www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News What good is vision without clergy?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fatherthomasloya:
[QB] Glory to Jesus Christ,

Dear Friends,

Just a few thoughts on the discussions on monasticism in the Eastern Catholic Churches for whatever they may be worth.
I am a life-long "thoroughbred" Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic with lineage in this Church that can be traced back 300 years through married priests families. Growing up I witnessed and was a part of some developemental years of our Church in America especially in what eventually became the Eparchy of Parma. Given this, I believe that everything comes down to a vision for our Church.
I believe that a deep seated "identity" problem and sense of inferiority is, so to speak, the "original sin" of the Eastern Catholic Churchs which I believe is at the root of all of our "growing pains."

I believe everything comes down to developing a vision for our Church. This essentially means a complete and comprehensive spiritual renewal of our Church. Spiritual renewal is really not
"newal." Rather, it is looking at "old things" but in a "new" way. I believe our Church is standing in a type of "Judgement Day" where we are being asked, "What are we doing and why do we do it?" This is being asked about every dimension of our Church down to the smallest detail.

Dear Father Thomas,

I am glad that you have mentioned the smallest of things being of great importance.

The November before Archbishop Judson's passage into life everlasting, I was on the phone with his Eminence and we were discussing, somewhat heatedly, the possibility of opening a parish, and I was talking about a retreat center, a monastic community and a retirement facility for priests and asking for permission to begin fundraising, for I had a good property in mind and potential donors. I needed help in making things move. He did not give his permission, citing the horrible financial affairs of the entire Metropolia and suggested that if I thought I had a vocation to contact the Sisters in Uniontown. So that is what happened to one vision that I know of with more than passing familiarity.

I then turned to a more familiar topic which was the plummeting morale of the clergy in the Passaic diocese. And of course the Archbishop informed me that he had no authority to interfere in the affairs of any other bishop in this sui juris Church, for which he was the Metropolitan Archbishop. I suggested to him at the time that attitude perhaps needed a bit of re-visioning or we would die from neglect and internal abuse of power.

Archbishop Judson was a very gracious and good hearted man, and a good Father to me, personally. However difficult the words that passed between us, there was understanding and care and concern for the Church. But it did not, could not seem to override something which allows good men to be butchered in their vocations and predators to be coddled.

I will not rain down any more trouble on the beleaguered heads of clergy by telling tales on a public bulletin board, but I am not totally ill informed for I have been in touch with a canonist all these years looking for the moment and the manner with which to redress the situation.

So I am well aware of the difficulties dealing with this kind of thing one instance at a time. It takes a concerted and joint effort but fear is the ruler to this moment, and unchecked power corrupts still.

But I will tell you, mutt to thoroughbred, that our clergy are being treated as less than the smallest things, and until that ceases, there will be no one to carry out any vision at all.

Blessings....Maru

Maru,

I guess maturing in the faith is difficult. One learns that ones heroes have feet of clay. I'm sorry to hear of Metropolitan Judson's short sightedness. I agree with you vision and vocation. I pray it can be revived. Are you available for Aug. 6?

Dan L

On the other hand, what was it Eleanor Roosevelt once said? "No one can make you a victim without your consent" (or something like that).

Someone somewhere has to start something. Good men will find the grace to pull themselves up and out of the holes they've been beaten into and will start anew. God will take care of the rest. Leader(s) don't stay in place forever, though sometimes it may seem like forever.

Pull yourself out of this current mindset, go into your cell and begin to pray. If it means stepping back from the negativity, then step back. Like athletes we need to focus, prepare and become strong. Losing is not an option.

I suggested we here begin to pray together now for the August meeting in another post. It wasn't followed up, in favor of more human solutions. I still believe prayer is our fiercest weapon, and possibly my biggest contribution.

Yes Maru, there have been many harsh injustices in the past. I'm sure there will be many up ahead. Lets gather strength for those battles. The past is behind us.

Sam

Sam,

Do not suspect that prayer is not occuring for this meeting. It surely is but we do need reminders.

I'm checking with Father Loya about the situation that Maru outlines. If it is as bad as he indicates we have a heck of a lot more to be concerned about that a few words in the liturgy.

Dan L

Maru,

There are many tales yet to be told. But defensive listening and accounting concerns are at bay, not evangelism or reform. Evangelism and Reform (this includes clergy AND bishops) requests ... NO! ... DEMANDS decision making.

Fr. Thomas speaks about speaking one's mind. THAT can be a dangerous thing. Like gangsters fleeing in the pickup truck ahead of you, they will begin throwing out items from the bed of the truck in order to cause you to wreck.

What good is clergy without vision?

Our Vocation Icon program and Called By Name program should really be: Pray for our bishops program so they can get that vision thang. Maybe we will get more than the statutory pastoral letters during Christmans and Pascha.

Joe

There is more?

Ahhh Hope springs eternal!

Sam

Sam and Joe, are we optimists or pessimists? Is the shot glass half full or half empty?

ByzanTn-

Hey man- We are from up here in Old Country. Cut us some slack!

My shot glass has been half empty, filled, empty, refilled, empty again, filled with something else, spilled, refilled. At the present time it is half filled and I'm ready for another round!

Sam

Why did you select one of the major feast days of the Byzantine liturgical year to have this meeting? Those of us with parish obligations won't be able to do this.

I hope many take time to share blessed fruit with their friends and family. I also hope next time the liturgical calendar is taken into account for those of us who have myriad parish duties.

The Transfiguration is so very central to our Byzantine theological and liturgical ethos and identity. Since the Roman Church has transferred this feast, and the kids are still on summer vacation, we use this feast as an important educational and outreach opportunity.

It's nice to have vision meetings and everything, but this is a day families should be celebrating a central Byzantine feast day with a rich and unique liturgical tradition with their parishes.

Diak,

Neither I nor Father selected the date, but if you will read the discussion of the date when it was suggested on this forum a couple of weeks ago you will find that it was precisely because it is the Day of Transfiguration that we chose it. It was suggested that it is a perfect day to begin a transfiguration of the Church. We will celebrate together.

Perhaps the Lord is trying to get us to look at things in new ways.

I will say no more.

Dan Lauffer

With all this talk of renewal, revitalization of parishes, recapturing our traditions, it seems better to me to celebrate The Vision, the Uncreated Light of Tabor with my family and parish family and try to do those things we are talking about, and not just talk about them. I wouldn't want to be away from the family on that day, nor my parish. We've had the educational and outreach activities planned for many months.

I would just ask that next time please try and consider the liturgical calendar and those of us who are trying to work at the parish and family level to do those things being talked about. Our prayers will be with you. And I will say no more.

hehehehe.

I guess it's time to re-read "The Way of the Pilgrim".

For now, we see through a shot glass darkly...

Oh...you mean my idea for monastic community or retreat center? The Metropolitan didn't kill that. There's more than one Metropolitan in the United States. I have kept the interest alive and am building bits at a time. Meanwhile I live the life. Can't lead if you don't know how to follow.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Irenikon/

Here's one place where I keep a public face on the vision.