www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News New vision developing for evangelism and mission

Greetings Father Tom,

Just a word of welcome and also to let you know how much I enjoy your radio program from your website. I'm president of the Youngstown-Warren Chapter of the Society of St. John Chrysostom, and I wanted to tell you again how much we appreciated your presence among us last November 13. The feedback from those in attendance was very positive. I hope you can visit us again in the future. Thank you,
Vito

Glory forever!

Father, bless.

Thanks for your good work, and for looking in here, and for your words of encouragement.

Dan is right, and I hope our discussions can help evanglization become more of a priority for eastern Christians.

Nick

Friends,

I look forward to Father Loya's contributions in this area. He is new to internet forum procedures so while he gets well acquiainted through the instruction of our administrator on the rules of being a moderator let us begin to ponder the question that drives him.

Can the Byzantine Catholic Church grow without very radical changes and without taking Pope John Paul's admonision seriously found in "Light of the East"? Can the eparchies continue to support large numbers of small congregations in limited geographical areas, e.g., while allowing our mission parishes in places like Minnesota and Missouri to remain virtually unsupported and still expect to grow?

Just a couple of starter thoughts. I'll let him present his case.

Dan Lauffer

Father Loya,

Welcome to the Forum! We hope that the Lord may find some little use for this forum in spreading the Good News to the world.

Admin

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Dan,

I think that radical changes are necessary. We must comply both with the Gospel Teaching to evangelize. The teachings of the Holy Father are nothing more than restatements of the command to evangelize.

I also think that pastoral concern is necessary. The best way to renew our Church is to focus on what needs to be done and to do it � with gentleness. The renewal of an authentic and spirit-filled Liturgy, where people are at home and at play in the Father�s house is the first step. The process is one that takes 3-5 years in a parish where the Liturgy is not all that it can be. The idea is to lead the people in a way that they seek and embrace the renewal that is offered instead of implementing renewal by mandate. A priest who loves the Liturgy and cantors who both love the Liturgy as well as can have fun singing are vitally important.

Can the eparchies continue to support large numbers of small congregations? Perhaps, if the people tithe very well. The better way is to turn those small congregations into large ones!

Admin

The new forum for evangelization has been created. Father Thomas is the moderator. At some point I will re-visit the order of the forum since I believe that evangelization should be near the top.

Father Thomas,

Welcome to the Forum. May God grant you many years.

Neil

Dan -

I agree with your main points here. Resources, events, etc. do seem to focus on a few geographic areas throuhgout the Metropolia. That, of course, means that we in the "hinterlands" must become creative in our mission to the local areas. (The Divine Liturgy at the Franciscan Brothers and the Jesus Prayer Starter Kits are examples.) There are, however, some potential synergies throughout the Metropolia that should be explored. Also, that means that those in Pittsburgh should always take into account the geographically dispersed. (The new Contor Institute website is a great example of finding ways to make resources available to parishes at large.) I think the Holy Spirit is inspiring much of this, which means that prayer must be multiplied and deepened if we are to follow His inspiration!

Also, I would only add that in Minneapolis, Father James, our pastor, has been extremely supportive of our outreach activities, as has Bishop John. I'm sure that is not what you meant, but I just wanted to make it clear to the forum members.

Peace -

Gordo