Talking to the Bishop

[hjig22]

Hi, im a convert to eastern catholicism and this has been an issue ive had. When I attended a RC church the Bishop was always avaliable to contact in fact you could even phone his house.However, when ive sent emails to the bishop of my eparchy I get responces that say I must talk to my pastor.He should be the one asking him questions.Your thoughts? Similar experiences? God bless all on this forum ! Christ is risen- Indeed he is risen

 

[hjig22]

Please respond

 

[Vico]

Hi, im a convert to eastern catholicism and this has been an issue ive had. When I attended a RC church the Bishop was always avaliable to contact in fact you could even phone his house.However, when ive sent emails to the bishop of my eparchy I get responces that say I must talk to my pastor.He should be the one asking him questions.Your thoughts? Similar experiences? God bless all on this forum ! Christ is risen- Indeed he is risen

They seem to be very busy, in my experience.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I have an opposite experience. I hardly see the RC bishop but the Ukrainian bishop we have I always see him and he stops for a couple of minutes to chat. Sometimes its just casual conversation, sometimes is serious questions about the faith. I’ve also been invited to have brunch at his residence.

I guess it varies from Bishop to Bishop. They are individual persons as well. Its not an “Eastern” thing.

 

[Hesychios]

Hi, im a convert to eastern catholicism and this has been an issue ive had. When I attended a RC church the Bishop was always avaliable to contact in fact you could even phone his house.

Where do you live, some place like Oklahoma?

I am surprised you could get through to an RC bishop so readily, that is not normal in many areas of the USA.

I find EC bishops to be extraordinarily approachable, and they can often put a name with a face. They are usually very close to their own people (from my experience). I never saw RC bishops except from a distance, and they never knew me from Adam.

Basically, I would not contact the EC bishop directly unless it was a serious matter for the eparchy. EC bishops do not have a lot of staffers and a big office budget. Sometimes they have to drive hundreds of miles all by themselves just to make a pastoral visit, they often are dog tired and have little to no clerical support.

If the bishop says to contact your priest, I am sure your priest will know how the bishop wants things handled.

 

[Aramis]

While I personally know the retired Archbishop of Anchorage, and am recognized by name by the current Archbishop of Anchorage, that has to do with being the son of a Deacon, rather than a typical Catholic. Most of the Catholics in Anchorage have only been in arms reach of a Roman bishop when he chrismated them at confirmation.

I’ve met all three of the last 3 bishops of Van Nuys/HolyProtection of Mary… had conversations with them, extended ones with Bishops George and Gerald.

 

[hjig22]

I live in northern canada we have an RC Diocese in our city. I however joined an EC parish which is in the eparchy of Toronto.I found the bishop in this eparchy is not approchable

 

[Hesychios]

I live in northern canada we have an RC Diocese in our city. I however joined an EC parish which is in the eparchy of Toronto.I found the bishop in this eparchy is not approchable

I am sorry to learn of this.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I live in northern canada we have an RC Diocese in our city. I however joined an EC parish which is in the eparchy of Toronto.I found the bishop in this eparchy is not approchable

Maybe he’s just really busy? Its a large Eparchy with a lot of parishes. Our Eparchy is small and our Bishop probably knows all the regular parishioners in all his parishes.

 

[davinpa]

I am an Indonesian, and most bishops here are rather unapproachable. The nuncio is a lot more approachable than the local bishops. My friends and I also had a hard time contacting the Melkite bishop in Sydney w.r.t the establishment of Melkite mission here, but when I decided to actually come to Sydney, he adjusted his very busy travelling schedule, so that he could see me.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

Our bishop has been largely approachable and I’m in the Roman Catholic church here in Canada. I believe your experience is a function of personal styles rather than institutional process.

 

[Spirithound]

Hi, im a convert to eastern catholicism and this has been an issue ive had. When I attended a RC church the Bishop was always avaliable to contact in fact you could even phone his house.However, when ive sent emails to the bishop of my eparchy I get responces that say I must talk to my pastor.He should be the one asking him questions.Your thoughts? Similar experiences? God bless all on this forum ! Christ is risen- Indeed he is risen

I’m sorry you’ve had this experience. I can only speculate that this may be a result of first, the kind of bishop who would be assigned to a northern diocese, and second, the Eastern bishop having a much larger diocese to lead. He may in fact spend most of his time on the road making pastoral visits.