www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Any future for this parish?

I've been attending a Ukrainian Catholic parish every week or two for maybe five months. The liturgy on Saturday at 4pm is 95% English, so I go to that one when I can make it. I also go as a humble immigrant (RC), and try to understand and fit in as best I can.

I'm easily the youngest fellow there at 27 (and a bit of Mohawk blood makes me the darkest, too. ); the place is a sea of gray hair. It would be an amazing shame for this place to close up; it's the first parish I've ever wanted to get active in - I'm so impressed, but I just don't see a future in it.

There is ZERO evangelization going on, and while the RCC can let people find them, I don't think this parish has that luxury. But, say I attend for a few years and want to get involved in some sort of evangelization, I can see myself becoming roundly shunned.

So, there are three losers in this situation:
1: The UCC loses out on new members and bigger collections.
2: I lose out if it folds and the Spirit really is leading me in this direction.
3: My neighbors lose out on a tremendous spiritual resource that could bring some sinner (like myself) looking for a home with God.

So, I leave the problem to smarter people than myself.

MAYBE YOU ARE THE ZEALFUL, NON-GRAY HAIRED PERSON THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SENDING TO HELP IN IT'S REVITALIZATION PROCESS!

Booth,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Welcome. The Byzantine Catholic Churches are all ripe for renewal and restoration.

There is a wonderful, vibrant Eastern Christian spirituality awaiting us if we are not fearful of being Byzantine. And yes, we also need to learn to evangelize. To witness the Faith is an awesome vocation.

Pani Rose is right. Fear not Booth ... surely Christ our Saviour has lead you to the temple of the Ukrainians.

Do not give up just yet. God is with Us!

John, a sinner

The advice not to give up is excellent. If you are the youngest person in the crowd, it is probable that you will find yourself willy-nilly in a position of leadership. And if the Holy Spirit is guiding you in this direction, it is even more probable that He will provide the necessary grace.
All that said, get set for the long haul and the hard road! Our prayers and support are with you.
Incognitus

Dear Booth, I would also caution discernment and a realistic sense of vision and potential for the parish. If the parish is languishing and not open to those things that would foster growth and greater evangelism, perhaps you should consider other options. Parishes without youth are DRT - dead right there.

There are key phrases you will hear in these parishes like "we don't do that here", "we don't do things that way", "can't" "won't" that will help your discernment and determining potential.

Remember, often God closes doors to open others into much better lit rooms.

Thanks for the encouragement! My Roman friends and family think I'm wacky (except my dad, who's a RC deacon, in fact).

I'm going to give it at least a solid year before I try anything. That'll give them time to get used to me and allow me not only to tell whether its do-able, but also study and become more informed.

+ + + hi, good to be a patient soul (heh - this coming from a work in progress). some of my friends and all of my living family list to the uh... she's on the devoutly wacky side of being catholic. just keep inviting & trusting - God gives good gifts. toodles & God bless, sUSAn

Dear Booth:

Some of what you say has to do with economics and geography more than anything else. Many young(er) people who grew up in upstate New York left, leaving their home parishes to their aging parents.

The other part is that upstate New York is not getting the influx of the new immigration, eiether. So many parishes in your neck of the woods find themselves on life support.

On the other hand, the issues surrounding an aging UGCC population are well known and an concern everywhere one goes.

Yours,

hal

The situation of rural / small town America / Canada is difficult for the UGCC. As Hal mentions the young often leave their aging parents in the small towns, and there is no new membership either from other parts of the continent or from Ukraine.

The older members usually do not have the resources, skills, or energy to 'spread the gospel' so they often just accept the status quo.

Many of the young who leave the small towns will find a new UGCC parish in a larger city, but some as my brother says "just dissapear into thin air".

There has been a large immigration over the past ten years form Ukraine. They are attracted to the large urban centers where they can get good jobs. Some smaller cities such as Sacramento (California), Syracuse (N.Y.), and Ottawa (Ontario) are good examples of smaller cities which have been able to attract good numbers of new immigrants due to the good living conditions and job opportunities.

The 'super parishes' are of course those which are able to attract old and new members.

The Ukrainian language is always most important to UGCC members, but English and French have made their way into the divine liturgy.

All non-Ukrainian members are always welcome.

If you feel out of place, remember that most of the people in the parish have known each other for decades. There will be a natural kinship with these members which may appear to be insular to you. It probably is, but that is human nature. If you want to break in, do one of the following:

(1) Offer to drive an older parishoner who does not have transport (or easy access) to the church.

(2) Offer to help with their annual 'event'.

(3) Offer to help with a repair to the church, parish hall, or priest residence.

(4) Offer to help with organizaton of the devine liturgy.

(5) ect....

Ukes are always impressed with people who want to help out.

Good luck !

Dear Hritzko,

"Devine liturgy."

You must be thinking of the former Western premier . . .

(Better you get this from me than from our Melkite brother Neil!)

Alex

No - I like it better when the Irish Melkite gives it to me What's even more strange is that I have it spelled both ways in the same post. If you do a search on the net, you will get a lot of hits for both spellings. Go figure !

That's human nature, I once took a job in a very rural area. It seems that everyone had grown up together and had common memories of past events, mutual friends, etc. Some had even dated the same girlfriends when young although they grew up more than 40 miles apart! There is no question that in casual conversation I often felt left out, it seemed like they talked right past me, but the fact was that I was not being personally excluded, I merely had nothing to contribute to the conversations.

Newcomers have to deal with that everywhere. We are truly blessed when some individuals realize how difficult it can be for us and make the extra effort to loop us in.

Another suggestion I would make is to stand near the cantor, (if that is possible) and try to pick up on it, show an interest and you�ll learn so much your head will spin! It�s probably the surest way of learning the calendar and all the particulars of the liturgy.

Michael

My advice is to be welcoming when the next new guy comes along. I know from experience how strange it is to be at Divine Liturgy for the first time, where we are in the music, when to bow, how to receive communion, etc. So now when there is another new guy, I guide him through. I get his name and introduce him to all at fellowship after liturgy. Once he's sucked in, it's his turn.

Now that's the spirit !