www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization The Future of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh

That statistic might be misleading (if it's even true). For instance, if this year 3 million Americans leave Christianity and 3 million Americans become Christian, the total number would stay the same.

I agree. I know of one Ukrainian Catholic Church, here in Eastern PA, where incense is very rarely used. There was also no divine liturgy celebrated on the feast of St Nicholas this year. The pastor oversees two parishes, and neither parish had a divine liturgy for St. Nicholas's feast. I am really surprised this parish doesn't close down. Bingo and food sales seems to be the only form of attraction to both of these parishes. Than we wonder what the future holds!. Maybe we need to let the younger generation take over. The sixtees and seventees generation need to stop controling everything!. And stop trying to appease the Roman Church, which has way more problems, in regards to maintaining any form of tradition. The Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church praises Pope Francis. But we all know Pope Francis cares less about any form of tradition, whether Roman or Byzantine!!. Maybe the Major Archbishop should begin praising the leader of the Byzantine Mother Church, rather than the leader of a Church, that cares less for anything traditional. They way I see things now. the West will fall and the East will rise, via Russia. Vladamir Putin, whether you love him or hate him, was the only leader who visited the Pope who wasn't afraid to express his Christian faith in front of the diabolical western secular media.

It is my sincere hope, for which I pray constantly, that the Greek Catholic Churches will disappear in my lifetime, because that would mean that communion between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches has been restored, and there is no further reason for our continued existence separate from our Orthodox Mother Churches.

Any Greek Catholic who wishes our Churches to continue forever denies the necessity of reconciliation with our separated brethren.

I share your prayers!. But unless there is greater Ecumenical dialogue between Byzantine Catholic (Ukrainians include), Bishops and the Orthodox. Also returning to their Byzantine roots, in worship!, than we will never see it in our lifetime. I know of saome parishes that are accomplishing it, but many still prefer to cater to Rome and the less focus on liturgy mentality of the Latin Bishops. Like I said I know of a Ukrainian priest in Eastern PA, who runs two parishes, and has esentially failed in maintaining "true" Byzantine worship with all the rubrics, and the faithful who care more about making money from food and playing Bingo, which how many youth even care about Bingo!. Shows the dominate age group. Not a very good start!.

I will also state that a local Antiochian Orthodox parish close to this Ukrainian Catholic parish is way more succesfull in attracting more converts, and lapsed Byzantines. and they don't have a weekly Bingo hour!. They bring Monks, and various speakers in to teach the Byzantine faith, life, and practice. You will see many age groups every week, rather than just the local Ukrainian retirees and twice a month family trips. Go figure!. Sorry for being harsh, but I'm stating the facts as I have seen them, and experienced. Where is the ecumenical functions between local Ukrainian and Antiochian parishes?.