Eastern Catholic Churches in Africa?

[Marybeloved]

Do they exist outside Europe, US and Asia? How would I go about finding them? I’d really like to have an eastern experience, but I don’t know of any- except in Egypt and Ethiopia.

 

[dzheremi]

I don’t of any Eastern Catholic churches in Africa outside of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

Where in Africa are you, Mary? If that is too personal, you may PM me if you wish. There are many Orthodox churches in Africa, so that is probably your best bet for an Eastern or Oriental experience (and you can just go to visit without converting or anything; we have two Catholics from Jordan who regularly come to our liturgies, and never convert, and we never treat them differently). The oldest are in communion with the Coptic Church of Alexandria (being the “first church” of Africa, established by the Apostle and Evangelist St. Mark [who was himself a native African, from Libya], tradition dictates that Africa is the territory of the Alexandrian Patriarch, whose title is “Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle”). In more recent centuries the Byzantines/EO have also established churches from their also quite ancient Patriarchate, also based in Alexandria, to serve those of that confession. So you can find both types of churches. If you let me know where you are, I can try to find the church that is closest to you. There are Coptic Orthodox Churches in Subsaharan Africa where the clergy are entirely native (non-Egyptian). In Kenya (the largest of the churches in Subsaharan Africa) they have thousands of families, dozens of churches, monasteries, etc. I think the last diocese newsletter I got mentioned something about mission work being carried out in Togo at some point in the near future (maybe even already happened).

 

[dzheremi]

The Nicene Creed recited in the Luo language at a Coptic Orthodox Church in rural Kenya

 

[mardukm]

Do they exist outside Europe, US and Asia? How would I go about finding them? I’d really like to have an eastern experience, but I don’t know of any- except in Egypt and Ethiopia.

There are Oriental Catholic Churches in Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea. There is an established hierarchy for Melkites and Syriac Catholics in the Sudan area, IIRC, directly under the omophor of their Patriarchs. Outside these, only the Latin Catholic Church exists AFAIK, though that’s just according to hierarchy. Bishops are required to provide for the needs of other ritual Catholics, so there may be parishes that cater to Eastern or Oriental Catholic communities.

An interesting aside: the Oriental Catholic Church of Ethiopia is the only one I know of where the Catholics (Latin or Oriental) are under the omophor of the Oriental Catholic hierarchy. I never looked into the history behind that, but it would be an interesting read if I ever have the time.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[lssanjose]

The Nicene Creed recited in the Luo language at a Coptic Orthodox Church in rural Kenya

Thanks, for posting this, brother. I’m glad they didn’t take out the chanting done by the congregation, and the priest.

 

[twf]

There are Oriental Catholic Churches in Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea. There is an established hierarchy for Melkites and Syriac Catholics in the Sudan area, IIRC, directly under the omophor of their Patriarchs. Outside these, only the Latin Catholic Church exists AFAIK, though that’s just according to hierarchy. Bishops are required to provide for the needs of other ritual Catholics, so there may be parishes that cater to Eastern or Oriental Catholic communities.

An interesting aside: the Oriental Catholic Church of Ethiopia is the only one I know of where the Catholics (Latin or Oriental) are under the omophor of the Oriental Catholic hierarchy. I never looked into the history behind that, but it would be an interesting read if I ever have the time.

Blessings,
Marduk

Brother - I believe you are thinking of Eritrea. In Ethiopia itself there are both Ethiopic and Latin jurisdictions, but in Eritera all Catholics are entrusted to the Ethiopic hierarchy.