www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Byzantine Evangelization - What do we do?

I know the Roman do alot, to Evangelize and to gain converts, and spread the Gospel. What do we do? Our Churchess are small or visiter are angry roman catholics most of the time, what do we do?
Ive noticed that we dont do nothing, we complain that no buddy recognizes what we are or who we are, but we dont do any thing about it. What can we do as Eastern Catholics with the Help of our Clergy to Spead the Word about Eastern Catholicism and its fullness in the Catholic Faith.

In Christ+
Daniel

Daniel,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I feel ya, brother... as an unofficial "Byzzie" for almost a year, I feel like I've stumbled upon the best-kept secret in the Catholic Church. I never knew the Eastern rites existed until a couple of years ago-- no one ever told me about them.

So... I'm doing my best to get RC friends to come to church with me. I really think that we'd grow by leaps and bounds if more Catholics KNEW about us! :-)

I'm actually feeling tempted to go Orthodox of late, due to feelings of isolation and being "in-between" Catholicism and Orthodoxy. I'm starting another thread about that..

My advice: invite as many RC's as you know to your church, and allow them to experience liturgy Byzantine-style. Not everyone will like it, but I'll bet a lot of 'em will.

Daniel,

Check out the evangelization guide that I have put together. Some parishes are already using parts of it...

A Practical Guide to Evangelization for Byzantine Catholic Parishes [east2west.org]

Christ Is In Our Midst!

Anthony, ive read that its very good, but the thing is our clergy and our eparchys dont put
any of it into use.

In Christ+
Daniel
IC XC NI KA

Dear: Saint,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Embracing Orthodoxy is not the answer to our problems. We the Catholic Church as you know or
at least should know is the Fullness of the Faith that Christ founded on earth. The Pope is the Head of the Church (Matt 16:16). Having said that, ive said that to my self at least 100 times, im converting to Orthodoxy because i didnt like being in the middle. So i know what you are feeling, ignorant RCs dont help, I am and have been in your same boat accept im a Canonical Byzantine Catholic which really makes it a little bit worse. Stand Fast and hold on to your most Holy and treasured Byzantine Catholic faith, dont be disheartned by the actions or words of others, like i have done in the past. All we can do is pray that is the most effective thing we can do a byzantine christians. I think also for the evangelization of other Chrisitans, we laity need to help put in, our Clergy cant do every thing themselves. Learn your faith, and ask your pastor or spiritual leaders, if we can give talks at Roman Churchs which i would like to do. Thats the 1st thing we need to do because education the majority and it will help the minorities with in the church ie. byzantine catholics. God Bless

In Christ+
Daniel
IC XC NI KA

Dear Daniel,

Glory to Him forever!

Thank you... what a beautiful post. This reply and others have really helped me to see what a truly wonderful privelige it is to be Byzantine Catholic.

You're not really accepted by the Roman Catholics (provided they even know what Byzantine Rite Catholics are in the first place), and you're not accepted by the Orthodox... you're kinda in the same position as Our Lord was. He wasn't "accepted" by the Sadducees nor the Pharisees-- in fact, the one thing they agreed upon was that they had to get rid of Him.

Any time we experience rejection because of our Faith, that's a sure sign that we're following Christ. I of all people ought to know that by now.

Anyway, thank you so much, and God bless you!

Karen

Im glad i can help, are you going to apply to
your Eparchy and ask for a change of Rites?

In Christ+
Daniel

Holy Theotokos, Protect our Holy Byzantine Church!

Yes I am, defintely. But there's some chancery rule that says one has to be a member of a Byzantine parish for 3 years before they can begin the process. Plus, you have to have your original baptismal certificate (no copies) etc etc. Stupid and unnecesarily difficult, and they probably make it so on purpose to dissuade people. It has to be a Roman rule, because I know Ladyhawke from another message board, and she doesn't have that ridiculously long waiting period. I mean, I can see a year, just to make sure the person is serious, but THREE? C'mon!

Bingo, you hit it on the head, Daniel. Not enough emphasis at all has been placed on missions and evangelism in Greek Catholic eparchies.

SaintClare,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

What Eastern Catholic Jurisdiction do you want to change rites to? The Ruthenians, Melkites? I dont know much about the change of rites because I was Chrismated into the Byzantine Catholic Church.
3yrs thats along time, but i had to wait 2 years to actually be Chrismated so dont feel so bad, i told you ive been in the same boat! Stick it out or Find another Jurisdictional Eastern Catholic Church in your area.

Diak, thanks for the respones, i gusses i have to do all the evanglization myself, if i do decied to become a priest.

In Christ+
Daniel

Daniel,

Glory forever!

I'm changing to the Byzantine Ruthenian rite, as is Ladyhawke-- the Eparchy of Passaic. I'm thinking the three year rule is a rule of my ROMAN diocese, since Ladyhawke is in the same rite and in the same Eparchy, and doesn't have to wait three years. It's a tad ridiculous.

God bless!

Karen

I once encountered an Old Calendarist Greek Orthodox parish in Phoenix which didn't recognize any other Orthodox parishes as within the True Faith. They also required a 3 year catechumenate prior to chrismation.

If you are an RC and attend a Byzantine parish, you can usually go to communion, where in Orthodox outside Rome churches you cannot, unless you are chrismated first. There are also Orthodox jurisdictions that do not permit intercommunion with other Orthodox, besides the Greek parish I mentioned. OCA parishioners are not usually permitted by ROCOR to commune in ROCOR churches, for example.

In some Orthodox outside Rome cases chrismation just involves the priest's judgment call on readiness instead of strict adherence to a time table.

Jim

Christ is in our Midst!

I would suspect that the reason for OCA and the ROCOR thing is because the ROCOR is not a Canonical Church yet, but it will be soon in communion again with the Patriarchate of Moscow.
But i really doubt that OCA or ROCOR Christians would deny each other the Holy Mysteries.

In Christ+
Daniel

SaintClare

Slava Isusu Christu!

I myself am a Byzantine Ruthenian, i some times wihs i would have become Melkite though, because they have much better progress in "Easternization"
of their Church then the Ruthenians we are behind in every thing. Melkites even look over the 1912
rule on Married Clergy in the USA even despite Romes Opposition to it.

In Christ+
Daniel

Daniel,

It is true that ROCOR at least has a policy that there should be no granting of the Holy Mysteries to those within the Former Metropolia (now the OCA) but when reconnciliation does take place (thanks be to God!) between ROCOR and the MP, this will be worked out. I know that tacitly, in some parishes, members of the OCA are communed at ROCOR parishes. It is just not the policy