www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization New priest to replace Fr.Serge ( Vichnaya pamjat ) in Ireland

<div style="display:none">
</div>

Really? When I was there, I couldnt imagine 75-100 people even fitting into Kevins Oratory. But I do remember Fr.Serge saying that not many people attended Kevins Oratory but that the Ukrainians seem to like the morning better and ever since changing times to morning and moving to Clonliffe, attendence almost doubled.

There is a lot more room and space at Clonliffe, plus the Ukrainian men can leave the Iconatosis were it is, and not have to take it down when Liturgy ends and re-assemble it again the next week like they did at Kevins.

Subdeacon John, what is your parish in Edinburgh called and how long have you been there? I think what we need to do is actively promote the parish and make people aware that it exists. It may take a number of years to eventually gather a good crowd. But actively promoting the parish is a good thing.

I would suspect that many Eastern Christians would be unaware of it and are probably attending their local Roman rite Church in Edinburgh.

Perhaps a good method for you to do is going to one of the Roman Churches, and after the priests sermon, speak to the congregation about the presence of the UGC in Edinburgh and that should any existing eastern Christians wish to attend they can, and that the doors of curiousity are always open to the Roman rite parish people also should they ever wish to pay a visit.

I think that as a One, Holy and Catholic apostilic Church we should be helping ( Roman and Eastern ) one another to evangelise by whatever means made available to us.

I think that if the Apostles just sat, celebrated Liturgy and waited for everyone to come to them, we wouldnt really be here. We need to be pro-active like the Apostles in getting fresh fish through our doors. <><

Going to an Eastern rite parish for person from the Roman Rite can be refreshing, even when they are a non-practicing Catholic. My Bro-in law was like that until he came to my Sons baptism. Afterwards he said in surprise ''Stephen, that was seriously Holy man, it really put us to shame'' and ever since then he has returned going to Mass ever since.

The East has a lot to offer the west, but they need to make themselves more visible to the laity/public.

Slan Go Fioll ( bye for now )

Stephen

That sounds like a good idea. There are many Ukrainians in the Edinburgh area, but they either attend RC masses and/ or don't understand the language. Some of the people who attend my parish, St Andrew's, don't understand Ukrainian but don't want the service changed to include more English than just the Epistle and Gospel.

<div style="display:none">
</div>

Yeah. presumably many Ukrainians who live and work in Edinburgh do have some sort of command of the English language but it wouldnt be great. However I think that an all English Liturgy for them would be beneficial in that it would help them in their craft of learning the English language.

I myself dont know much ukrainian. But that doesnt matter to me. I do know that Fr.Serge would do the Homily in Ukrainian, Gaelic and English but never the Gospel or Epistle. Some Greek would also feature in the Liturgy too.

An all Ukrainian Liturgy can sometimes aleinate new converts but it never alienated me in any way shape or form. However the odd temptation to have it in English would cross my mind. I have been sent by a Deacon in the states, the english transliteration booklet of the Ukrainian on one side and the english on the other side of the Liturgy booklet.

I might suggest that should you never plan to do the Liturgy in English. that this little booklet complete with transliteration may be of use to the English congregation.

So the idea of contacting the local Roman Bishop to give a talk in as many Churches in the Edinburgh are could well be beneficial to the parish. Perhaps the talk could include an introductary to who the Eastern Catholics are regarding their communion with Rome and history ( as most Romans are not aware of the EC Churches in communion with Rome ).

Even priests are known to be unaware of it also. I had one priest call me a muslim when I asked him to bless my chotki/komboskini and a little Orthodox prayer book and Holy Card of St.John Chrysostom. I guess perhaps as well he had the suspicion that I was converting to Orthodoxy or something like that.

I think that the West such as Ireland and England/UK are crying out for Eastern Churches as I find the Eastern Liturgy sure does waken the Romans up because of the seriousness and holiness of it's Liturgy I think the UGC could well be the very corner stone that will awaken the west, particularly Romans to a deeper appreciation of their own liturgy as well as the Church as a whole.

In order to help acheive this, it is imperative that the UGC do not present themselves as just a Church that appeals only to a slavic community, but to the world as a whole. The whole idea of setting up an EC parish in a western city just to cater for Ukrainians who are far from home, does not tie into the Gospel message that it must be preached everywhere.

I've probably said too much as I always do haha, and I am sure you are well aware of the above. More so than me. I thought I'd just throw it in their to give ideas to you on how to make your parish grow from a western perspective looking to the East and who enjoys the Ukrainian language and culture very much, and although culture can be a useful tool in conversion, it can also become a hindrance to it too if too much emphasis is placed upon it for as Pope Paul VI tells us that God transcends culture.

I Criost
Stephen

Just got the word that Fr.Vasyl Kornitsky arrives this Saturday coming and will Celebrate Liturgy the next morning with His Grace Bishop Hlib. Hope to see you all there.

Slan Go Foill agus Rath De ort

Stephen

Wow! You get to see His Grace again...lucky you.

<div style="display:none">
</div>

I've actually never had the honor of meeting His Grace before. So this will be my first time.

His grace has been to Dublin a lot this past year for obvious reasons. My bishop in the USA was around us quite a bit. So it is quite a change for me.

<div style="display:none">
</div>

Does His Grace Bishop Hlib ever visit your parish?

He visited the parish 2x last year. I hope to see His Grace more this year, but who knows. He is a busy bishop.

<div style="display:none">
</div>

Well let us both then celebrate the fact that he is busy and not left idle

I admire the reverence and respect you have for His Grace. I pray God will grant me that also.

Stephen