me to a Church with integrity and one that has a wonderful future. We must just allow ourselves to be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to follow His lead to new Churches and to new vocations.

Dan Lauffer