www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Becoming Catholic (RC/BYZ)

Dear StBenedict,

Then perhaps you should join the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

We'll take you, as the evangelical hymn says, "Just as you are!"

Alex

Orthodox Catholic: Thanks for the offer but no thanks, I find the Ukrainian Catholic Church, to latinized for my taste.

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

Ill Stick with the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church. More Eastern in tradition.

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

I should put in a good word for the Melkites who have historically been at the forefront of removing Latinizations from their Eastern Praxis. Read about Patriarch Maximos IV Saigh at Vatican II.

That is, if you can't make it to St Andrew's Russian Catholic parish in El Segundo (an excellent parish and which has an excellent priest in Father Alexei!)

Peace,
Brian

Dear StBenedictRule,

Your screen name is the above and you complain of Latinization?

The Latinization in our Church was largely inflicted by others . . .

And there are many Ukrainian Catholic Churches that are examples of true Byzantine spirituality, beating out most of even your elitist Ruthenian parishes .

My parish is so Eastern, that we have about 25% Orthodox who attend weekly liturgy, many of whom eventually and formally become Ukrainian Catholic.

I've seen Melkite parishes with stations of the Cross etc. Your Uniontown Odpust may also have more Latinizations than we up here currently have.

But I was just making that offer half in jest.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church, in reality, just doesn't accept anyone - we have standards .

And it is ritually diverse with Latinization at one end of the spectrum and "High Orthodoxy" at the other.

Alex

Another completely eastern Ukrainian Catholic parish is of course Saint Elias in Brampton, Ontario. You can't get much more eastern than them.

In Christ,
Anthony Saint Elias [saintelias.com]

Dear Anthony,

That's where I'm headed soon . . .

An amazing parish, truly. Is there even one Ruthenian parish that comes close to it?

Alex

Dear Alex,

There may be a few that come close, but I believe St. Elias is in a class all by itself.

In Christ,
Anthony

Dear Anthony,

You got that "rite!"

Alex

I've seen Ruthenian Parishes that are similar to
that of which the parish you speak of. Most are in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

My Byzantine Parish is not latinized at all.
Orthodox Cath: your funny! I was after all a Roman Catholic once before i went to the Eastern Church's. St. Benedict is one of my Favorite Saints.

Brian is one of the People who helped aid my journey to the east. Even though he tryed to lead me to Orthodoxy but couldnt do it!. Just kidding brian.

From: Daniel Harrison
In The Holy+Theotokos

My initial reaction to this whole thread was: these folks are talking about "Church" as if it was some monolithic entity.

The fact remains, the "Church" really consists of the people. And the people are all over the place in terms of rituals, practices, lifestyles, etc. And they go under a whole boat-load of jurisdictional titles. There are Johnstown parishes that are still quite 1920s latinized-Ruthenian, though Orthodox. There are Greek parishes that are 'Americanized'. There are ROCOR and HOCNA parishes that are still living in 1840 Novgorod. There are OCA parishes that are still rather "Ruthenian" and others that have become High Russian even though there ain't a Borscht-eater within a 100 miles.

My point is: one isn't becoming "Catholic (RC/BYZ)" One enters a particular Church with a whole load of people who are in it. And their ways of living are all over the place: Some perfectly 11th Century Byzantine, some Slavic Europeanized, some Americanized, some Frenchified Arabs, some book-Churched.

One finds a parish community where one can flourish spiritually (and psychologically) and makes the commitment to the people who are there. "For better or for worse; in sickness or in health, for richer or for poorer, till death us do part." Yup! You're getting married to the community.

If one is commitment-phobic, go join the Y.

Blessings!

Well, the Russian Catholic Parishes are equal in Praxis but St Elias is AMAZING and has a great group of the Reverend clergy.

Would not have thought it was Ukrainian Catholic

The Russian Catholic's Dont even have their own
Hiarchy yet.

The Russian Catholic's Dont even have their own
Hiarchy yet.

From: Daniel
In The Holy Theotokos

Were are all you guys at?

From: Daniel H.
In The Theotokos