Beginning a church/mission

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ByzantineHeart

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Sorri if there’s already a thread on this. I’ve long bemoaned the fact there is no eastern or oriental Catholic community in my area. Nearest would be Omaha or twin cities, both a 4ish hour drive. I live bear a city of about 150,000. We have Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, and Erhiopian Orthodox parishes. The Latin rite cathedral has a Byzantine chapel. And while I love to visit the Orthodox, I hate not being able to commune there. Who can I talk to about the possibility of starting a Byzantine mission, even if its getting a priest to come once a month or so? How do I connect with Eastern Catholics in my area that may feel the same?

… I realize this so takes money. A lot. I’m frustrated to see new Latin rite parishes built every few years when we have no Eastern Catholic presence. :(. That sounded bad, new churches are good. But I hope you understand what I mean.
 
I should add that while the cathedral has a
Byzantine style chapel, there are no Byzantine liturgies offered.
 
I’m not Catholic but I would imagine you would find a number of like-minded individuals in the same situation as you and then petition the bishop.
 
You might want to place an ad in the newsletters of fraternal organizations like the Greek Catholic Union to find local Byzantines that might be interested. The GCU sells life insurance, so it isn’t like people are likely to drop out because they are away from other eastern Catholics. gcuusa.com/

Eastern Catholics really never settled in your part of the country in any great numbers, yet I’m sure that some found their way from places like Pennsylvania and Ohio out to the plains.
 
Good thread, BH. While there’s no silver bullet, I do hope and pray that something may happen for you.

A couple thoughts (sorry in advance if they are stating the obvious):
  • Make sure your expectations are reasonable. Naturally, it’d be nice if you could have a Byzantine (or Maronite or whatever) parish with a weekly liturgy, but it makes sense to set your sights lower, at least for now. (Edit: which I guess you already are doing, from re-reading your post.)
  • Are you sure that there’s currently nothing closer to you than the aforementioned Omaha and Twin Cities? Not that I have any reason to think there would be, but you might check again. (Are you already familiar with the ByzCath website?) Also keep in mind that besides the Melkite Catholic Church, UGCC, etc that use the Byzantine Rite, there are a bunch of other churches like the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the Maronites.
  • Finally, the existence of the Byzantine chapel in the cathedral seems like a good beginning. Are you quite certain that no liturgies or services are ever held there?
 
I’ve checked by byzcath.org several times for nearby parishes. None. I live near Sioux Falls, SD. Nearby Sioux City, IA also has two Orthodox churches, no Eastern Catholic. I’ve made phone calls and emailed churches asking if they knew of a Byzantine congregation in the area. Those that even knew what a Byzantine Catholic is (face palm…) always responded in the negative. No church, no occasional services, nothing.
 
ByzantineHeart said:
I’ve checked by byzcath.org several times for nearby parishes. None. I live near Sioux Falls, SD. Nearby Sioux City, IA also has two Orthodox churches, no Eastern Catholic. I’ve made phone calls and emailed churches asking if they knew of a Byzantine congregation in the area. Those that even knew what a Byzantine Catholic is (face palm…) always responded in the negative. No church, no occasional services, nothing.
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You might want to try facebook or other social media, to find your fellow eastern Catholics that are living in the area. Stats from the city-data.com website indicate there are 445 or so people of Ukrainian background in Sioux Falls city alone, I’m sure that there would have to be some Rusyn people in the area as well–how many are interested is another question but I’m sure you’re not the only one.

Another idea would be to contact alumni associations of Byzantine colleges and secondary schools throughout America. Some of these alumni probably settled in your area and might be open to participating in a Byzantine Catholic committee to get the ball rolling.
 
I appreciate any and all advise. This really is a lovely city with an amazing degree of ethnic/religious diversity for its size. The Latin cathedral here is exquisite. It just needs a Byzantine church. And maybe a Maronite Church someday too. 🙂
 
My advice is to realize there s a mission already present there in the form of one person. Many people live outside the territory of a parish, but they have to keep the faith alive when they do so. If God is speaking to you through the Byzantine or Roman traditions, answer His call. Don’t think in terms of evangelizing others at this point as you aren’t in a place to do so.

You need formation, support, and guidance. We all have to live in community. It needs to be in-person and practical. The internet, books, CDs and other media can augment this community, but it is important to recall that media feeds the head while the majority of the work you’ll be doing is in the heart.

Locate a spiritual director who can help guide this formation. It doesn’t have to be an Eastern Catholic. Many of the most traditional Eastern Catholic clergy and religious have Roman Catholic spiritual directors. If finding a spiritual director requires travel, God will provide if this desire is His will.

Under spiritual direction, you’ll gradually take on a spiritual and devotional life that reflects a Byzantine person. Externals like icons can help support you where you do not have local physical support as they make present the cloud of witnesses, but practices like strict fasting or ethnic holiday customs should be added slowly and with direction. They come out of a lived faith but jumping in to them too early can cause you to build on a foundation of sand.

When you do this work of becoming the person God is calling you to be, your life will be an evangelization. Others will ask you to share what you’ve learned because they will see it working in your life. Community will grow. If it is God’s will, a parish will follow. Or you will move to a place with better support for your formation. Don’t worry about that point now.

God has put this calling in your heart of coming to know Him as a Byzantine. Or a Maronite. You need to discern this with your spiritual director. Then stay focused on responding with a yes to that call and everything else He desires will fall into place.
 
ByzantineHeart said:
I’ve checked by byzcath.org several times for nearby parishes. None. I live near Sioux Falls, SD. Nearby Sioux City, IA also has two Orthodox churches, no Eastern Catholic. I’ve made phone calls and emailed churches asking if they knew of a Byzantine congregation in the area. Those that even knew what a Byzantine Catholic is (face palm…) always responded in the negative. No church, no occasional services, nothing.
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Sorry to hear that. 😦

But I still remain hopeful about the fact that the Cathedral has a Byzantine chapel – perhaps you should inquire whether there is someone (e.g. a sacristan) in charge of it. He/she might tell you “Oh, there have been a few other Catholics around here who are interested in an Eastern liturgy.” Or, even if not, at least he/she will learn that one person is interested.
 
ByzantineHeart said:
I appreciate any and all advise. This really is a lovely city with an amazing degree of ethnic/religious diversity for its size. The Latin cathedral here is exquisite. It just needs a Byzantine church. And maybe a Maronite Church someday too. 🙂
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The first canonical step is to speak with the local Ordinary. If there is a stable EC presence (specifically of those faithful canonically enrolled in one or more non-Roman churches sui iuris,) the Bishop is canonically obligated to care for their spiritual needs as distinct from those of the Latins.

If nothing else, the bishop might be willing to see just how many non-Romans are interested in a mission, and of which Churches they are enrolled.
 
Aramis said:
If nothing else, the bishop might be willing to see just how many non-Romans are interested in a mission, and of which Churches they are enrolled.
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Is this kind of information usually available? If the bishop asked the parish priests in a diocese to forward a list of registered parishioners who are actually enrolled in a non-roman church, would it be an easy task to complete, and just a matter of sorting the files
 
Kielbasi said:
Is this kind of information usually available? If the bishop asked the parish priests in a diocese to forward a list of registered parishioners who are actually enrolled in a non-roman church, would it be an easy task to complete, and just a matter of sorting the files
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It is usually done by having the parishes put a notice in the bulletin, and asking.
 
Aramis said:
It is usually done by having the parishes put a notice in the bulletin, and asking.
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Could it not also be done by sorting the files of the parish’s sacramental records? Is information about what eastern church someone is enrolled in recorded? Or would that be a breach of protocol to use the sacramental records in that way?
 
Kielbasi said:
Could it not also be done by sorting the files of the parish’s sacramental records? Is information about what eastern church someone is enrolled in recorded? Or would that be a breach of protocol to use the sacramental records in that way?
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Many, if not most, parishioners in first world nations are not in the same parish as their sacramental records. I’m not even in the same state, and never lived in the state where my records are. (my folks lived across the state line… by about 15 yards).

All recorded sacraments are recorded in the parish where you were baptized, or in the chancery of its diocese, depending upon certain issues. (Namely, parish closures and parishes without stable clerical presence.)

The exception is a change of Ritual Ascription. If one converts to Catholicism from Protestantism, and has a valid baptism, the parish of reception and confirmation is where the records are kept. If one translates from Orthodoxy, one’s records are kept in the parish where one promised acceptance of all the church teaches (Orthodox are not rebaptized nor re-confirmed; Orthodox sacraments are valid, including ordinations). When one is ascribed to one of the 20+ churches in union with Rome already and formally transfers to another such church, one’s sacramental records move as well, but a note of the transfer is added to the records in the place of baptism.
 
Byzantine Heart,

I would encourage you in developing a mission. I, too, live in Iowa, but on the eastern side. Our Eparchy just had a General Assembly, and growing throughout the entire territory is definitely a high priority for Vladyka John. You can write each of the Eparchies that cover our area (Ukrainian: St Nicholas-Chicago; ByzCath: St John the Baptist-Parma, OH; Romainian: St George-Canton, OH; Melkite: Newton, CT.) You can see if they are aware of any GCs in your area, as well as any other parishes and clergy (the Romanians may have a priest in SD, and the Ukrainians have parishes in the Dakotas as well). Also, the Latin diocese may have bi-ritual priests as well.

Keep the faith, and pray, and be open to the presence of God. You make the fifth Greek Catholic family here in Iowa, most of whom i was not even aware of two months ago. Remember, with God, all things are possible.

Christ saves,
Adam
 
My situation is such. Confirmed in the Catholic Church, Latin. But I later converted to Orthodoxy, they even rebaptized me as some conservative Orthodox will. I spent close to a decade as an Orthodox, and upon deciding to return to Catholicism, was received back as a Latin–to my disappointment. I realize I was Latin before I was Ortgodox, but remain very much attached to the Byzantine liturgy, theology, etc. I continue to pray to predominantly Byzantine saints. I hope this helps.
 
akemner said:
Byzantine Heart,

I would encourage you in developing a mission. I, too, live in Iowa, but on the eastern side. Our Eparchy just had a General Assembly, and growing throughout the entire territory is definitely a high priority for Vladyka John. You can write each of the Eparchies that cover our area (Ukrainian: St Nicholas-Chicago; ByzCath: St John the Baptist-Parma, OH; Romainian: St George-Canton, OH; Melkite: Newton, CT.) You can see if they are aware of any GCs in your area, as well as any other parishes and clergy (the Romanians may have a priest in SD, and the Ukrainians have parishes in the Dakotas as well). Also, the Latin diocese may have bi-ritual priests as well.

Keep the faith, and pray, and be open to the presence of God. You make the fifth Greek Catholic family here in Iowa, most of whom i was not even aware of two months ago. Remember, with God, all things are possible.

Christ saves,
Adam
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Good post, Adam. 🙂 I had actually been wondering why no one was speaking up to say “I’m in the same boat” etc.
 
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