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Greetings All,

I'd like to first write to apologize for all those whom I may have offended,including clergy,in another post [which I have asked to be closed, and was].

Lets talk about what role Roman and Eastern Catholics can play at local parish levels to contribute to the national and international call to reconciliation between the Catholic and Orthodox communions. What is currently being done? What can a laymmen do? I'd like suggestions.

Christ be with you All,

ProCatholico the sinner

Dear ProCatholico,

Yes, that thread seemed to have taken a turn. But many interesting points were made, perhaps we can continue that discussion, without the same mistake.

Elias

Education, education. We need to catechize our own people as well as "market" ourselves better to the community. We need to have some joint functions with the Latins, invite them to services, get the RCIA and other Latin catechetical people to know who we are and where we are, etc.

However in my own Ukrainain Catholic Church many of the first generation older people lived through Soviet persecution as an underground church and are still afraid that the wrong person outside the community might know who and where they are. It's going to take time, patience, perserverence and presence to the Latins. I have found many younger Latins to be genuinely interested in the Eastern Church. UNtil they know (1) we are here and (2) who we are we will continue to be an invisible minority. We have a pearl of great price within our churches that we need to share.

Subdeacon Randolph, amen, amen, amen! Any time you are ready to start some sort of outreach to the local Latins...COUNT ME IN! Don

Collaboration on social service projects is often the first and most immediately rewarding. Catholics and Orthodox together working at a soup kitchen, a crisis pregnancy counseling center, or reading to the blind.

Second are the established ecumencial agencies. In some communities the Catholics have join the local council of churches or interfaith committee. More of this is needed. Church Women United is an excellent organization that could use more Catholic participation.

Civic holidays (Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Dr, King's Birthday) also present opportunities to bring our communions together.

Axios

Hi,

I am a latin catholic interested in spreading around Eastern Christianity. I am very well involved in our R.C.I.A program and I will be entering the seminary next year. Just let me know how we can implement a program in our R.C.I.A program or maybe a "Learn more about our Eastern Brothers" team and i'll let our bishop know and hopefully we can start this and spread it around all the other dioceses.

Greetings All,

Thank you all for responding. What program does the BCC employ, similar the RCIA for new converts/members?

ProCatholico

Seeker, there is a very nice little booklet printed by the U.S. Catholic Conference (formerly the National Council of Catholic Bishops) called "Eastern Catholics in the United States of America", publication # 5-287 intended specifically for RCIA-type applications. You can get a discount price for larger orders. Also Fr. George Appleyard's book "Light of the East", ISBN 0-923635-02-1 is intended specifically for Latin Catholics in RCIA/adult faith study/catechetical type settings. There are also several videos out there as well.
Subdeacon Randolph, a sinnet

To Axios, responding to the Orthodox-Catholic issues: to rely only on the "established" ecumenical establishments would be to take a minimalist approach. At the grassroots parish or community level we need to further the dialogue, invite each other to functions, parish/ethnic festivals, etc. I know in the Ukrainian Catholic Church we have joint paraliturgical services such as Molebens, Parastas, Panakhidas, etc. with the Ukrainian Orthodox on a semi-regular basis. Also it's good you mention social action, but sadly also, as none of us as Christians should be reminded to participate in charitable work as it should be part and parcel of our Christian identity in living out our baptism...

Seeker: One particularly beautiful aspect about outreach of Eastern Catholics to Latins is that we can share in that most beautiful sacrament of communion, the Eucharist, that visible and full sign of our fraternal love in the Eucharist. To really experience us as Eastern Catholics the Latins need to come and experience us liturgically. You might want to consider an RCIA field trip to an Eastern Catholic Church after you have discussed some of the material I have mentioned. May our God who loves mankind guide you in your endeavor.
Subdeacon Randolph, a sinner

Diak,

Yes certainly we should not limit ourselves to any single intiative. And while we all are called to be engaged in social action, how much better when we do so as a common Christian endevor than exclusively as individual initiatives.

I am also amazed at how active many our priests and ministers are in ecumencial organizations yet never involve the parishioners. I think it is not unusual to find clergy who are significant leaders in ecumencial relations yet has never spoken a word or brought up the matter with his congregation, as if his activities were entirely unrelated to the parish.

Axios