Indeed, the center at the University of Scranton has its roots in the John XXIII Center for Eastern Christian Studies, once located at Fordham University in the Bronx. The "center" hails many a famous name in Eastern church studies, including many of the once-called "Russian Jesuits" whose mission would have been to help establish a Byzantine Catholic church in Russia, once communism fell. Since its inception, this "Russian" branch of the Jesuit Order has most likely redefined its priorities, given the current ecumenical atmosphere.
Still, the old center in the Bronx was a place where true Byzantine liturgy and spirituality could be found, albeit mainly according to the Russian Recension, during a period where latinization was at a peak. Its long time everyday business manager, who also oversaw the "Icon and Book Service" is now a monastic of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and continues to operate the "service."
God bless you all.
Fr. Joe
