www.byzcath.org Forums Peoria!!

I heard there were 700(!!) people at Peoria today for the Liturgy!! And if even 200 of that number is Byzantine, isn't it high time? Isn't this proof that there's enough interest for a parish?

WOW!

I would have thought more than 700. Whatever the amount was that the cathedral held, that was it. It was packed.

We had lots of people show up for the reception afterwards, where Fr. Loya did a presentation and answered questions before an eager audience.

Certainly Something Good is happening in Peoria.

Did anyone take photos??

Al (a pilgrim)

The experience was humbling. I was given the awesome responsibility of helping train 8 Roman Catholics on how to serve at the Altar for Diving Liturgy.

I believe there were more than 700, I heard between 800 and 900. The place was packed, and we were told that the usual 10:30 service you can fit the entire congregation in the first 10 rows.

John

The Peoria Star Journal reports that 1100 were in attendance at the Divine Liturgy.

I just got an email from a family down there. I am trying to contact to paper to verify.

John

Byzantine Mass honors the Eucharist

Monday, October 10, 2005

By MICHAEL MILLER
of the Journal Star

PEORIA - About 1,100 Catholics at St. Mary's Cathedral on Sunday had to be given instruction in how to take Communion.
"Tilt your head back," said J. Michael Thompson, director of the choir which would sing at that morning's Byzantine liturgy. "Don't stick out your tongue. And don't try to say 'Amen' or you might choke."

The procedure for taking Communion is part of the Byzantine liturgy, foreign to most of the Roman Catholics of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria who were at the cathedral for one of the events being held on the final day of the diocese's "Solemn Closing of the Year of the Eucharist."

The weekend-long event, centering on a worldwide, yearlong focus on the Catholic sacrament of Communion, drew Catholics to the cathedral night and day, from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

Diocesan spokeswoman Elizabeth Smarjesse said attendance was "fantastic."

An overflow crowd attended Mass Friday night and a steady stream of the faithful attended the 40 Hours of Eucharistic Devotion held around various events.

"I came at 5 a.m. Saturday and at least 15 people were here," Smarjesse said. "People were saying they couldn't think of a better place to be."

Sunday morning's ancient Byzantine liturgy, celebrated by the Rev. Thomas Loya of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, was one way for local Catholics who are used to a Western expression of Catholicism to experience an Eastern expression of the faith.

The liturgy, believed to have been written by St. John Chrysostom in what is now Turkey in early church history, appeals to various senses. Icon screens set up in front of the altar area featured images of Jesus and Mary as well as other saints. Chant - all of the liturgy was in English - was led by a choir from Chicago. Censers, or incense burners, were restoked throughout the Mass and frequently waved during processions throughout the cathedral. The priest and deacons were dressed in gold vestments. Bells attached to the censers rang frequently. Cloths were waved. Candles were lined up across the altar.

And there was a lot more standing to do during a longer Mass than Latin Rite Catholics are used to, with the Byzantine liturgy taking about 1 1/2 hours.

But those attending didn't seem to mind.

"What a climax," Maureen Alouan said in front of the cathedral after the Mass.

The Peorian said it was a good way to begin the final day of a weekend of focus on the Eucharist, believed by Catholics to be the body and blood of Christ.

"For me, it was very spiritual and uplifting. There's a great deal of reverence toward the sacrament. It just kind of put everything in its right proportion.

"We sometimes lose the respect we should have for the sacrament."

Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison (Wis.), the speaker for the evening prayers closing the weekend, said there is a "craving" for such reverence.

"When a priest celebrates the Mass with a great deal of outward reverence, people comment about that, they express their appreciation," Morlino said.

Who ever organized this Liturgy, along with Fr. Loya, the choir, its conductor, the servers all others involved, should be held in the highest regard for organizing such a public witness and spiritual event that gave light to Eastern Christianity.

Bravo.

-uc

Glory to Jesus Christ...he takes credit for the great turnout.....

We were in attendance at the Divine Liturgy yesterday and know that the Holy Spirit is moving here in Peoria. People were coming out of the woodwork with family history of Eastern Rites....they are looking to their roots for this type of Catholic expression to their faith. This Liturgy was not the norm for the Cathedral even for special events. My FIL attends the Cathedral on a regular basis and usually there are about 50 people at the 1030 Mass.

The next big event that you can pray for is a vespers service in Peoria on Nov 6th. Spread the word. And please pray for more people to come forward.
Our core group of workers could use some more to join us in the ranks. Pray for a priest for us as well.
The Matterns

Will do, I hope he'll come quickly to you.

Just curious, what type of music was used??

UC

Will you have a priest for your Vespers on Nov. 6th? With the exception of the Divine Liturgy, most services in the Byzantine tradition can be adapted for use as Reader's Services. We do this frequently with our groups down here spread out in various directions and in various communities.

Wow, congratulations on the success. Don't rest on the laurels!! Keep the energy going. I know in my area there are Byzantine Catholics who are churchless in an area of 120,000 people. Perhaps a similiar situation would help them on a path to re-organize into the Byzantine Catholic Church.

Father Loya will be traveling down for the November 6th Vespers service. I am going to see if I can travel with him, but Sunday nights are hard with work on the following monday.

Father Deacon Randy, I have sent you my address for the materials. I am hoping to be able to produce them for areas without priests so that we can start Byzantine Domestic Churches. This is how we will grow, I believe, by bringing the faith to families and then forming parishes out of these "House Churches"

Our Parish, Annunciation in Homer Glen, is starting a program called Vespers for Vocations Where an evening of Vespers is aimed at prayer for vocations. I believe that afterwards we will pray the Akathist to the Holy Spirit.

Lots going on.

John

Nathan,

The proof for a parish is a community of people who are living the Byzantine Spiritual life. While we have a great core down there, we need more. However God does provide.

Let me explain:

While getting ready for the Divine Liturgy an older man and his son came back to the sacristy. After talking for a few minutes I found out, to my surprise, that he is an ordained bi-ritual deacon. He is also a cradle Byzantine. I asked him point blank if he would be willing to lead vesper services for the core group in Peoria. He seemed very agreeable to the idea. I also introduced him to a couple of the men of the core group down there.

After that I asked if he would be willing to Vest and celebrate the Liturgy. You should have seen the look in his eyes. He was part of the Bishop of Peoria's Chaplains along with the Rector of the Cathedral.

God is working down there. But there is much work to be done by us also, we need to support and work with this group and nourish them. There is a hunger for Byzantine Spirituality down there.

November 6th will show us how things stand. It is a very good beginning down there, but, as always, there is much work to be done.

John