I read on another forum that Father John Mack joined the Byzantine Catholic Church. Does anyone have any information regarding this?

Daniel,

Do you have a link to the forum that mentions this?

Thanks -

Gordon

Gordon,

I PMed you the link.

Daniel can you please pm me the link?

I was a witness for Fr. John and his family entering the Catholic Church. Please contact me directly, as these sorts of things are quite sensitive and subject to a certain amount of sensationalism. My family and his have been friends for a number of years.

I apologize for posting this here. I wasn't trying to cause trouble or a stir.

I request the thread be locked.

There had been a rumor circulating about this.

Who is Fr. John Mack? Please forgive my ignorance.

But, anyway, congratulations!

God grant to his servant Fr. Mack and his family, many years of peace, health, and happiness.

I have the same question. I have never heard of him.

Google is your friend, my friends. Out of respect to Diak's request for discretion, I won't post more.

.... Many years to him and his family.

Father John Mack is a good writer.

Hes is the author of Ascending the Heights [amazon.com] [Linked Image] a book I have recommended a number of times for reading during Lent.

He also authored Preserve them, O Lord [light-n-life.com].

Michael

Ascending the Heights is a wonderful book!

Personally, I don't see why Fr. John Mack has to join the Byzantine Catholic Church. I mean, what's the point? Byzantine Orthodox...Byzantine Catholic...it's the same thing.

It would do more good if he'd stay Orthodox...he could be good example to good tolerance towards Catholics...not see us as an enemy that many Orthodox see.

I know he has served at St. Mary's Orthodox Church few times when a priest there is on vacation.

He established a "Mission" for college students for KU and KSU? I can't remember at all...my memory is fading.

But anyway...

Hmmm! Discretion? Secrecy? Hush-hush? Isn't this all starting to sound rather Byzantine? I need chocolate!

Ascending the Heights is a wonderful guide to John Climacus.

So Van Nuys gains a new married priest? Or did he go elsewhere?
I wonder what Liturgy he will use? (Red book)? Saturday vespers?

Veddy interesting...

Without anything official to go by, except for the witness of one person, I would suggest that when something official is posted regarding Father John Mack, then this matter continue to be discussed. I have done an extensive search over the evening, and nothing official from either Catholic or Orthodox sources can collaborate this. I have already some messages of concern that this thread could be promoting something that could be harmful for Fr Mack and his ministry if unfounded or premature. Until it is collaborated by something official, I think that this topic should be closed until such time.

When and if something official is published by a Church source, I will gladly reopen this thread by having that poster contact me via PM with this thread's URL for reference.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator

The Jan. 21, 2007 hard copy version of Horizons , the official newspaper of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma confirms that Fr. John Mack of Lawrence, Kansas, has been accepted as a priest of that Eparchy by Bishop John. I have no other info as to details. I know that Fr. John had been a convert to the Antiochian Orthodox Church from Evangelical Christianity. A friend tells me that he had recently been serving in a Bulgarian jurisdiction. I am also told that he will not be pastoring a parish, but will serve as a "supply priest", allowing him to continue in academia. I know that he had written a very good book on marriage. This book is used by a lot of our clergy in marriage preparation settings. If anyone has more detailed info, please post it.

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

Are there any Parma Eparchy people with more info on this item? A lot of my local contacts (N.E. Pa. & N.J.)do not have a lot of info to share.

Dn. Robert

Fr. Deacon Robert,

It has come to my attention that Fr. John wishes to keep his transfer low key. We know he has been accepted as a priest by Bishop John and I don't think anything more need be said or asked other than prayers for Fr. John as he begins his ministry in our Metropolia.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Dn. Lance,

We definitely must honor his wishes, and not make a "big splash", and we must offer prayerful support. But, given that his acceptance is a matter of public knowledge, having been announced in the Eparchial newspaper, I do not think that I am "out of line" in stating that this is a positive development for the Parma Eparchy. This priest has a lot to "bring to the table". Let's hope and pray for the best.

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

Father Deacon, he was received last September into the Church (I was a witness so I can say this factually).

As one may appreciate this is not an easy thing for priest or family, and anything on this list relating to this subject should come from Fr. John and no one else.

I do know Fr. John and his family definitely want to avoid any controversy or triumphantalism. This has already come up once on this Forum as well as Catholic Answers - as I stated on both of those occasions we should respect any desire of Fr. John and his family to "lay low" for a while.

I request the administrators allow Fr. John a chance to respond himself today, if he desires, but to close the thread afterwards in respect for Fr. John and his family.

Since my name has been mentioned, let me explain.

My family and I struggled for many years trying to understand the full implications of our commitment to the Gospel. Our decision to enter into communion with the Pope of Rome was not made in haste but only after a long and intense internal (and familial) debate. We had to struggle with our own deeply sectarian (us versus them) perspective that we brought with us into Orthodoxy from our Protestant roots. (Let me repeat with emphasis: this sectarian attitude was brought by us into Orthodoxy; I do not believe that it is "natural" to Orthodoxy.) We finally realized that the only way we could put our own sectarianism to death was to enter into communion with the Apostolic Church of the West while continuing our spiritual journey within the Eastern/Orthodox spiritual and sacramental traditions.

This being said, it would cause intense and deep sorrow should our journey out of sectarianism be used by any one in a sectarian way.

Sincerely,

Fr John Mack

Dear Fr. John,

My thread was not intended to be, in any way, triumphalistic. I, myself, and my family members, have maintained close ties with local Orthodox Christians (clergy and laity) in N.E. Penna. I posted the above (1.) for informational purposes, and (2.) to comment upon my view that your addition to the presbyteral ranks of the Eparchy of Parma is a positive for that Eparchy. No doubt you have already noted that this board contains a good mixture of Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Roman Catholic, and other posters all of whom, for the most part, maintain friendly, or at least, civil, relationships. I would like to welcome you to our Metropolia. I am sure that you have much which you can teach us. As I mentioned above, a lot of our clergy have been using your book on marriage for sacramental preparation purposes. You and your family are in my prayers.

In Christ,
Deacon Robert Behrens
Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church
Jessup, Pa.