Joining an Eastern Catholic Church

[Catholicc]

First of all, this is something that should not be done lightly but only after a time of discernment, prayer (ideally also with some spiritual direction), and attending the particular Eastern Catholic Church you are considering joining. You are essentially taking on the spiritual and liturgical identity of another particular Catholic Church.

If this is something that you have discerned to be of positive spiritual benefit, then you write to the bishop of the particular Church’s Eparchy you intend to join and to the Latin bishop whose diocese you are leaving.

I am assuming you are a layman with no obligations of religious life to either a diocese or an order; this would require additional formal releases, which for religious sometimes have to go to the respective generalate in Rome (or wherever it is located) for the release.

The reasons must be positive; I have seen Latin and Eastern bishops refuse the transfer when the reasons for changing particular Churches were reduced to Mass- and liturgy-bashing of the Latin Church.

Well, I wanted to join for liturgical reasons. To be brutally honest, I get nothing out of the dumbed down mass in most RC parishes these days. The abuses drive me berserk, and I don’t see them ever getting better. I want to celebrate the richness of Eastern liturgy. That is my main reason for wanting to join.

 

[Aramis]

You can attend without formal transfer of enrollment. In the US, EC parishes are usually considered to be just like other non-territorial parishes for the Latin Catholics, with the requirement being a desire to worship in the manner of that particular church.

 

[LilyM]

You can attend without formal transfer of enrollment. In the US, EC parishes are usually considered to be just like other non-territorial parishes for the Latin Catholics, with the requirement being a desire to worship in the manner of that particular church.

Exactly - sounds like your reasons might not be viewed as being sufficiently grave for a change of canonical enrollment, but you’re free to worship in an Eastern Catholic liturgy you wish - even exclusively so.

Just remember that if you’re travelling, for example, and can’t get to your liturgy of choice, then you’re not excused from your Sunday obligation and would have to attend an NO if that was all that was available. Of course if there’s a TLM available to you it might be an easier alternative to the Eastern liturgies.

 

[Catholicc]

Okay.
Thanks.

 

[gloria97000]

I love the Maronites, and have witnessed a deep and abiding respect for the Sacraments at their churches. We certainly had those at my prior Maronite church in TX who had left Catholicism from the Roman Catholic Church, been away for a while, and found their home in Eastern Catholicism.