Returning to the Ukrainian Catholic Church

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rhrynczys

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As an infant I was baptized and confirmed as a Ukrainian Catholic, and as a child I often attended mass at the Church with my family. However, do to the distance of the school and its eventual shut down, I was sent to 12 years of Roman Catholic school. Schooling and my father’s gravitation to the Roman Catholic Church pulled me away from the Ukrainian Catholic rite. Over the years, I have attended mass, weddings and funerals at the Ukrainian Church but I could feel my separation from it as I had not been fully taught in regards to the Ukrainian Catholic rite.

Now that I have gotten a little older, I have drifted away from the Roman Catholic Church and faith all together. Recently, I feel a great pull to return to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. However, I am hesitant on how to do so. I have found a church in my area to go to, but I am nervous. Could you provide me with any advice or resources that might help me make this transition? I feel that God is showing me this is what I need to do at this moment in my life and I would like to return to the faith in which I was baptized. Thank you for your time.
 
Find out the time of the Sunday Divine Liturgy . . . and just go in, sit down, and participate as much as you can.

We are all Catholics and we are all at home. You have just been attending a different parish for a number of years. It is not a big deal (except that you are apt to be very warmly welcomed.)

After service, if there is a social hour - go into the hall and have a cup of coffee. Odds are some one will notice you and start up a conversation. If they don’t do so - immediately . . . look arround the room for any adult who is sitting alone and walk right up to them and say, “I haven’t been here before, but wanted to see a service like the one’s of my youth. This was very beautiful.”

I would wager dollars to donuts you will have started a great conversation and will be immediately welcomed as a member of the parish.
 
I can empathize with your delema. I am a convert to the Ruthenian Rite, which is basically an off shoot of the Ukrainian Church. My fathers family where all roman catholics and I had never been baptized. I really didn’t feel a pull to the Western Rites, but felt a pull to catholicism. When I learn of the Eastern Rites I found a near by church and went. It was like coming home after being away for long time. I was reluctant to go because I’d be going alone. However, after first experience with the Divine Liturgy I knew I wasn’t alone. God was right there. Just go sit and be with God, we are all his children…
 
Also - if you were baptized into the Ukrainian Church, you are still canonically bound by Ukrainian fasting rules, days of obligation, etc…not Latin ones. If you’re not sure what those rules are in your jurisdiction, you should contact the local Ukrainian pastor or eparchy and find out.
 
Thank you for all replies. They have been very helpful. I have found a church near in the city that I have just moved to that I will be attending on Sunday. I am nervous about not remembering everything, but I know that I will be fine. It seems that community there is very rich and I hope that they will be welcoming.

twf, I remember some of the fasting rules as they pertain to Christmas and Easter holy days because my father still keeps to them, but I am unsure of some of the other things. I will definitely take your advice and contact the priest at the parish.

Are there any books you might recommend that might give my memory a jump start and help me in the right direction?

Thank you again.
 
rhrynczys said:
Thank you for all replies. They have been very helpful. I have found a church near in the city that I have just moved to that I will be attending on Sunday. I am nervous about not remembering everything, but I know that I will be fine. It seems that community there is very rich and I hope that they will be welcoming.

twf, I remember some of the fasting rules as they pertain to Christmas and Easter holy days because my father still keeps to them, but I am unsure of some of the other things. I will definitely take your advice and contact the priest at the parish.

Are there any books you might recommend that might give my memory a jump start and help me in the right direction?

Thank you again.
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Can I suggest you find out if they have more than 1 Divine Liturgy on the weekend. Most Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgies are said in Ukrainian and not in English. If the parish you’re planning on attending has an English Divine Liturgy, you may want to consider attending that one until you feel more comfortable.

I’d also contact the priest and explain to him about your return, he’ll be more than happy to help and answer any questions that you have.

Hope this helps…
 
Patchunky said:
Can I suggest you find out if they have more than 1 Divine Liturgy on the weekend. Most Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgies are said in Ukrainian and not in English. If the parish you’re planning on attending has an English Divine Liturgy, you may want to consider attending that one until you feel more comfortable.

I’d also contact the priest and explain to him about your return, he’ll be more than happy to help and answer any questions that you have.

Hope this helps…
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Thank you, I was definitely thinking about that. I know my church at home had both English and Ukrainian Liturgies. I will have to contact the church and see if they have any English Liturgies.
 
I’ve never seen an Eastern Catholic church that wasn’t warmly welcoming – someone is apt to talk with you because they will be so happy to see you there. The priests are also quite accessible, and very helpful in facilitating your integration into the parish and the Rite.
 
DrAntnee said:
I can empathize with your delema. I am a convert to the Ruthenian Rite, which is basically an off shoot of the Ukrainian Church. My fathers family where all roman catholics and I had never been baptized. I really didn’t feel a pull to the Western Rites, but felt a pull to catholicism. When I learn of the Eastern Rites I found a near by church and went. It was like coming home after being away for long time. I was reluctant to go because I’d be going alone. However, after first experience with the Divine Liturgy I knew I wasn’t alone. God was right there. Just go sit and be with God, we are all his children…
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We were called to the Ruthenian Church also. Never in our wildest dreams did we think almost 29 years ago, that my husband would be a deacon. Go figure!

one thing for sure we never know what kind of awesome suprises our Lord has in store for his children.
 
Vitaemo! As Mark has said above, the priest will surely be welcoming to talk to you and answer any questions. I hope and pray your return to the Ukrainian Catholic Church is blessed. I also returned (generally speaking) to the practice of my faith through the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and continue to thank God for His Wisdom and the movement of His Holy Spirit. Slava Isusu Christu!

And like Rose’s story, if you would have told me twenty-five years ago that I would be a deacon in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church I don’t know if I would have laughed or been angry taking it as an insult.

I also have a nice little transliterated pew book to follow the Ukrainian Liturgy if that will help. Try both the English and Ukrainian and see what is more appealing spiritually. Z’Bohom.
FDRLB
 
Thank you all for the replies. I attended the Divine Liturgy this past Sunday and I was very glad that I did. The whole mass was in Ukrainian which was a little difficult as I as not fluent in the language and would have liked to have understood the homily. However, that supplied me with extra time to pray. I plan to attend the English Divine Liturgy to see which I like the best.

Diak, may I ask what pew book you use?

Also, I have another question. What translation of the Bible would you suggest? I have a New American Translation which I used while in Catholic School, but I am not sure if this is the best translation to use. Thank you.
 
We primarily use the Anthology.

The transliterated pew book was made by a parish in Michigan to follow the usual little blue pew books that are the common pew book in many UGCC parishes. It uses a phonetic transliteration of the Ukrainian responses to a standard Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Both the little blue pew book and the Anthology are available from Byzantine Church Supplies in Philadelphia. The problem is these two have either Ukrainian or English, and not a transliterated version for Ukrainian (the Ukrainian is in the Ukrainian alphabet). The Anthology has a few transliterations, but not the entire Liturgy.

The transliterated pew book is a copyable one I have from the parish in Michigan that I can send out free to anyone who wants it.
FDRLB
 
Diak, I would be interested in obtaining a copy if would be able to send it to me. Thanks!
 
Just send me your contact info in a private message and I will shoot out this week.
 
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