How many "Churches" have you worshipped in?

[a_pilgrim]

As Catholics, we are each a member of one of 23 separate Churches sui iuris, many of which have been discussed in other threads on this Forum. Each of these 23 Churches worship according to the liturgical traditions and rubrics of one of six “rites,” with the “Latin Rite” being far and away the largest. Although many of these rites seem very different from what we are used to, the Churches that use them are still “Catholic” Churches and we are free (and actually encouraged!) to avail ourselves to the Sacraments and the rich liturgical traditions as offered by each of them. Sadly, many folks spend an entire lifetime without having had the opportunity to experience Catholicism in any form other than their own.

My question is this…

How many of these six rites, in addition to the rite of your “official” Church of affiliation, have you had the experience of participating in, be it for the Celebration of the Eucharist or any other liturgical function (wedding, funeral, etc.)? Has anybody out there actually achieved the “magic number” of “all six?”

Sadly, I’m only up to two myself (Byzantine and Latin Rites) - guess I got my work cut out for me!

Anybody else??

a pilgrim

 

[Olympia]

I, too, have a great interest in other Catholic Rites. So far, I have been to 4:

Latin
Byzantine (Ukrainian)
Maronite
Greek Melchite

It is my lifetime dream project to participate in all the rites. Many of them are here in the U.S.

 

[squirt]

So far just Latin and Maronite for me …

Within the Latin rite I’ve participated in Tridentine and Norvus Ordo Masses

As for Norvus Ordo, I’ve participated in Masses that were celebrated primarily in English, French, Spanish and Latin

 

[Irish_Melkite]

Olympia:

I, too, have a great interest in other Catholic Rites. So far, I have been to 4:

Latin
Byzantine (Ukrainian)
Maronite
Greek Melchite

It is my lifetime dream project to participate in all the rites. Many of them are here in the U.S.

Olympia,

I feel bad - I’m going to set you back a step. Both the Ukrainians and we Melkites use the Byzantine Rite. It can get confusing, because the terms “Byzantine” and “Greek” are frequently used interchangeably. For instance, the formal name for the Byzantine Ukrainian Church is the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

So, you’re left with 3 Rites to experience - the Armenian, Alexandrian, and Antiochene. Depending on where you are located in CT, it might be doable with minimal travel. There are parishes of the Coptic (Alexandrian Rite), Armenian (Armenian Rite), and Syro-Malankara (Antiochene Rite) Catholic Churches in NYC.

So, yes, all 6 Rites are represented somewhere in the US, as are about two-thirds of the 23 Churches sui iuris.

Many years,

Neil

 

[Irish_Melkite]

Pilgrim,

Whoops. Almost forgot to answer the question. I have worshipped at the Divine Liturgy in 5 of the 6 Rites; haven’t yet had the opportunity to do so in the Alexandrian Rite.

As to the particular Churches in which I’ve worshipped, to date:

Antiochene Rite: Syriac Catholic Church
Armenian Rite: Armenian Catholic Church
Latin Rite: Latin Catholic Church
Maronite Rite: Maronite Catholic Church
Byzantine Rite: Melkite, Romanian, Russian, Ruthenian, and Ukrainian Catholic Churches

Many years,

Neil

 

[visualops]

Well, I’ve been to Greek Orthodox O.C. (Byzantine I suppose), plus the Roman Catholic (Novus Ordo), and many many years ago attended a Mass at a French church in D.C. where the Mass was the traditional Latin if I am not mistaken.