Taking my confirmation class to Eastern church

[DJJG]

***I am a member of the Roman (Latin) rite and this Sunday I am taking my confirmation class, and their parents, to Devine Liturgy at St. Basil - Byzantine/Ukrainian Catholic Church. Yesterday their pastor came and gave a presentation to the kids and their parents about the Eastern Churches. ***

---

Vatican II said that we (Western Churches) are supposed to teach our children about the Eastern Churches and I figured that this is a good way to start. Only one of the kids parents knew that that Eastern Churches even existed; but she knew nothing else about them. The Eastern Churches are a very important part of our Catholic Heritage and we are not doing a good job letting our children know about them.

---

Have any of you had any Western Church religion classes come to your parish? If so please comment.

---

 

[5Loaves]

A Latin parish across the Bay has brought their Confirmation class to my parish every year for a number of years. They always stay and eat with us and so get to ask questions then. Their pastor happens to be bi-ritual, but only celebrates the Divine Liturgy once a year. We’ve had other Confirmation classes come, tho I don’t recall any other parish that has come annually.

I’m a catechist in a Latin parish, working with Catecheumens and Candidates. They’re aware of my parish but it’s a long way to go in order to visit us, especially since most of our Catecheumens are parents of young children. Coming to our Church is kind of an all day affair in many cases. I leave home at 8:30AM and get home again around 3:00. The commute is 45 minutes without traffic, and Divine Liturgy is about an hour and a half and then we eat, and sometimes there’s a program of some sort after Agape. It’s a big commitment for students to make unless they happen to live fairly close by.

Many Ukrainian parishes celebrate the Divine Liturgy in Ukrainian. The prayers of the DL are beautiful but are sadly lost on visitors when not prayed in the local venacular. Our Liturgy is largely in English but visitors will still sometimes find the service books we have by the candles. When they do they typically then spend the whole service with their eyes on the printed page which seems really unfortunate to me.

I hope your visit to St Basil’s goes well.

 

[Aramis]

I’ve several times been asked to discuss them with RCIA classes at my dad’s home parish.

One of the local Catholic Schools has their kids come down to St. Nick’s every couple months for a weekday liturgy.

The ABp of Anchorage has encouraged the local Catholic Newspaper to cover St Nick’s events as well. We see their editor frequently. And his family.

Several parishes have invited various pastors of St. Nick’s to celebrate the DL on a weeknight for their parishes as an educational opportunity.

 

[5Loaves]

I am a member of the Roman (Latin) rite and this Sunday I am taking my confirmation class, and their parents, to Devine Liturgy at St. Basil - Byzantine/Ukrainian Catholic Church.

How did it go?

 

[DJJG]

Well, taking my class and their parents to Devine Liturgy, went very well; the students & parents were impressed. At St. Basil’s they celebrate the liturgy in English so there was no problem understanding the language. Of course the whole liturgy, except the homily, was sung. They were apprehensive @ first; but afterwards EVERYONE was glad they went.
Their pastor, Fr. Marino, came to our parish the day before and gave a great presentation on the Eastern churches; then on Sunday he took them around His parish and talked about the differences in the church.
Unfortunately, I had one mother that didn’t want her child “exposed to that … it will just confuse him.”

 

[ConstantineTG]

Good for you! I’m glad your parish and your priest is agreeable to this. It is wonderful when Churches in communion work together instead of acting as if they are not.