www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Eastern Catholics in the Philippines

Considering the fact that the population of Metro Manila alone is 11.5 million and that the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, I think it is safe to say that there must be more than one or two Eastern Catholics there. So if there are no Eastern Catholic communities at all in the Philippines, it means there are probably at least some Eastern Catholics who are not being served.
Wonderful! Since you know a priest in the Philippines who can celebrate the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, perhaps he could be persuaded to help. Everything becomes much easier if you don't have to invite someone from overseas.
May he rest in peace.

Perhaps from what you say a regular, public Byzantine Divine Liturgy could be arranged with the help of the Jesuits and/or Benedictines? After all, many Jesuits are interested in the Christian East (they run the Pontifical Russian College and the Pontifical Oriental Institute). And the Benedictines are well know for their love of liturgy.
Not all Novus Ordo Masses are "chatty," thank God many are beautiful and reverent! But I am sure having a regular Eastern Catholic presence in your country would be educational for many people

Anyway, good luck! I hope you can make something like this happen.

Slava Isusu Khrystu!

Dear Cristiano,

I apologize if I haven't been active in this forum. I haven't been singing-in but have been just checking out the news from the main page of byzcath.org. However, a good Ukrainian Catholic priest informed me that my name is coming up in this forum. So, here I am.

Yes, I am a Filipino Roman Catholic studying the Byzantine Rite and Eastern Churches at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies/Saint Paul University in Ottawa (not the student residence in Saskatoon - though both are in Canada). In 2005, an opportunity came to study abroad. I immediately thought of pursuing studies in ministy because of my involvement in my local RC parish while adding Greek Orthodox spirituality into my cup. The Lord blessed me interms of location because both my RC parish and the GO parish are less than an hour walk from one another (well, I love to take long walks).

Going back: I've discovered Eastern Christianity in my readings in 2000, then the following year I stumbled upon a Filipino Orthodox at St. Paul's bookstore (I dont remember the exact name) in SM SouthMall, and he directed me to the location of the Orthodox parish. Since that time I did my best to live in both worlds while remaining faithful to my parents (eternal memory!) confession.

So now I am still here in Canada living as a full time volunteer in an inner-city mission run by Ukrainian Catholic Redemptorists while experiencing all the richness of the Eastern Christian traditions which the city offers; whether Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic.

If you have further question just leave me message...

first among sinners, eumir

Note: thanks Irish Melkite for your good word.

Eumir, my friend,

Always good to see a post from you! Thanks very much for adding your story to this thread.

Many years,

Neil

Slava Isusu Khrystu!

Dear Cristiano

I would suggest to see a Dominican priest at the University of Santo Tomas by the name of Rev. Winston Cabading. He is a good priest who turns to the East for inspiration. He is a doctorate student in Patristics at the Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa and had a chance to get to know him for a semester before his superior requested him back to his community in UST. He concelebrated many times in the Byzantine Liturgy and even had a chance to receive a bi-ritual function to officiate the Holy Mystery of Marriage to a Ukrainian groom and a Filipina bride in Manila with the permission of the Archbishop of Manila.

Fr. Winston would certainly know Eastern Catholic Expats in the area who have blended into the Roman Catholic environment and building up a network is the beginning of setting a mission but still that would take time. Then, you have Fr. Winston's help and if he is up to it could request bi-ritual functions for this particular mission. This is not an uncommon case where you have a bi-ritual Latin rite priest serving one of the Eastern rites communities, particularly in the United States.

I hope this helps...
eumir

That's one Dominican and one Jesuit with biritual faculties in the Metropolitan Manila area.

There is one Filipino Melkite and one Filipino Maronite priest (both in the US) as well.

AP,

Who is the Filipino Melkite presbyter in the US?

Many years,

Neil

Dear Eumir and everyone,
Sorry for my late response, I've been busy lately..job hunting... and was down with flu for days.

Thanks Eumir for providing the name of the priest to be contacted. I'll try to find and see him after the coming Easter Sunday. I'll give you my email address via PM so we can talk privately.

Many, many thanks to everyone for their valuable inputs. Please pray for me, a sinner.

James
("Cristiano")

Dear eumir,
I tried to send you a PM but your PM inbox is disabled. Anyway, here's my email address jmscristiano@gmail.com

I need to talk to you about confidential matters. Thank you.

James
(cristiano)