www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Proposal for Move Towards Byzantine Catholic Unity in North America

Last weekend at the Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Uniontown, Pa., hosted by the Uniontown Ruthenian Province of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great and under the patronage of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Metropolitan Church in the USA, our Church was graced with the presence of the Eparch of Sts. Cyril and Methodius for Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Toronto, Canada, the Most Rev. John Pazak, CSSR. He was very friendly, and apparentl well-received by most of the pilgrims. He is a native of the United States and served parishes in the USA for several years before moving to Canada & eventually becoming bishop.

To my knowledge, this was the first time that a bishop of that Eparchy has visited the Uniontown pilgrimage. Which got me thinking...

We're always talking about consolidating our resources and how horrible it is that two and even three Byzantine Catholic parishes of various jurisdictions may exist in the same town and draw essentially from the same pool of members, which is a terribly inefficient way of life for us now that that pool of members (the ethnic types who were born into these churches) has shrunk to 5-10% of its size at the time these parishes were established.

Now, the Eparchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Toronto has (correct me if I'm wrong) 5 parishes, mostly just in Ontario and Quebec. They use the same typical (Roman) liturgical books as the Ruthenians in the USA, the same liturgical chant, and their "ethnic" faithful originate in essentially the same geographic territory (albeit in different eras). In the 1990s, their sole eparchial publication was forced to shut down because of lack of resources. I don't know what their seminary formation entails, but without their own seminary I suspect they train their candidates in either a Ukrainian Canadian seminary or perhaps in Presov, Slovakia.

Would it be so radical to suggest that the Eparchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius be incorporated into the Metropolia of Pittsburgh? The (admittedly meager) resources of the Metropolia (e.g., Seminary, inter-eparchial liturgical commission, newspapers, etc.) could be expanded in scope to include the Canadian eparchy, and establishment of new missions in Canada could be undertaken on the basis of the "generic Byzantine" model that seems to be fairly successful in some places in the United States (e.g., Texas, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, the Pacific Northwest). As far as I know, none of the Byzantine jurisdictions in Canada, being much more heavily ethnic-based than their US counterparts, has had much experience in this endeavor, except perhaps for some Ukrainian parishes in Ontario such as St. Elias in Brampton.

After all, if the OCA headquartered in the U.S. can have a Canadian eparchy and a Mexican exarchate, why can't "America's only self-governing Catholic Church in communion with Rome" straddle a border as well?

Consider the possibilities...!

Dear Lemko,

Interesting idea . . .

They separated from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Eastern Canada on national grounds more than any other.

(Don't you just hate it when nationalism enters the fray? ).

They might not be willing to have you ( ) since up here they are true blue (and white and red) Slovaks.

If such a union entails a perceived watering down of their identity - IF - then I don't think they'll go for it.

The Slovak community is strong up here, they speaka da language and their Cathedral in Markham is a great landmark to Slovak culture and identity.

I don't know how they'd view youz guyz. If you tell them you are "Byzantine," they'll shoot back with "Byzantine what?"

God bless you and all Lemko Rusyns!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Yes, you are probably right about the caution. I think that the fact that Bishop John attended the pilgrimage speaks volumes.

I am always amazed by Eastern Catholics, who share so much, yet at the same time, find "co-operation" threatening.

I think Lemko Rusyn is on to something when he suggests that we would all benefit by prayerful co-operation, support, sharing of resources etc. If only we could find a way to do this that is not threatening. My own dream is that "co-operation" does not mean "assimilation" or the destruction of anything distinctive or worthy.

Perhaps it is time for us to explore ways forward, in which we can suggest co-operation, and at the same time ask how we can be more sensitive to legitimate fears.

Elias

Bless me a sinner, Venerable Father!

Yes, I think we are all ready to cooperate in any way we can.

After having my fingers burned more than once in my life on the cultural hot-plate, I've learned that it is best to keep Churches and jurisdictions alone while furthing mutual understanding and . . . cooperation.

This also exists on the greater ecumenical level between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The Armenians, I believe, are frightened of the effects re: assimilation that may come about as the result of church reunification with the Eastern Orthodox - it is an ongoing concern. They have even been reticent in accepting all Oriental Orthodox saints in their calendar e.g. St Severus of Antioch for a similar reason.

I've no problem cooperating with Ruthenian, Slovak or Hungarian Greek Catholics .

But I doubt if youz guyz south of the border would appreciate our rampant nationalisms that the Canadian multiculturalism scene tends to keep happening.

There would positive outcomes, not the least of which would be a greater sensitization to ethnic nationalism for Bob Orthoman, for one.

Kissing your right hand, I again implore your Hieromonastic blessing, Venerable Father,

Alex

[ 09-03-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

For what it's worth, I saw a lady at the Otpust yesterday morning wearing a white t-shirt with this blue design/text:

or something very close to that.

Why would they be threatened? Isn't the Pittsburgh Metropolia a "Slovak Church"? After all, the Slovaks have been telling us that for years...

p.s. Their eparchial administrator in between their past and present bishops wasn't even Slovak; his parents were Lemkos -- his father from Poland, his mother from Slovakia who only ever identified herself as a Rusyn. So in accepting him (he was USA-born too) they're already partway there.

Alex,

The Metropolia of Pittsburgh actually embraces Ruthenians, Slovaks, Hungarians, and Croats of the Byzantine tradition. Which is another reason why in the 50's they decided to go with Byzantine. The Ruthenians and Slovaks down here are completely intergrated, with most saying the Slovaks are just Slovakized Rusyns. Although I am living proof that at least some actual Slovaks are Byzantine Catholics. The Hungarians have many parishes throughout the Metropolia, several in the same town as a Rusyn parish. The Croats have one parish. So who knows maybe the Canadian Slovaks wouldn't mind?

Howevr, in reference to Lemko's suggestion, I do not know of any metropolia that crosses international borders, I think to avoid political problems the Vatican avoids this. It would make perfect sense since we are family, and since we are talking about the US and Canada here...(What border?) The closest thing to bordre is the customs stations at Niagra Falls. Can't have the likes of me smuggling to much of the cheap in price, excellent in quality, higher in alcohol content Canadian beer into the US. Americans might find out how bad Bud, Coors, and Miller have been ripping them off with the pee water they call beer. But I digress...

In Christ,
Lance

Esteemed brother, Alex,

It is God who blesses you!

I suppose being "non-ethnic" in the Byzantine sense (mostly German, some French [Alsace] & Irish I suppose) this is something I just cannot appreciate. (Though I have had some European experience) I am a simple American, and cannot really see these difficulties unless they are explained to me.
Elias

But haven't many of us heard the rumors banded about in the 1990s about raising the Eparchy of Mukachevo to Metropolia status which (whether under a Patriarchate of L'viv/Halych cum Kyiv, or a sui juris Church under the Vatican) would take in the eparchies of Presov, Hajdudorog, and Krizevci? It might be an innovation as far as the Vatican, but my suggestion isn't the first time that our Church may have considered an international Metropolitan ecclesial structure.

Dear Lance,

Thank you for saying better, what I wanted to say. In our Church 'ethnic' identity doesn't seem to be a great barrier. But Alex says it is something "more significant" on the other side, up there.

Elias

And Alex, while we're at it, we'd be happy to take the Hungarian parishes off the hands of your Ukrainian bishops, since we already have a lot of experience dealing with them. (Of course, some of our American Hungarian Byzantine Catholics might warn the Magyar Canucks that they're better off where they're at! Nothing worse (for a Magyar) than reverse assimilation...)

Dear Lance,

How wonderful to hear . . . I think .

Yes, but Canadian Slovaks are much more nationalistic than your watered-down, U.S. version
that styles themselves as "Byzantines."

If one isn't familiar with the whole "Rites and sui generus Churches" matter, one might mistake you for a) an obscure ethnic hold-out from the days of the Paleologi; b) crafty people with all kinds of motives one would do better to avoid; or c)a teenage business.

This does reflect the Canadian multicultural vs U.S. melting pot traditions.

Do you think Bob Orthoman's anti-nationalist bias (perceived, anyway) has something to do with being overly influenced by that melting pot stuff?

He seems to think that anyone speaking another language or holding to another cultural identity is a raving "nashi"onalist.

Well, then again perhaps he's right . . .

Have a great day and perhaps one day I'll see that goatee of yours, Servant of Christ!

Alex

Esteemed brother, Alex,

You rightly identify the three reasons why I do not like the word "Byzantine" in our Church's title. But this is an argument I always lose down here.

Elias

Dear Lemko,

You'll have to ask to Slovaks and Hungarians and Croats up here if they'll go for the idea - it really is not up to me!

I guess youz guyz down there are surprised at the attitudes of us in the Northern Kingdom here, and vice-versa.

Whenever you speak of ethnic identity, it is a great education for me and I'm left in amazement.

The ethnic stuff is so strong up here that if someone defined themselves as "just Canadian" they might be asked what they were doing in our Church, and why not in the Latin Church?

Again, I think you might find our Slovaks et alia a bit different in approach to this than in your Grand Republic.

But you should write to them and ask them.

Or else first get the blessing of your Metropolitan.

The Hungarians and Croats are no problem. It was only when I was a teenager that I was even aware we had them in our Eparchy . . .

Alex

And Alex, while we're at it, we'd be happy to take the Carpatho-Rusyn parishes off the hands of your Ukrainian bishops, since we already have a lot of experience dealing with them.

djs

Dear djs,

If you can find them, you can have them!

Alex