www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Miles Jesu.

As far as I know and from talking with Father Foeckler, Miles Jesu priests are bi-ritual Ukrainian.

As to the structure, i'm not too sure.

I know though, that there are several expressions of the Miles Jesu spirituality. They are properly terms a "Lay Ecclesial Community." They have a General Director, Father Duran. The priests are all bi-ritual Ukrainian. Miles Jesu also has coummunities for men and separate communities for women. The men and women are not necessarily religious, though they do take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. They are consecrated lay members and I think they all have jobs during the day (not sure though). Then there are families that work with Miles Jesu and live the spiritual expression though family life.

Not to exact, sorry. I never really was interested becoming part of Miles Jesu.

Everything that I post here can be found on thier website.
www.milesjesu.com [milesjesu.com]

Dear Laka,

What is its relation to the UGCC? I"m sure it is a good one . . .

Alex

I'm not sure what Miles Jesu's relation to the UGCC is. It might even take some digging to find out. I think writing a letter might help. I'll give Father Foeckler a call and ask him. I recall that Father Foeckler refers to Cardinal Husar as Patriarch though.

That's an EXCELLENT sign!

Gordo

I typed in UGCC Miles Jesu and I found something I COMPLETELY forgot about! Now I feel dumb for forgetting! The UGCC website has a write up on Miles Jesu:


Miles Jesu (M.J.)

In 1990 at the invitation of the UGCC Miles Jesu ("Soldier of Jesus") members Tom Creen and Steven Ryan came to Ukraine from America. In 1992 the first MJ community was established in the village of Bortnyky and in 1993 another in Lviv. Today 14 members live in the two communities. In addition to consecrated celibates there are also full members of the community who are married laypeople.

Mission of M.J.: The order arose because of the new understanding of the vocation of laity in the Church, as explained in the Vatican II constitution Lumen Gentium. A priority for Miles Jesu is work with the laity: retreats, generally conducted in the apartments of the faithful, and "Challenge," a special 10-day retreat. During a Challenge retreat the members of the community live together with the retreatants, they take part in charitable activities, they invite orphans and homeless to the community.


The link is:
http://www.ugcc.org.ua/eng/church_in_action/ugcc_chyny
It's on the official english website of the UGCC under
Church in Action
Then under Monastic Orders.
Scroll down to Miles Jesu.

I'm not a big fan of bi-ritualism, but this group does appear to have the support of the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchy.

I am concerned about some of the comments earlier in the thread which appeared to indicate that the group was blending prayers from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with those of the Roman Missal of Pope Paul VI. This is one of the things that has worried me about bi-ritualism since I first heard about the practice. I'm sure the group does much good, and I pray that the situation ultimately helps the Byzantine Church in the United States.

Dear Laka,

That's O.K. then!

And if he refers to you know who as "Patriarch" - that's a bonus!

Cheers!

Alex

One other thing, I do not see myself as a member of the " Roman [milesjesu.com] " Church; instead, I am a member of the Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic Church, which is in communion with the bishop of Rome.

Uh, Byzantium was "East Rome", right?
At one time, after the fall of the Western Empire, "Roman" or "Roma" refered to citizens of the Byzantine Empire.
Of course nowadays we are all busy overreacting to the West and anything that suggests "Roman Catholic" makes us nervous. :rolleyes:
-D

Of course the term "Roman Catholic" had its origin in 16th century England, but nevertheless, it has now come to identify those whose Patriarch is the bishop of Rome, and the Pope isn't my Patriarch, so I'm not "Roman" Catholic.

I was a Roman Catholic, but I have changed sui juris Churches; thus, I am no longer in the Roman Church, at least as that term is understood at the present time.

I suppose I could take the position of Fr. Romanides who liked to call the "Roman" Catholic Church the Church of the Franks, but I think that's rather foolish myself.

Dear Friends,

In fact, the Turks ALWAYS referred to the Ecumenical Patriarch as the "Patriarch of the Romans" and the Oriental Orthodox likewise understand the "Roman Church" to include BOTH that of Old Rome and New Rome.

And I'm a "Roman" in more ways than one . . .

Alex

forgive me, Alex, but I just can't help it. what is the church of the hamburgers? minds that need inquiring into need to know.
Much Love,
Jonn

Alex,

I would agree with you if I lived in the Ottoman Empire, but I don't, and so I am not a "Roman" Catholic, I am a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic. I think it is best to stick to the use of the terms as they are understood at the present time. As I said before, Fr. Romanides liked to call the Eastern Church the real "Roman" Church, and he called the Western Church the "Church of the Franks," and of course he made these distinctions for theological reasons. Nevertheless, I don't agree with his position, and so I prefer to stick to the common understanding of the word "Roman" in connection with Christianity as it is used today.

Blessings to you,
Todd

In perusing the Miles Jesu site, I found the following statement:

Having had discussions about the "filioque" many times on this forum in the past, I'm sure that most people who are at all interested in the issue of the spiration of the Holy Spirit are already familiar with my views. But I would simply like to point out that Byzantine Christians (Catholic and Orthodox) do not accept the idea that the Son participates in the spiration of the Holy Spirit, but only in His manifestation, both temporally and eternally, in the divine energy. The quotation above clearly represents a Western theological position, and hopefully it is not reflected in the activities of this group when it is dealing with Eastern Christians.

MfC:

Fr Duran was a Claretian who introduced the Cursillo to the Roman Catholic Church of Phoenix. Subsequently, Fr Duran left the Claretians to focus on what was to became Miles Jesu. Sometime after he left the Claretians, subsequent Bishops of Phoenix did not grant faculties to Miles Jesu priests. During that time, the MJ priests received faculties from the Ukrainian eparch of Chicago, Bishop Michael, and began to openly serve the Miles Jesu Community in Phoenix, whose mebers are Roman Catholic. Under the current RC Bishop of Phoenix, Thomas J. Olmstead, Fr Foeckler now enjoys priestly faculties.

If you are interested in Byzantine Catholicism (Melkite, Ruthenian or Ukrainian), you would do well to learn at one of the parishes in the metropolitan Phoenix area.