Drawn towards the Greek Catholic Church

[Eric_May]

Hello! I hope someone can help me with an answer to my question. I am currently a practicing Roman Catholic living in Utah that is drawn towards the Byzantine Rite, but we do not have a greek Catholic Church in the state, only a couple of Greek Orthodox Churches. Is there any way a catholic can transfer rites and live the spirituality of the byzantine rite without a parish near by? I know I can still live the spirituality of the East but would like to make the transfer of rites. Any help would be great! God bless!

 

[bpbasilphx]

Part of the spirituality of Eastern Christianity is being part of the COMMUNITY (either monastic or parochial) praying and worshipping and yes, doing ordinary things of living, together.

Trying to practice Byzantine Christianity all by yourself in the midst of a Latin parish that you are normally part of will lead at least to internal spiritual dissonance. It is to live in practical schism from the rest of the parish.

Melkites, Ruthenians, Maronites, Chaldeans, and the other Eastern Catholic Churches are not just Roman Catholics who say mass funny. There’s much more than this.

And I don’t think the canons will let you change canonical enrolment (NOT “transfer rites”) if there is no actual chance of being in an Eastern parish.

If you feel it is necessary for your spiritual health to adopt Byzantine spirituality, it might be best (under the circumstances) to consider Orthodoxy if there is no Byzantine Catholic church nearby in which you can participate.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Another option is to make the switch to Eastern, but keep in regular weekly (or daily) contact with an Eastern Catholic elder - preferably a priest.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Eric,

Have you ever worshipped regularly in a Byzantine Church?

 

[Eric_May]

I converted awhile back to Greek Orthodoxy and have sense returned to Rome. I feel that unity to the Pope is essential to the faith so I returned to Catholicism. I wish I had a Greek Catholic Church close by to attend.

 

[5Loaves]

Hello! I hope someone can help me with an answer to my question. I am currently a practicing Roman Catholic living in Utah that is drawn towards the Byzantine Rite, but we do not have a greek Catholic Church in the state, only a couple of Greek Orthodox Churches. Is there any way a catholic can transfer rites and live the spirituality of the byzantine rite without a parish near by? I know I can still live the spirituality of the East but would like to make the transfer of rites. Any help would be great! God bless!

If there is a Greek Orthodox, or other Orthodox, you only mention Greek, “near” you I would encourage you to take part in their celebrations of the major Feasts, which tend to have little or no recognition in Roman rite parishes. Doing so for me makes a huge difference in my life, including my life in my local Roman rite parish. (You might look at the “a little confused” thread for some comments I just made there about this.)

There are many on-line resources to learn more about the Eastern sacramental, liturgical life, including liturgy podcasts. I also love the book Bread & Water, Wine & Oil: An Orthodox Christian Experience of God. But there is no substitute for participating in the liturgies and being part of a community. Without participating over time in an Eastern Church changing rites is improbable.

I’m sorry you don’t have an ECC option. You’re not alone, sadly.

 

[Hesychios]

I converted awhile back to Greek Orthodoxy and have sense returned to Rome. I feel that unity to the Pope is essential to the faith so I returned to Catholicism. I wish I had a Greek Catholic Church close by to attend.

OK, perhaps this will meet with howls of indignation, but I have suggested before that people in your situation go to the 7AM quickie Mass at the local Latin parish for communion and then attend a divine liturgy at an Orthodox parish (without communing). This will help you maintain a spiritual life in the east enough to satisfy a bishop.

You can maintain a long-distance relationship with a Byzantine Catholic parish. Stop in when you can to meet the pastor and register, and be sure to support them financially with remittences through the mail. Have them mail you a calendar, which you can follow.

Ask this BCC priest to bless your visits to the Orthodox parish.

 

[kitkatty]

I will not give howls of indignation to Hesychios suggestion but I will say for many in this situation there is often no Orthodox parish available either. Eric May does give the impression that there are Orthodox parishes near enough to make attending DL at one possible. I dont see anything wrong with this if his circumstances allow him to do this , if he is intent on practicing Eastern spirituality it is probably his only option.