www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Church of the Resurrection - Smithtown: Any Updates?

Hi,
I found a true love for God at that parish. I baked bread for Balalaika and danced my little heart out in the basement and on the stage outside (and enjoyed the pleasure of getting free food with the shirt ). I loved that my Fr. Dan welcomed me by name to receive the host, whereas my Roman Catholic friends never knew this pleasure. I took great pride in the beauty of that dark, "little" church and my friends of varying cultures who danced alongside me with equal ardor. I loved that church so much - the place my parents married, my grandparents were put to final goodbye, my brother and I were baptized - I brought my sweet little girl to be baptized there nine years ago. There was never a question from Fr. Dan.

We would always have been part of the parish family, no matter where we roamed.

I took this to be my earliest understandings of the difference between the Latin and Byzantine churches - this deep love and respect for your parish...that a church was an extension of family. Father blessed our home, gave my grandfather last rites and got us out in droves for the Penny Auction so we could win Islanders sticks and pucks. He understood that a church is a building; a parish is a family.

I did a search the other day and came upon the reality that what once was will never be again. Please, if anyone can update me on what is going on, I would most desperately appreciate it.

And to those of you displaced, don't allow your faith to be waivered by this insanity; you can worship anywhere but still be a member of "Father Dan's Cult" at heart. I know I always will be =)

So much has changed in the past 2 years. Sadly, none of the changes have been good. However, our basic faith will never waiver. As you said there does not need to be walls for a church to exist. We will always have great respect and love for our Fr. Dan who has shown us how to live as Christians, not by words, but by his actions in everything he did. No matter what they take away from us or how much they demean us and wish us to go back to our roman roots, we will continue as he has taught us. Please feel free to question. I will help as much as I am able.

Well, I saw somewhere in another thread that another priest had started officiating at services. Is this becoming permanent? Should I plan a pilgrimage ASAP to visit the church one more time in case it's sold? Who is running the dance group, and were they practicing for the bazaar before everyone was told it was cancelled? I saw some pictures I guess from the year before and I see they changed the girls skirts; I still have both of my costumes =)

My understanding is Fr. Harry has been administering St. Johns in Trumbull, CT...although my understanding from what he has told the parishioners is that is temporary and he is still the pastor of Smithtown. (But the last I heard was about 2 weeks ago and things can change at any time.)

Chris

Fr. Harry's name is still on our bulletin, however, he has been there only once for D.L. since December. Every week we have a sub. The last time I heard anything about the dance group, the same family was still in charge. However, our bulletin no longer gives any info other then service times,so I do not know if they are still having practice. Since our nursery school and religious education school have been closed there are very few children left.

What kind of parish abolishes religious education?

This is the million dollar question. I'd be interested in the answer as well.

Could it be one that they are looking to close and put the blame on the people??? Because when it drives the youth elsewhere, it's no longer the Eparchys fault...the people closed it...That was one of the things done away with at Holy Trinity several years prior to it's closure...and I don't believe we were the only ones this was done with...

Chris

Well Sam & Job.. I will not stray into the area of rumor, although many agree with you...I will state for a fact, because I was there first hand to hear from the altar that the school was being closed because we did not have any "Ruthenian" children to teach. Any Roman family should go back to their territorial church. Many argued and some signed the papers to change rites. One family came forward with their child to receive the sacrament of penance and they were told to home school their child. As members of the church we are not privy to any decision making. So if someone has answers for us as well, it would be appreciated.

How many "Ruthenian" children do we have in our parishes? Enough to sustain the eparchy through the next generation? If not, IMHO I'd suggest teaching a few interested non-Ruthenian children. Does 'universal' apply to the Latin church only? (<< does that even make sense?)

I am going to try and make a pilgrimage in the next few weekends to say goodbye to my beloved home parish before there is nothing left.

Hello:



Just a thought here for what it is worth. Could the thought of those who are in charge feel that the Parish needs to be Byzantine in its membership rather than a large base made up of Latins? I mean no disrespect here but it seems to me that if one is attending a Byzantine Church on a regular bases and it has become their church home then one should change Rites. I don't know what the make up is in this Parish and I may be way off base. Regardless of all of the above it does seem to me that folks are being man handled.

Converted Viking

I'm surprised the evangelization crowd doesn't jump on this..."God Forbid" non Rusins want to join or worship with the BCC...and this from an eparchial level...

Church of the Resurrection and the BCC members are continually in my prayers.

Chris

Viking....So many answers are going through my mind. I will say, however, that when the cleansing started I read a pamphlet from Bishop Pataki when he was in Parma. The question posed was "what do I have to do to become a Byzantine". The answer was only to attend the church on a regular basis. Nothing more was necessary. Later, IF you felt the spiritual need, you could request a change of rite.My parents were of Roman rite. I was introduced to the Byzantine church through a friend. From the very first I felt a spiritual bond. I have attended every week and holy days for 24 years. My question for you to answer ...am I Byzantine? According to Bishop Andrew I have qualified and so have the majority of other families that left. Thank you, Job, for your prayers.

Karenp




Where do I start? I have been told that there are many who are in the Byzantine Churches weathering the storm of a liturgy they don't care for in the Latin Church. I guess where I am coming from is that if I am going to go to a Byzantine Church and plan to stay there then I am going to change Rites because I feel as though I am not complete until I do so. Darn it is hard to put this into words ! OK let me try something else. I have found that the Byzantine Liturgy allows me to better express my faith at church than anything else and I have bought into it completely
along with an Eastern view of what theology my simple self is able to comprehend which I will admit does not come close into comparison to the others who post on this board. For me the mystery is important and the Eastern Churches have managed to keep this. The way of the East is not homogenized<this is a view of mine and it is my problem>So all the above being said, if I buy into the Byzantine Rite then I need to throw my lot in completely with the Church I attend and this is not a Viking thing but rather I am compelled to do so by that which I have no control over.

If I have caused you or any one else any pain I ask you for your forgiveness and I am sorry that I have been unkind.

And yes you are Byzantine in your heart and that is where it counts.

In Christ:
Viking