www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Ruthenian Seminarians transferred to USA/Canada?

I too am in my 30's and in my chruch it was, and still is Rusyn. It is because of this tradition that I learned Rusyn and the traditions of my Rusyn heritage. I did not speak from birth, but learned because of the church.

You are correct that the Slavonic liturgy is not the tradition for many, but it is the tradition of our Byzantine (Greek) Catholic Church as a whole from the eparchies of Presov and Mukacevo (now in Uzhorod). That is why the Hungarians formed their own churchs, as well as the Croatian Zumeraci.

But what about the other Eastern Churches where people are not of that tradition, but join because of it? I know of folks in Arizona and New Mexico who are Hispanic and marry into the Byzantine Church and love the Slavonic liturgy?

Many Ukrainian Catholic Churches have ridne skoly to teach Ukrainian to Americans of Ukrainian and those that are not Ukrainian.

The Maronite Church uses Syriac as its liturgical language. Their books are even printed in Syriac. I know many folks that go to the Maronite church here in Pittsburgh. They are 2nd and 3rd generation Lebanese folks that preserve the liturgical language in addition to their Lebanese language.

All the Hungarian Byzantine churches that I know of have a deep sense of being Hungarian, and that is great. I just want the ability to keep my Slaveno-Rusyn culture as well.

What I see currently is what has happened to the Roman Rite. They have created such a mish-mash of cultures and traditions that many of the churches are striving and looking for their culture but cannot find any.

The Roman Catholic parish changed mainly because of the leadership and example of the pastor. He made Christ the focus of his life and the Eucharist the focus of his religion, which he kept and which he expected others to keep too. The mass was served reverently. Sin was preached against. The Eucharist and devotion to Mary were extolled. He held daily Mass and some extra devotions. He was kind and friendly but strong and firm too. The response was good: people from the surrounding area came to participate, and that parish became known as the "spiritual parish" in the area. It also produced two religious vocations under that priest's pastorship. So, one good priest changed a ho-hum parish into a spiritual dynamo by faith, prayer and example. Sadly, that parish was recently shut down because of the priest shortage in the Roman Catholic Church, and the pastor was retired due to his age (even though he was still willing and able tos erve). To me and others, it seemed like killing the goose that layed the golden egg.

The Orthodox parish changed because of the people deciding they had to change or they would die out as a parish. The parish began as an ethnic parish in an ethnic neighborhood about 80 years ago. Over time, the ethnicity in question moved away and / or assimilated. Then not many people came for services, and they were often old or becoming old. They knew they would die out as a parish in another generation's time if they didn't do something different. Their bishop agreed. Fortunately, they had money. They had profitably run bingo for years; and they had some serious cash in the bank. And, they had faith. And, they had a clear goal --grow!-- and the willingness to change and the determination to make it happen. They were also blessed with an enthusiastic priest who shared their vision. So, they bought some land in an area that is growing in population and which is likely to keep growing for the next generation at least. They dropped their ethnic moniker, and they just describe themselves as Orthodox (OCA). So, they built a new temple; held traditional services; quit bingo; started holding festivals; did outreach in a 45 mile radius; and genuinely welcomed anyone interested. It worked. Financially, they are in the black; demographically, they have a good number of people in a good mix of age ranges: old, middle aged and young. And yes, there are children there now; thanks be to God.

So, it can be done. It requires deep faith, good leadership, wise stewardship, willingness to change, enthusiastic determination, and a practical plan. Yes, that's a tall order; but when it is met, amazing things can happen.


-- John

John, Those are wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing in some of the details. It seems that straight faith and outreach are two potent ingredients. The willingness to bring Christ to the people (and new people) is powerful and inspiring. And two seminarians!?!?!?! Why that is almost half a seminary right there! Surely they were running on Pentecostal fire that gives better mileage.

It would certainly be a wonderful thing to share more stories like these. I should start another thread/topic for that.

Eddie

God granted me the opportunity in June to visit the village of my paternal grandparents in Slovakia and to look for relatives.

Most of the parishes use Slovak for the Divine Liturgy. An exception is the parish of Litmanova. I was handicapped because I don't speak Slovak but I had the impression that they use Slavonic because this section was part of Poland until the end of World War II; I think the language of the people was not Slovak but Rusyn.

I visited the seminary at Presov and was told by a fifth year seminarian that when he started there were 99 students; now the numbers are in the fifties. The surge which came after the end of Communism is tapering off, but there are still good numbers. Most of the newly ordained priests are married. My numbers may be off slightly but of the last class of approx 12; 2 or three were celibate. He also told me that the eparchy of Mukachevo is just getting on its feet with a new bishop; they had some serious problems which I will not discuss.

The pani of the priest in Slovinky would like to come to America; the priest would not. After staying there in the village a week I think his opinion is correct. His homeland is conducive to raising a faith-filled family; the USA is not. They have 3 children, the oldest about six. I concelebrated (as deacon) with him on the 10th anniversary of his ordination. The people there may not sing melodiously but the sing with their hearts. Even when the pastor is not there about 20 parishioners gather at 530 p.m. to chant and you can hear them from outside the Church.

Of the three priests that I met only one spoke a bit of English; none were over 35. In another generation they may mostly speak English, but not yet.

Father Deacon Paul

Thanks for sharing that wonderful story about your trip...

Alice

Thanks, Alice.

I will start a thread on the Town Hall forum about my experience and impressions. All are invited to ask questions and I'll do my best to answer.

Fr Deacon Paul

Actually, it was one woman who is headed to a monastery and one man who is headed to a seminary. But, God willing, it will all come to pass . . .


-- John

I don't know if we have any forum participants who were at BCS back in the glory days when they were packed to the rafters who can tell us about it...

But to see it nowadays with a handfull of students knocking around a big empty building about 10x bigger than what they need or can use... It is more than a little demoralizing to walk the halls and wonder what it would have been like versus what it is now...

IMHO, the BCS dropped the ball in the field of accredidation. It only recently has become an accredited school. For years the thinking of the Old Guard was "If they want fancy degrees, let them study for something besides the priesthood."

The vibrancy of the seminary as an institution might be far different from the bleak picture of today if accreditation and endowment had been focused upon decades ago. Really it could have grown into an Eastern Theological force in the (Latin & Eastern) Catholic & Orthodox communities of this hemisphere.

Is it too late to change all this and turn things around? Well nothing is impossible with God... And having paid-off (I would suspect) bricks & mortar is a big plus.

However distasteful it may be to some, perhaps the answer would be to look to the broader Church - especially the Latins - and develop a bi-ritual program that could serve a greater number of men and women looking to either be trained as priests, deacons, catechists, or just with a desire to learn theology.

However unchic it is to even suggest this - the Latins, for all our turbulent and tumultuous relations - have served us over the years with many bi-ritual priests and seminaries where many of our men have studied. Maybe it is time we could offer them something.

I am not sure if there would be an interest in developing a seminary program that could serve Latins as well, that is rooted in Eastern thinking. Perhaps as an affiliate of a Latin seminary or a "satelite" program where students go for a one year immersion program or to learn more on Eastern Theology and Litrugy. Certainly to make more latin priests familiar with our traditions and theology would be a great service to the greater church and a useful starting point for helping the Church to breath with both lungs.

I also can think of a lot of places - like in parts of Africa & Asia - where there are not a lot of Eastern Catholics, it would be of tremendous value for seminairans and priests to spend a year learning about Eatern Christianity in a living Eastern Catholic setting.

Not a concrete proposal per se, but just some ideas I am floating. Even at this point in our history where our numbers have become much diminished, maybe the right question to ask in the context of seminarians from other lands, how can we serve THEM.

If we are generous when it is difficult, we will reap the rewards.

That is basically how the Byzantine Catholic operates now, being served by more Bi-Ritual Latin priests that homegrown Byzantine Catholic priests.

Ungcsertezs

I don't know that you are addressing what I suggested. "That is how they operate now" I was suggesting that we seek to use our time talent and treasure to share with the Latins what we have to offer...

Of course, one could easily argue that in allowing them to be bi-ritual, the many blessings are manifest.

Problematic with bi-ritual priests, however, is that however pious, well intentioned and good they may be, our ritual traditions are not easy to do well when done infrequently.

We could "grow our own" if we were of a mind to do so.

Are we?