Eastern Rite Questions - Houston especially

[kmktexas]

Hi everyone - especially those who attend Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.

One of our projects this summer (while CCE is on vacation) is to take the kids to some “different” Masses. I have found a TLM (Indult), a Latin NO Mass and an Anglican Use Mass that we will be visiting. We will be skipping the Church with the Liturgical dancers since we were in that one by accident a few years ago. I also want to take them to at least one Eastern Rite Divine Liturgy. I am guilty of knowing nearly nothing about the Eastern Rites and didn’t even know that they existed until a few years ago.

So, first, how to I go about finding an Eastern Rite Church?

Do I need to contact anyone first to let them know we are coming? I have been told that these churches are sometimes close knit ethnic communities.

What do we need to know before going?

Is there an Eastern Rite Church that is closest to the Greek Orthodox Church? My kids attend a Catholic school that shares a building with a Greek Orthodox Church - they are our landlords. They have some small exposure that way that I may be able to capitalize upon.

Do they usually use some kind of worship aid (missal) to help us to follow along?

Am I crazy???

Also (long shot) if anyone has any personal experience with Eastern Rite Churches in Houston (west) that they can share, I would be especially grateful.

 

[Kielbasi]

Here’s an unofficial list for Houston:

Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Mission (Maronite - Los Angeles)
PO Box 573002 , Houston, TX 77057, Phone: (713) 789-8539

Protection of the Mother of God (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas-Chicago)
9102 Meadowshire St., P. O. Box. 38165, Houston, TX 77238-8465, Phone: (713) 447-2749

St. John Chrysostom (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Pittsburgh)
5402 Acorn Street, Houston, TX, 77092, Phone: (713) 681-3580

The Byzantines are closer to the Greeks than the Maronites are.

The difference between the Ukrainians and Ruthenians is that the Ukrainians pray more in the Ukrainian language as opposed to English.

Be prepared to do a lot of standing, wear comfortable shoes. Also, because the Byzantines like to kiss the icons, the priests will be irritated if the people in your group are wearing lipstick, as they don’t want the icons damaged.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

kmktexas:

So, first, how to I go about finding an Eastern Rite Church?

Here is what I could find for you in the Houston area.

Byzantine (Ruthenian) Cathollic
St. John Chrysostom
5402 Acorn Street
Houston, TX, 77092
Pastor: Rev. Julian Anthony
Office: 713-681-3580
Web Site: www.stjohnchrysostom.com

Maronite
Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Mission
PO Box 573002 , Houston, TX 77057
Phone: (713) 789-8539

Ukrainian Catholic
Protection of the Mother of God
9102 Meadowshire St., Houston, TX 77238-8465
Phone: (713) 447-2749

The Ruthenian and Ukrainian are Slavic usages not Greek but they are very close, that is there is not too much difference in the Divine Liturgy. More differences in the other rites/prayers/holydays.

Do I need to contact anyone first to let them know we are coming? I have been told that these churches are sometimes close knit ethnic communities.

You might wish to call ahead, especially for the Ukrainian parish, to find out when the English Liturgy is. Other than that the parishes I listed are Catholic and you are free to fully participate in the Liturgy.

What do we need to know before going?

We bow instead of genuflecting. We generally do not knee during the Liturgy, we stand where the west kneels but these parishes may still kneel as this is one of the latinizations that we have not totally rid ourselves of. We do not recite the filoque in the Creed, but again this is a latinization that might be there.

We cross ourselves from right to left and we do it many, many times during the Liturgy, whenever the Trinity is mentioned as well as for the priestly blessings.

Keep in mind that you do not have to do as we do.

This goes for the Ruthenian and Ukrainian as those are both of the Byzantine Rite. The Maronite is a bit different. Just do as you would normally do.

Is there an Eastern Rite Church that is closest to the Greek Orthodox Church? My kids attend a Catholic school that shares a building with a Greek Orthodox Church - they are our landlords. They have some small exposure that way that I may be able to capitalize upon.

I touched on this above but I have found that some of the Greek Orthodox Churches use the slavic usage. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church would be more Greek but there are none in your area but as I said above there is not that much different in the Divine Liturgy.

Do they usually use some kind of worship aid (missal) to help us to follow along?

Most parishes have pew books. If you need help just ask, I am sure they would love to help you out.

Am I crazy???

Also (long shot) if anyone has any personal experience with Eastern Rite Churches in Houston (west) that they can share, I would be especially grateful.

Your not crazy at all. I am not in the Houston area so I can’t help you out with any personal experiences but I would like to ask you something.

I am in the process of applying to the Carmelites and if I am accepted I will go to there house in Houston to finish college. Do you know anyting about the Carmelites there?

Thanks! and I hope I was helpful.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Kielbasi:

The Byzantines are closer to the Greeks than the Maronites are.

That is mostly true but if you attend both for a period of time you will also notice that there is a difference in the melodies.

Also I have heard that there are a few Ukrainian parishes that use Church Slavonic instead of Ukrainian.

 

[mgy100]

I would call ahead first, especially if you are bringing a group.

 

[Patchunky]

Try this site:

www.byzantines.net

They go over the entire Divine Liturgy step-by-step.

You can also contact the Pastor and see if he is able to come and visit with your group to go over what will be happening during the Divine Liturgy.

You can also arrange a date for your group to visit and then have a Q & A after Divine Liturgy.

We have groups that come from the various local Latin parishes when the kids are preparing for Confirmation. We can tell the ones that haven’t called ahead and we usually jump in and help them. The last group came on a Sunday during the middle of Great Lent and it was a little bit of “culture” shock. We had more hymns and prayers that were said because of the Holy Day.

I’m sure the Pastor will recommend a Sunday when not too much is going on…

Hope this helps…

 

[kmktexas]

Thanks everybody for thier helpful comments.

Just to clarify, the “kids” are my own and the “group” will be just my family. The CCE reference was just to indicate that the kids and I will have more Sunday flexibility.

One more question (probably not my last), what about Communion. I know that we are welcome at Communion, unlike at an Orthodox Church but what about the logistics? Are there words exchanged (like the Western “Body of Christ/Amen”)?

BTW, this post moves me to the four digit arena.

 

[Ray_Scheel]

St. John Chrysostom is primarily English language. Friendly folks. We go there several times a year even though its a 90 minute drive. If we have to be in Houston on Sunday that is where we usually go. There are pew books, but it will help to go over the liturgy ahead of time, show up early and ask for help from someone there. Stay for coffee and donuts after. Friends of ours locally recently switched rites and attend there regularly.

Of what I’ve heard the Ukranian parish does not have an English liturgy. Never been there so I can’t tell you more.

The Maronite parish in Houston is supposed to be more traditional (have not been there either, but I know they just finished building thier current sanctuary), while the one in San Antonio is rather Latinized (but is a friendly groups that we visit when on a trip in that direction).

 

[Deacon_Ed]

kmktexas:

One more question (probably not my last), what about Communion. I know that we are welcome at Communion, unlike at an Orthodox Church but what about the logistics? Are there words exchanged (like the Western “Body of Christ/Amen”)?

In the Byzantine tradition (Ukrainian & Ruthenian in Houston) you simply cross your arms over your chest, tip your head back and open your mouth. No response is given to what the priest or deacon will say. In the Maronite tradition you will receive a host like the Latins use, and again no response is necessary. Do not close your mouth on the spoon!

Deacon Ed

 

[katherine2]

it should be noted that the Byzantine Church will not offer you the option of receiveing in one form. You will receive in the forms of bread and wine.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

katherine2:

it should be noted that the Byzantine Church will not offer you the option of receiveing in one form. You will receive in the forms of bread and wine.

This is true as reception is by intinction but there there is some reason why you can not recieve both, say alcholism or wheat allergy, you could contact the priest ahead of time and something can be worked out.

 

[mgy100]

Happy Visiting. Usually some Ukrainian Churches have a Ukrainian Liturgy and a seperate English Liturgy. The ones around my area are all English, with some Church Slavonic and mostly the hymns are Ukrainian.