www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Terry Mattingly on Father John, DC Evangelist

Columnist Terry Mattingly (an Orthodox Christian who lives in Florida) has written an interesting column this week about Father John, a Roman Catholic priest in DC who is big on evangelism:

http://tmatt.gospelcom.net/column/2003/05/28/

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Dear Dave,

Fr. John is well known in the Washington area. I don't know if this storefront chapel is his idea, but it seems excellent to me.

The only things I would add would be lots of Icons and a big, flashing neon sign. Like the ones in the old 1930s Bowery movies, outside the storefront chapel. I know the zoning law would not allow this in Washington, but it would be great.

The sign that says "Jesus Saves".

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Thank God! Finally, a good priest doing his job! Awesome statement Father,

God Grant Him Many Years! I only wish I could kiss his hand and ask for his blessing!!!!!!!!

If the rest of our priest were like Father McCloskey we would live in a different world...

I decided to poke around online and found Father McCloskey's website, the DC Catholic Information Center [cicdc.org] which includes mass times and a bookstore. Looks like and interesting enough place. I make no claims or endorsements, but if you are curious...

Neil

Hmmm...Opus Dei again. I thought I smelled the fires of the Inquisition somewhere. No wonder warning signals went off when I read that article in the first post. Moe

The "Catholic Information Center" had been over on 15th Street, kinda a small dingy place. Now, it's two doors down from the Capitol Hilton and two doors down from Cosi, an upper level lunch place. (I'm not sure it's the same outfit that ran the old one, though.)

I visited the shop a few weeks back. Nothing there for us at all. The closest thing to an icon is the Assisi Cross (which is very beautiful and thought-provoking). A substantial collection of books is available, but they're either from the medieval era, or from the last 3 or 4 years. There is a statue of the Opus founder near the entrance to the chapel. I did not go in (I was late back to work). Ostensibly, we don't exist.

Blessings!

A pity.

It seems that the mainstream Catholic evangelists and apologists aren't bending over backwards to introduce people to the "East lung".

One might think that our very existance is a problem for them. Like instead of affirming the catholicity of the church we somehow contradict it.

But who can blame them? If we aren't out there tooting our own horns what right have we to complain? People might be inclined to think that the Latin way of approaching Catholicism is the way. Of course, we know better.

In another thread someone had described the great lengths a parish went through to try and keep a school open. Even a billboard! All laudable and commendable efforts to be sure.

When was the last time anyone saw a billboard promoting a parish? COME AND PRAY or GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST! perhaps with an image of Christ Pantocrator in the background and an address.

We need our own storefront missions, bookstores and websites. And to be honest, since these things are expensive, we need to hit the streets.

Michael

Here's one mainstream Roman site that does mention us:

http://www.christianity.com/catholicway

Notice the article about Byzantine Catholics at the bottom of the page.

BTW, I've visted Eastern Catholic parish bookstores which basically had nothing related to Roman Rite Catholics (unless you count New American Bibles). Now, I didn't think they somehow didn't believe Romans existed.

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

You are quite right, of course. I did get a little carried away there.

The whole idea of having Catholic bookstores feature Byzantine materials got me all excited.

They never seem to identify themselves as ROMAN Catholic bookstores. (Come to think of it, in my area they usually don't even use Catholic in their name. You can only tell by all the statues and rosaries! ) Wouldn't you think a little balance would help the whole product line? You know, like Buick selling Opals?

Michael

I think the reason that a lot of Eastern Catholic bookstores stock "our own stuff" exclusively (both Catholic and Orthodox in provenance) is because you can't find it ANYWHERE else. To be perfectly honest, I love to attend Cathodox ethnic festivals primarily because I love to hit the book-and-chachkie stand to stock up on stuff.

So, our own Eastern churches have to make sure that our folks get what we need (core nutrients!!) and leave the non-Eastern stuff to be obtained, if necessary, elsewhere.

As for the Westerns "stocking our stuff", don't hold your breath. The Westerns generally wouldn't be interested in reading it ("too foreign, you know") and there are far too few Easterns around to make stocking it profitable.

And anyway, I'm not sure I want them peddling what to them would be interpreted as "folk items", like icons. I just love it when I'm told how nice our "folk art" is. [How does one commit 'mayhem'? I really want to know in case I need to enact it.]

Blessings!

Curiously, the text of that article is taken from this website. I glad they are using it but I don't remember anyone asking permission or at least informing us that they wished to use it.

Dr John wrote:

My experience has been different from yours. When I was in Phoenix two of the largest Catholic bookstores had a large selection of Eastern/Orthodox materials (King's House in Scottsdale was one...my mind goes blank on the other store in Tempe.) King's House is where I got most of my books in my library that were published by St Vladimir's Seminary Press.

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Maybe that is why I thought the article was so well done!

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Dear David,

You really should be giving online lessons on diplomacy, Big Guy!

Kudos to your online witness and website, once again!

Alex