www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Church Closings

It was announced on Sunday that our Eparchy of Passaic Chapel in New Jersey will be closing as of July 18. (3 weeks notice?) The Byzantine Catholic Church has so much to offer a world seeking stability in a world of liturgical chaos. We have a wonderful Bishop and priest. I believe the problem is unneccessary obstacles. Byzantine Rite women become Latin Rite if they marry outside their rite. The Balamand Statement says we should not try to convert the Orthodox. What of St.Andrew Bobola, the Martyr? The current ecumenical pontiff has been great for Eastern Catholics, ending Latinization, but more can be done, such as making it easier for Latin Rite refugees from modernism to change rites.

Christos Anesti

I'm sorry, but there is something here I don't understand. Why is your chapel closing? Is it a lack of funds, has the congregation dwindled, or is there another reason?

We have about 40 people for Divine Liturgy on Sunday, which is significantly below the average ratio of priest to congregation. I could speculate that it is at a valuable real estate location on Route 130, where commercial development is boomimg. The property, after the demolition of its consecrated grounds, could fetch a high price. Statistically, Ruthenian Catholics are shrinking. The chapel is beautiful with frescoes of the Luminous and Glorious Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Most Blessed and Immaculate, the Lady, Theotokos. The priest was overcome with emotion.

Christos Anesti

I am really sorry to hear this. I am told that Byzantine congregations are shrinking in the North, but fortunately they do seem to be growing here in the South. Of course, I don't know the reason for the Northern decline. I will keep you and your congregation in my prayers, of course.

I know what you are going through. Our little chapel in Philly was closed last month. the Archbishop came and announced that that was the last Liturgy. So sad.

It's always sad to hear that a church is closing.

Hritzko

Walnut40, What is the name of chapel and who is the administrator? Thanks!

Walnut40:

The reality of closings and consolidations with Ruthenian and other Eastern Catholic Churches means they must get smaller before they get larger!

None-the-less, I am sorry for your loss. Rest assured, brighter days are ahead!

Smar

It is St.Mary's Chapel in Robbinsville (Trenton/Hamilton area) The local administrator is Father Gregory J. Noga. Bishop Pataki visited the first week of the month and was an inspiring soul and fits the profile of a genuinely ideal Bishop. His heartfelt sermon on living the gospel was first rate.

Christos Anesti

My condolences, brother.

I visited a local Catholic Church several weeks ago. There was a missionary bishop from Africa requesting financial support for his Church in Nigeria. Is this a common practice in the Catholic Church? It certainly was in the early Church - the Church of Rome demonstrated her presidency of love (vid., St. Ignatius) by her financial generosity to other Churches. Why cannot your Church request financial support from a more affluent Catholic Church (Latin?) in the area?

Blessings,
Marduk

I believe the view is the sale will benefit the entire cash strapped Eparchy.

The silver lining is we will beginning July 18 attend Divine Liturgy at the main church that my 6 year old son described as a "castle." It is breathtakingly beautiful. The problem is it is now located in an extremely high crime area, the rectory across the street has iron bars in a city (Trenton) where the police chief has multiple felony convictions.

Christ calls us to serve the outcasts of society. We will now be in a better to serve the marginalized and dispossessed, something that arguably has been more a strength of the Latin Rite. A small cross to bear when one contemplates eternity.

Christos Anesti

Marduk,

The type of fund-raising for missionary churches that you describe was at one time very common in
Latin parishes, often done by clergy home on leave from their mission lands. I don't know to what extent it still occurs.

As to seeking financial support from Latin jurisdictions, many of them are in the same situation, with closings having become a regular occurrence - witness the recent threads here about the closing of 65 parishes in the Boston Archdiocese and the closings in the New York Archdiocese that required the Armenian Catholic Exarchate to relocate from the borrowed/rented church it used as its cathedral.

Additionally, the presence of our own canonical jurisdictions in the US really has placed the onus on ourselves to support our own parishes. Certainly, in the days prior to having our own bishops here, there were Latin hierarchs who were generous to us in measures that we could never hope to repay. Richard Cardinal Cushing, of blessed memory, is a case in point; a mosaic iconic portrait of him in our Cathedral's nave acknowledges the instrumental role he played in the cathedral becoming reality - just one small part of the much good he did for Eastern Catholics in the Boston Archdiocese.

Many years,

Neil

With all that, I am sure that it will make a fine chapel for more traditional/orthodox Latin Catholics if you can find a community. They wouldn't even have to renovate.

Good luck,
Joe

Latin Rite traditionalists are frequent visitors, veils of modesty and all, but not in large enough numbers.

Yes, but wouldn't the chapel already fit their needs (read: spiritual tradition)? I am sure the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and the Immaculate Mother would only assist them better in maintaing their traditions.

BTW, what is going to happen to the iconostasis?

Joe