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Um, excuse me Sir, but it was you who first said:
So there ARE Byzantine Catholic churches in Rochester! So do you mean you are looking for a Ruthenian church?

This is part of the problem. When our people move to places where there is not their "own" Byzantine Catholic church, they will not attend another Byzantine Catholic church because it is not "their" type. And in the end, all Byzantine Catholics in the USA are suffering for it.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I do not actually know about the local situations across hard coal and steel country but many of the small towns and neighborhoods where established so long ago that I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few places where the parishes are a short driving distance from each other.

Two things I can think of right away:

(1) Perhaps some congregations could build up a regional choir that could travel between parishes and also make public appearances. I'd have a whale of a time doing that!

(2) If there should be a need to restructure by merging parishes it opens up the possibility of giving the whole community a fresh start: new facility, new look, excitement. Blending the treasured past with an optimistic and forward looking present.

A combined church roster might be better able to attract and support a new young priest with family! The strength of a new strong and proud parish is attractive to seekers.

Byzantine Catholicism has many wonderful positive aspects to it that will make people want to participate. It draws people like a magnet when it presents it's open and welcoming heart. Sometimes we need to break the old mold before it becomes just mold.

Michael

Might I suggest that anyone who thinks that his Church is properly styled "Byzantine Catholic" while a Melkite Greek-Catholic Church and/or a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church cannot properly be styled "Byzantine Catholic" owes us an explanation. How is he defining "Byzantine Catholic"? For that matter, how is he defining "Byzantine"? Incognitus

Byzantine because Pittsburgh will become the Fourth Rome.

Been there, done that. There was a time not too long ago when the Pope of Rome was pictured on the cover of about 75% of the editions of the Byzantine Catholic World newspaper in a given year. How's that for Roman?

Lemko,
Talking to you is like talking to a stone, which explains why I usually do not respond to you.

But here goes one more try.

Yes, the Meklite Greek Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (as well as the Byzantine Catholic Church) are all Byzantine Rite Churches but it is improper to call either the Meklites or the Ukrainians the Byzantine Catholic Church because their names are Melkite Greek Catholic Church and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

My church, the Byzantine Catholic Church, while being of the Byzantine Rite has as it offical name, in America, the Byzantine Catholic Church.

I would find the hypocrisy funny if it wasn't so sad. Everyone here jumps on the Byzantine Catholic Church for choosing to call itself that by saying that there are more Byzantine Churches then just them while they ignore the name that the OCA has chosen for itself.

Or is the OCA the only Orthodox Church in America?

incognitus, I am not defining Byzantine in any way other than you do. When I say the Byzantine Catholic Church, I am speaking of a specific church that has named itself thus.

When you and Lemko say Byzantine in this thread you are speaking of Rite.


David

I am not a Lemko, but I have some good friends who are Lemki. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Metropolia is not entitled to appropriate a name which also belongs to others and apply that name to itself exclusively. As I said earlier, this has its amusing aspects (as occur, for example, when people assert that prostopinije is "Byzantine chant", which it manifestly is not). The Bishop, clergy and faithful of the Eparchy of Canton are certainly "Byzantine Catholics", and have no organizational connection with the Pittsburgh Metropolia.
Your point on the asserted name of the "Orthodox Church in America" is well taken; that name is misleading, which may explain the preference of nearly everyone to refer to that Church by its initials.
If for whatever reason you don't care to be called "Ruthenian", kindly find some other word which pleases you, but which does not seek to pre-empt someone else's position. By the way, "Byzantine" does not merely refer to a "rite"; it includes much more than that. Incognitus

Regarding the OCA, the reason that they claim that name is that they claim to be the legitimate Orthodox jurisdiction in the U.S. So while they may not be the only jurisdiction, the claim is that they should be.

This is not the case with the Byzantine (Ruthenian/Carpatho-Rus) Catholic Church. That claim has never been made to my knowledge.
Justin

You guys sure love to put words into my mouth.

I have never claimed that the Byzantine Catholic Church is the only Byzantine Church.

I think you guys need to reread everything that I have said on this issue and wake up.

As for Incognitus' comment. I do not have the power to name any church, I can only go by what the church has named itself.


David

David's point: The Pittsburgh Metropalia officially calls itself the Byzantine Catholic Church.

Everyone else's point: They shouldn't do so.

David: But they do.

Everyone else: Yeah, but they shouldn't.

David,

I was replying more to Incognitus' statement re the OCA. I realize the second part of the last paragraph was a bit snarky, so I have edited it out. I apologize. It was early, I'm in the most boring class of my life, and we just elected the Terminator our governor--it's not the best of mornings!

Thank you LatinTrad! I knew I liked you for some reason!


David

No problem.

I do not know where some posters have obtained their information regarding the "oficial" name of the Ruthenian Church in the USA, but it is not now, nor has it ever been the Byzantine Catholic Church. This is a title often applied in connection with this church and it's parishes, but it is not an official name, legally or otherwise. The official name of the church, as stated in the particular norms of the church, promulgated by the late Metropolitan Judson together with all the bishops of the Metropolia, is the "Byzantine Metropolitan Church sui iuris of Pittsburgh". Similarly during the anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Pittsburgh Church, Metropolitan Judson was very attentive to the name he used for the church and at no time used "Byzantine Catholic Church" but rather chose "Byzantine-Ruthenian Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh" for all documents, publications and correspondnce. One should not mistake popular practice for the truth of the matter.

Thanks, MJ.


Everyone happy now?