www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology UGCC vs Antiochian Orthodox Church

I went to the Divine Liturgy this morning at Presentation of Our Lord UGCC in Lansdale PA. And as far as an active parish. I'm not to sure. There was as before, not to many parishioners present. No choir, only a few ladies and a couple of guys singing, couldn't recognize the form of chant, if you get my drift. No incense, no altar servers. Hasn't been any altar servers in several weeks. For such a beautiful church it's sad. I cannot for the life of me, see how they can continue to make it. As for making money, I believe this the main focus of their website. Even on the front sign with the church's name, both sides are covered with bingo advertisements. The Antiochian Orthodox Church (St Phillip's) up the road is way more vibrant and active. They seem to be more into worshiping God, and teaching the faith than making money and fund raisers. They even have a nice size liturgical library , with all kinds of materials on the Byzantine Christian way of life. Fund raisers are fine, as long as they complement everything else. Unfortunately the priest at Presentation has to take care of two parishes. And he told me that not to many were in the seminary. When I went to St. Phillip's for Vespers, it seems like there is always some seminarian coming to visit the parish. What is it that these Ukrainian Catholics are doing wrong?. For me this is frustrating as someone who is still technically Roman Rite wanting to learn the Byzantine rite!. I want to be part of a parish that expresses their faith fully in the Byzantine tradition, no latinizations or complacency what so ever and every time I seem to see way more activity going on in the local Orthodox churches than the Eastern Catholic Churches. St Elias in Brampton Ontario is surely an exception to the rule, when it comes to an Eastern Catholic Church. I guess I may have to become a catechumen if I want to be a parishioner at St Phillip's and learn the Byzantine Christian faith.

Another thing to ponder. Check out.
http://www.ukrarcheparchy.us/index.php?categoryid=61

There is not a single link that teaches anything about the Byzantine Catholic Faith on this UGCC of Philadelphia web page.
Real good "Catechetical Materials" for a Byzantine Catholic. Only if your of the mainstream Roman Rite.
I like the last link.
http://www.faithguides.com/.

I can't stand the website of the archeparchy. It is an embarrassment. The website for the eparchy is St. Josaphat in Parma is much more helpful and they even have an interesting online store. www.stjosaphateparchy.org [stjosaphateparchy.org]

The bottom line is some E.C. parishes are very "challenged" (I'm trying to be kind) and some E.O. parishes are too. Can you judge a church by one parish? I don't think so.

I had high hopes for the Archeparchy's website when it was first created, about 5 years ago (I think the last Byzantine eparchy in the US to have one). The site was well done and I thought that, in time, it would add material and catch up to what might be expected of the primatial UGCC See in the US - alas, that has not been the case.

Many years,

Neil

Yes the website of St. Josaphat in Parma is way better. It even includes links to info about the various Orthodox churches.