Becoming Byzantine Catholic

[jdh222]

Hi all,

I’m new to the forum and have an important question to ask–any answers would be very much appreciated. I recently returned to Christ after having been a practicing Buddhist/Daoist for the past 15 years. Don’t want to go into that too much, but to make a looong story short…I knew at the very moment of my conversion that I was (to be) Catholic. Later, when speaking to my sister who converted 5 years ago (Roman Catholic) but pretty much devotes herself these days to writing icons, she told me about Byzantine Catholics, and it felt as if my soul started to sing…don’t have any other words for it, but I’ve been doing my homework and have also found a Byzantine Catholic Church in my area–waiting to hear back from the priest before I just drop by–but I thought that someone could give me a heads up on what the process of becoming a Byzantine entails. I was baptised a Southern Baptist when I was 10, so my baptism is officially recognized by the Church, and I’ve heard that I would start RCIA in I believe September and be confirmed next Easter in the Roman Rite, but I’m not sure as for the Byzantine Rite…
…anyone out there know any recent converts or what I might expect?

Thanks for any help you could provide,
Daniel

 

[Woodstock]

Daniel,

You are unlikely to go through RCIA. You’ll probably have private instruction with your sponsor and priest or deacon and be received whenever they think you are ready. Just go! It is the first step!

 

[catherineajt]

Daniel,

Welcome back! I am a ‘cradle’ Catholic who was raised in the Roman Catholic church, then converted to Orthodoxy and am now returning to the Catholic Church, via the Byzantine Catholic Church. It is (in my opinion) a wonderful church and the fullness of worship is to be found there.

Since I was baptized into the Catholic church, the priest at the church I attend simply said that we were to pray and discern the Holy Spirit before taking Communion. He said since we had recently received the sacrament of Reconciliation, that was fine. You will definitely want to speak to the priest about your particular situation. I haven’t been through catechism in the Byzantine church, so I don’t know about their process. There are some key differences in the practice of the faith between West and East (infant baptism, for one) that the priest will no doubt want to go through with you.

Blessings on your journey; you are definitely blessed to have an Eastern Church in your area! Simply go, experience the Divine Liturgy, and watch and learn.

 

[Diak]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

In most cases you will not be in a class as in RCIA; it will typically be one-on-one with the priest who may delegate some instruction to a deacon or other catechist.

Just to clarify there is more than one Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite; the three prominent ones in the US are the Ukrainian, Melkite, and Ruthenian Catholic Churches.

Besides these there are also a few Romanian Catholic and Russian Catholic parishes, all of whom use the Byzantine Rite.

 

[a_pilgrim]

…There are some key differences in the practice of the faith between West and East (infant baptism, for one) that the priest will no doubt want to go through with you…

Hi, catherineajt!

I kinda think what you meant to say here was infant **Confirmation **and Holy Communion. The West and the East both share the practice of infant baptism… no difference there!

 

[catherineajt]

Hi, catherineajt!

I kinda think what you meant to say here was infant **Confirmation **and Holy Communion. The West and the East both share the practice of infant baptism… no difference there!

You are right! My typing got ahead of my brain. My apologies.

 

[a_pilgrim]

Please… no apologies necessary! You’re talking to a seasoned veteran of “my-typing-got-ahead-of-my-brain” syndrome!

By the way, welcome home to our Byzantine Catholic Church!

 

[catherineajt]

Please… no apologies necessary! You’re talking to a seasoned veteran of “my-typing-got-ahead-of-my-brain” syndrome!

By the way, welcome home to our Byzantine Catholic Church!

Thank you! It’s a blessing indeed.

 

[jdh222]

Thanks to everyone for all your helpful (and encouraging posts,
Daniel