www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Troubled Times in the American Ruthenian Diaspora

Dear David,

What you and others here say brings back so many bad memories for me!

I couldn't believe the way our parishioners treat our pastor.

When I was growing up and served at the Altar, our priest had the "Our Father" read out to him regularly about his sermon, what was wrong with it, whether it was too long etc.

Sorry, but parishioners here need to learn to be human beings.

Perhaps then and only then they can begin to work on being Christians.

An old writer friend of the family I knew had his seminary training completed when he was younger, but he was never ordained.

Patriarch Josef Slipyj was here in Toronto when our bishop grabbed hold of Myron and took him to the sacristy to introduce him as a potential priestly candidate.

Myron wasn't going to back down . . .

Patriarch Josef looked at him and said, "Well, brother, are we going to be ordained or not?"

"Your Beatitude, one has to have nerves of steel to serve our discourteous and often ignorant parishioners here," Myron began.

"And if some "babushka" will come at me to tell me how I, as a priest, should be conducting myself at the Liturgy, well, the only thing I'd do is turn her around and give her a loving kick in her rear end . . ."

By this time, the bishop had hidden himself behind the curtains . . .

Perhaps Myron should have written up a public relations manual for parish priests, do you think?

Alex

And to think that I actually dream about being a priest.

Guess 30 years marriage to my wife hasn't been punishment enough, eh? (Bad marriage, I will spare you the details).

Of course, after 30 years of this, I suppose I could take about anything.

Your stories are both humorous and sad. I remember hearing Fr. Mike speak of seeing 15,000 at Liturgy in the Ukraine a couple of months ago. Many had to walk for hours to get there.

In America, we get a 1/4" of snow and it is an excuse that we can't drive the two miles to parish for Liturgy. And BTW -- God Himself BETTER understand that this IS a reasonable excuse!!

Americans. Sheeeeeeesh!!!

Brother Ed

Unless, and until, a parish gets to the point that it is a "community/ekklesia/koinotis", the mindset will be an "us" vs. "them" perspective. We all, including the priest and his family, are ALL in this together. Once we get the mindset of "the priest/diocese/bishop/etc./ as some "other" entity that is to be controlled and judged, then we are in deep doo-doo. (Greek: "doodooion"; Ukrainian: "kakapoopshitz"; Arabic: "El-dump").

In times of persecution (Gee, do we know anything about that?), the folks came together and realized that they did NOT have the luxury of being divisive in the face of potential annihilation. In relative freedom, the cattiness can come to the fore and piddling little things can become major forces in driving the community.

As one priestly wag put it: "what we really need is a good persecution to put us back on track".

Lord, I hope not. So, perhaps we ought to get back on the "family/ekklesia" line: put the Faith FIRST, the 'ekklesia' second and follow where the Holy Spirit leads us.

Blessings to All!

Dear Friends,
Christ is among us!
Speaking as a priest, I must say that many of my brother priests and deacons work themselves almost to death with both parish and eparchial resposibilities. Then we have parishioners who complain about the priest or deacon missing a "Ladies Guild" or some other organization's meeting. (But I wish I count tell you the number of times Advisory Board members don't show us for meetings!)

A wonderful number of my parishioners appreciate the work that I try to do for them. I care for more than one church and have other eparchial responsibilities as well! They are the ones that I concern myself with what they think and feel. They are real workers for the vinyard of Christ. But like every priest, my parishes have their own poison pills, killers of both clergy and parish. (They have even questioned me as Pastor living in the Rectory. They felt it would be better to rent it out, while I lived in a small apartment somepleace.)
My experience is that most of these naysayers are generally negative and controlling people. They drive people away from our Church, while proclaiming their "Love" for it! I have even had people come up to me and say: I would be a member of your Parish if only 'so and so' had not driven me out.

Everyone needs to work hard to build up their parish, their Pastor, and Deacon. Maybe a few "priest-less Sundays" would get the point across? So many of my parishioners are union members! I wonder if they would support a "Clergy union"? (Just kidding)

Please keep positive and support your parish and clergy!
Thanks,
Fr. Vladimir

Bless me a sinner, Fr. Vladimir!

Just a note to say that one of our priests was surprised we had a Women's Guild.

He thought it was kind of funny as it suggested to him that it was an association for guilded women . . .

Alex