Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Dear sister in Christ,
Even as a religious you would not need to change Churches, you would just need permission to enter a Latin order from the Byzantine and Latin bishops who have jurisdiction in your domicile. The religious order you would investigate will help you with this detail.
Also, I know the old saying “there are too many cooks in the kitchen” fits well for this subject. The best thing for your to do is call Father Robert or schedule an appointment to talk to him over the phone with his secretary about these issues. I and others here will give you our prayers and advice.
In regard to your icon corner, my godmother used to have both statues and icons and I know several Roman Catholics who have home altars that are a mix of Eastern, Western, and Oriental Orthodox traditions. Now, my icon corner has only icons and crucifixes on the wall before the home altar or table, but since you desire to practice as a Roman Catholic you can make your prayer corner devotionally how you would like it to be with statues and all. Some like very extravagant icon/prayer corners and some are very simple, it is usually a personal preference or family tradition. A good thing would be for your Orthodox family to come pray with you in front of your prayer corner sometimes, since you will still be in contact with them after your profession of faith. I mention this because some practicing Orthodox families cut off their children when they convert to Catholicism–you are lucky in that department–be thankful.
Also, you mentioned that you were baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church. Do you know if it was the Orthodox Church in America, the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia, or the Patriarchal Church in the USA? If it was the OCA you can settle in to basically any slavic Eastern Catholic Church, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Hungarian, etc–since if you study the history of the OCA most of their people were at one time Ruthenian Catholics ala a priest named Fr. Alexis Toth, now St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre–you can google him. If it was the ROCOR or the Patriarchal mission in the USA then you would be automatically enrolled in the Byzantine-Russian Catholic Church, in that case contact Rev. Hieromonk Eugene Ludwig of Our Lady of Fatima Russian Catholic Church, Phone: 415-752-2052.
Again, ask Father Robert about this. He will answer many of your questions.
Being Eastern Catholic gives you the opportunity to be a bridge between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Churches in union with Rome. Get active in ecumenical activities between Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Support the Church in the East. Do social justice work for the small Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, that are suffering in Eastern and Western Europe and in all parts of the world. A good organization to support is the Catholic Near East Welfare Association:
cnewa.org/home-us.aspx check it out. Also, you can adopt a small Eastern Catholic Church in the US and send monthly support that way also. Some good reading for you first and foremost is the Vatican II Decree on the Eastern Churches:
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_orientalium-ecclesiarum_en.html
and
The Light of the East letter of Pope John Paul II:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html
All Catholics of whatever Church united to Rome need to read the Vatican II documents and post-conciliar documents on the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Another important text to know is the Eastern Code of Canon Law:
intratext.com/X/ENG1199.HTM
Again, years down the line, after you have fully investigated your Byzantine Catholic traditions, and decide that you definately do not want to be a member of that Church, then apply to change Churches if you so wish. One priest told me a story about Byzantine Catholics who mistakenly think they are Latin Catholic once they are received by a Latin pastor, (which is fairly common) that they are like a poor man who has received a great inheritance, but have not been told how to appropriate it. You have a great treasure in your heart from your Eastern tradition and even though you never knew its value, it has the power to change your life forever and make you spiritually rich beyond your knowing.
All of the Catholic Churches in union with Rome can give you many gifts, but God has given you, in a special way, a glorious connection through baptism and chrismation to the Eastern Orthodox Church and after your profession of faith to the Byzantine Catholic Church–never forget that gift–unrap it, use it. Remember becoming Catholic does not mean you have left the Eastern Orthodox Church–you will enter the complexity of being in communion with the Pope of Rome, which means communion with many Churches, Latin, Byzantine, Oriental, and Maronite-- which have a great treasure of traditions and spirituality to offer you. Take them all in, don’t be limited, but “know where you come from”–that way you will know where you are going and who you will become in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you for reading my long letter.
Again, you are in my prayers.
In the Theotokos, (Greek for God Bearer or Mother of God)
Robert
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