www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Telling Roman Catholics Eastern Catholics...

The local RC RCIA programs are supposed to include basic educational materials for Eastern Catholic Churches. Unfortunately, they often don't.

I take every invitation to speak for RC groups, and taught a class at the local RC college this past fall. To conclude the class we had an Akathist to St. Nicholas. Do what you can to spread the word.

- - - G E N E A L O G Y B OO K - - -
send from: cisarikjuraj@orangemail.sk

My name is Juraj CISARIK and I live in Eastern Slovakia (former Czechoslovakia).

In my family tree I have people named the surname that it was by your e-mail-adress.
My grandfather (Jan Cisarik, born 1909) was the Greek Catholic priest and his wife was named Helena Mankovicova b.1913 /Mankovich/ and she came also from priest-family.

I have, so far, managed to collect the names of about 300 other priests and more than 2200 their common relations. All they are genealogical connected themselves.

In my family tree I have also a person named Gabriel MARTYAK who was as a bishop in USA (Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church) in 1916-1924.

I printed the book: "THE GENEALOGY OF GREEK CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION (EASTERN SLOVAKIA) 1674 - 2004".
It is the first edition, size is 21x29cm(A4) and it is a 700 longpages publication, weight:2,2kg, more than 150 old photos.
It is written in english and slovak languages. This book is hand made hard bookbinding and printed nonserial just by me.

The samples of LAST NAMES of reverends that they are included in the book:
. . . Adamkovich, Bachinsky, Bajcura, Brinsky, Bardossy, Bobak, Cisarik, Dudinsky, Dzubay, Gavris, Gladis, Gerbery, Gojdic, Goydich, Goodich, Gulovich, Halko, Hauris, Hodermarsky, Hodobay, Hucko, Huchko, Chanath, Ilkovich, Ivancho, Kapisinsky, Kopcay, Kello, Kelly, Krisko, Kristof, Kubek, Leukanic, Lukac, Malinich, Mankovich, Mankovits, Martyak, Michalic, Mirossay, Molchanyi, Pavlovic, Petrasovsky, Petrasovic, Petrick, Petrik, Podhajecky, Popovich, Rojkovich, Rokiczky, Rusnak, Sedlak, Sereghy, Simko, Szekely, Takac, Takach, Tink, Toronsky, Ujhelyi, Varzaly, Vislocky, Vojtovich, Zacharias, Zapotocky, Zavacky, Zedenyi, Zidik, Zima, Zorvan, Zubricky . . . etc

P L E A S E, C O N T A C T M E on email adress:
cisarikjuraj@orangemail.sk

I will answer all your questions immediately.

Best Regards,
Juraj Cisarik

p.s.: my web-site: www.genealogy.unas.cz [genealogy.unas.cz]

my adress by normal post:
Juraj Cisarik
Hlinkova 22
040 01 Kosice
SLOVAKIA

Do you share the weekly bulletins with them? I give mine to my Protestant grandmother, who enjoys reading them. I told her that the faith is so deep & mystical. She agreed from just reading the bulletins. She's going to share them with her pastor.

Wolfgang,

How will you respond when they accuse you of idolatry?

Dan L

Idolatry? I don't know about you, but I just light some incense in the icon corner and pray the prayer of St. Ephrem! Who could think "idolatry" when they see me prostrate before some icons while incense rises with my prayers to Heaven?

Just kidding.

In my city, every year several parishes gather for a public procession in honor of Our Lady of Gudadalupe. For a long time I've thought that if there was a Byzantine parish here (unfortunately, there is not ) this would be a perfect opportunity to make itself known with the public and with fellow Catholics.

Byzantine churches could place announcements in the bulletins of Latin parishes and make themselves known that way. Invite people for Lenten services or retreats or open houses or other things like that. My parish bulletin carries announcements for events at other parishes all the time, like retreats, marriage encounters, etc. I'm sure we'd do it for neighboring Byzantine parishes if there were any around. They could also join with other Catholic churches for public events like that procession or maybe special liturgies.

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral in L.A. regularly ccoperates and holds events with its neighboring Catholic church ( I think it's St. Thomas). If they can do it, why can't fellow Byzantine and Latin Catholic churches?

Great idea, Manuel. When the Missionary Image of OLG (one of the exact copies) came here to our town, I asked to lead a Byzantine devotion to her from some Mexican friends who were organizing the devotions. They were very enthusiastic about it.

We had an Akathist, procession and Paraklesis on various nights with the OLG image around our state capitol for pro-life intentions which was very well attended. It's turned out to be an annual thing now, and it has generated new friends and interest amongst the RCs.

Dan,
They pride themselves on being rather ecumenical & independent . One of their members is a retired Art teacher, who has made some very nice, seasonal, wooden artwork which varies according to the liturgical calendar. I don't think a few icons would be out of place there. They also incorporate some Eastern elements; like at Easter, the call to worship is, "Christ is risen". And the congregation responds, "He is risen indeed". They do this several times. I think this is becoming common in the mainline Protestant churches.

Wolfgang,

Perhaps you are slowly teaching them the purpose for their icons. Maybe their improper use of them now can turn into a proper use through evangelization.

Dan L

Alleghenymountains,

You have excellent ideas. Latin Catholics, as we are all aware, know very little or nothing about Eastern Catholics. It's up to Eastern Catholics and Latins who know of the Eastern Churches, to get out the word.

Dear Friends,

Well, I used to burn incense at work - that certainly got all the Latin Catholics up and noticing Eastern Catholics!

Also, Protestants, Muslims (who don't have incense) etc.

Sometimes, we just need to smoke them out . . .

Alex

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

One of the best ways to let Latins know about us, is to have the Catholic Schools teach about us. Go to the local Bishop and ask him to have the Schools under his jurisdiction teach about us. Also, bring materials that can be used in a classroom setting. It does us no good to complain, and then have no solution to offer.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

Dear Yuhannon:

It's perplexing that you, Maronites, are so confident in your relationship with us, Latins, while Byzantine Slavs are so hardheaded and pushy, ramming us continually till our backs are near or at the precipice!

And Byzantine Americans are equal to the task. (With a proferred hand to CDL of Anunciation.)

Amado

Yes, Yuhannon, we can ask them to distribute the official U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference booklet on the Eastern Catholics in the USA (which they were supposed to distribute to all those schools and RCIA programs in the first place...)