www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Introduction and question

Hello everyone,

My name is James Long. I have been reading the forum for at least a year but never registered and never posted. Last year, my transfer to the Ruthenian Church from the Latin Church was made official in the Passaic Eparchy. I just had a question I was wondering about. My hometown is El Paso, Texas (I now live in Virginia) and I am just curious if anyone has any idea if there are any Byzantine Catholics in the El Paso/Las Cruces area. The particular church doesn't matter (Ukrainian, Ruthenian, etc.). I know there is a Maronite parish there but that is the only official Eastern Catholic presence there (and not Byzantine) as far as I know. Also, does anyone know if there has ever been an inquiry into the possibility of an outreach or mission parish there? I am looking to try to go back there and would love to be able to attend the Byzantine Divine Liturgy (without making the 4 hour drive to Albuquerque!) Thanks for any response!

James Long

James,

Welcome to the forum. It always seems to me that there ought to be a Byzantine presence in the area, since there are both Greek and Antiochian Orthodox parishes there and, where the Antiochians are, we Melkites usually are. I have a vague recollection that there was a short-lived effort at establishing a Melkite mission there, some years back, but that it was not successful. No one else has any presence in the area and from my recollection of Texan geography (which likely hasn't changed since I was there 40 years ago), Alburquerque may be closer to El Paso than the few EC parishes and missions elsewhere in the state.

Many years,

Neil

There is a beautiful parish in Irving, TX, St. Basil's:

http://www.stbasilsinirving.org/stb/

Once when I visited I met a family who drove there monthly several hours each way from Texarkana, they were so enamored of the worship and community.

The parish has developed a friendship with a neighboring community of Ethiopian Orthodox, two blocks away.

Would recommend a visit if you're ever in the Dallas area.

S Bohom!
Pustinik