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In January of 2008 I will be traveling down to San Antonio and Mexico City to visit with relatives. Anyone know if there are any Byzantine Catholic churches in either of these areas? Thanks!

God bless and keep you....

Hi Doubting Thomas,
Forgive me, my information at this point is very vague, (I'm taking a short break from a research paper,otherwise I'd be glad to find links for you.)
In Texas there Ruthenian churches in Irving, Texas a mission church in Austin that meets at a Maronite church, and another one in Houston. (All english services with the occasional Slavonic response)

I know there are more Byzantine churches in Texas but the ones near Dallas are predominantly non-english-UGCC, and I believe syriac eastern catholic and syro-malabar eastern catholic churches. Perhaps Michael Thoma has more specifics on the last two.

I know there are Maronite churches near Dallas and one in Austin; I suspect that there are more. My impression is that most of the Byzantine churches are in Dallas, Austin and Houston. I've not heard mention of Byzantine churches in San Antonio.

I know there were a few Mexican posters on the forum who could help you. There names escape me at the moment but perhaps someone else can tell you and you could send them a PM.
Hope this helps.

Indigo,

Thanks very much for your help. I hope that your research paper is going well.

God bless and keep you....

There is a Melkite Church in Mexico City. It is near the Roman Catholic Cathedral.

Texas information is accurate. There was once a mission in San Antonio.

The Melkite church in Mexico City is the parish of Porta Coelli and it is the only Catholic church of the byzantine tradition in the entire country.

I do not have the address right with me, but if you are at the Zocalo (Mexico City's central square), to the North you will have the Latin Cathedral and to the West, the National Palace.

If you walk South down the West side, two (or three?) blocks past the National Palace and then make a left (I think the street name is Venustiano Carranza), the church is half a block down that street.

Parking is a big mess downtown Mexico City. I would take the Metro Line 2, the blue one, to the Zocalo station.

There are also a few Maronite parishes and I think an Armenian mission as well, but I do not have more information about any of these.

There are also a number of Antiochian Orthodox churches, a mission from the OCA and at least one Greek Orthodox church, in case you are interested.

Have a safe trip.

Shalom,
Memo

Thomas,

If you PM Bernardo (I haven't seen any posts from him in a while), he can fill you in with details regarding the Melkite parish in Mexico. One of our priests from FL is serving it every or every other weekend, I believe. I don't believe that the Armenian mission mentioned by Memo is any longer active.

There is a Maronite parish in San Antonio, TX - St George's. I have fond memories of their kindnesses to a young Army officer stationed at Fort Sam Houston and away from home for the first time back in the late '60s. May the memory of Abouna Waldimir Akeekee be eternal.

Many years,

Neil

Memo and Neil,

Thank you both very much for your posts. They were very informative and I really appreciate it!

God bless and keep you....