www.byzcath.org Forums Peoria!!

Friends,

It should be noted that again this Sunday we had visitors from Peoria and they were introduce. Also, the work in Peoria was announced as was the extended announcement about the upcoming Nov. 6 meeting. It's not being kept a secret from anyone.

Rejoice, my friends, the Gospel is being proclaimed.

Dan L

...so it was plain chant music and not choral music?

Ungcsertezs

From what they're saying yes. Unless I'm mistaken.

This article is taken from the diocesan newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria in Illinois.

Liturgy a 'family reunion' of East and West
There was a "family reunion" of sorts at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria last Sunday when Roman Catholics and Byzantine Catholics came together to praise God in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

The 10:30 a.m. liturgy was one of the most eagerly anticipated "moments" of the Diocesan 40 Hours celebration, with people filling every pew and the choir loft. Among them was Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, who was seated in his chair, which was placed in front of the pews on one side of the cathedral.

Presiding at the liturgy was Father Thomas Loya, pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, near Chicago. He was assisted by Father Deacon Tim Tkach and Father Stanley Deptula, director of the diocesan Office of Divine Worship.

The liturgy was almost entirely sung, as is the custom of the Byzantine Catholic Church. Leading the assembly in that musical dialogue with Father Loya and Father Deacon Tkach was the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle in Chicago under the direction of J. Michael Thompson. He greeted the assembly with the words: "Glory to Jesus Christ!" and coached them on their response: "Glory forever!"

"That is how we say hello in the Byzantine Catholic Church," he said before the liturgy began. Thompson, professor of ecclesiastical chant at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa., explained that the music sung during the liturgy is called prostopinije, which is Church Slavonic for plainchant. He told the assembly that this is considered the people's song and encouraged them to take an active role in the singing.

They didn't have to be asked twice. At the end of the liturgy Thompson praised them saying, "You would be welcome in our church anytime."

"It was extremely joyful," he later told The Catholic Post. "It was a special thing to see the cathedral packed with people and to hear people singing the liturgy that don't normally."

Another custom that took some getting used to was that the assembly at a Byzantine Catholic Church stands for a large part of the liturgy. Thompson explained that this is due to a law dating from the first ecumenical council that forbids them to kneel on Sundays.

And because the Body of Christ is placed into the chalice with the Precious Blood, Communion in the hand is not possible. Thompson advised communicants to come forward and tip their heads back so that the Body and Blood of Christ could be placed into their mouths with a spoon and the words: "The handmaid/servant of the Lord receives the Body and Blood of Christ."

In his homily, Father Loya quoted Pope John Paul II, who referred to the Eastern and Western Catholic churches as two lungs, both of which are needed to breathe well.

"Today in this cathedral we are experiencing real Catholicism," he said, adding that any reference to the Catholic Church that does not include East as well as West is incomplete.

Joseph Piccione, corporate ethicist and director of mission integration at OSF Health System and a member of St. Mary Parish in Metamora, was invited to assist at the liturgy. He said the different expressions of faith in the two churches are gifts they give to one another and offer Catholics "an opportunity to lead a more robust life."

"This experience should be seen as something of a family reunion," he told The Post. "We are truly part of the Church universal. These are like cousins we may not have seen for awhile and they look different but this is an opportunity for us to truly enter into the mystery of God for us."

Perhaps, Fr Tom and the evangelization team had this old adage in mind when Peoria was chosen as the site to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

"It looks like a nice product, but (dramatic pause) let�s see how it plays in Peoria!"


The adage from vaudevillian days suggests that Peoria, Illinois is a reflective microcosm of the whole U.S. The thinking is that if the good people of Peoria love your product, you can rest assure that the rest of the country will do the same.

Father Deacon,

The parallel did come to mind. Father spoke initially at an event held in a "restaurant" in Peoria by invitation from some families in Peoria who had been exposed to the tradition in other areas of the country. This event which was attended by several people provoked some interest in further study and an invitation to Father to offer a Divine Liturgy. A core group was developed to plan for this event to which our team was invited. Study groups continue and prayer services are being planned. The next big event will be held at a chapel at a monestary that has no pews on Sunday November 6.

It's looking good.

CDL

You can view photos of the Divine Liturgy here.
http://www.dggpro.com/catholicpost/browse.asp?page=1638

Photos specific to the Divine Litugy are photos numbered 2, 3, 21, 22, 23, and 29. You can recognize Fr. Loya and the Choir here as well as get an image of the portable iconstasis.

The Icons used at the DL look like they were Royal Doors from a larger screen. Any idea where they came from???