www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Should I attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy?

Beginning in 1999, I began attending Sunday Divine Liturgies at a local Byzantine Catholic parish, in addition to Sunday Mass at my longtime parish. I would attend the DL at least monthly, but often I would attend more than once a month, and for long stretches each Sunday. All was well, the pastor was extremely accommodating and I did my best to contribute to the parish's life.

The original pastor retired a number of years ago and his two successive replacements were absolutely terrible. I finally stopped attending in 2014 after the pastor at that time lied about me to the bishop.
I dearly miss the DL and I do attend it when I travel.

A new pastor began about a year ago. He inherited a war-torn, shell-shocked parish, but I understand he's a good man and the parish is slowly healing. I would love to attend the DL again -- perhaps monthly, make a modest financial contribution when I attend, but I don't want to otherwise get involved with the parish again. I would in essence like to be a very low key, permanent visitor. Were this a large Latin Rite parish, this would be easy, but it's not. It's a small parish of about 75 or so and I am very well known there.

I would appreciate any words of wisdom on attending, or not attending the DL again at my former parish. I really don't even want to talk to the pastor about this. I would just like to be treated as an anonymous visitor. Thank you.

Hi Exegete,

It is perfectly acceptable to attend the Divine Liturgy in a parish on a regular basis and keep a low profile.

Ideally, a person should really be an active member of only one parish, with "active" being different for each person according to time, talent, and nature.

Where and how often you attend is a matter of prayer and discernment.

Since you have some uneasiness about the situation, I would spend time praying for each of the priests who served there, and for the entire community. Then go to the Sunday Divine Liturgy, stay towards the back, and worship. Afterwards, leave quietly and, as appropriate, greet people politely as you leave. Sometimes you taking the first step is all that is necessary.

John

.....and his two successive replacements were terrible: No, they weren't. That's your opinion and it isn't shared by the parishoners. I'm one of them. There might be a a literal handful of militant latinizers who think the way you do.....but no one has been as brave as you to anonymously come out and say it on the internet.



A new pastor began about a year ago. He inherited a war-torn, shell-shocked parish, No....the new pastor is my priest. I know him pretty well. I also know the old pastor very well. The new priest inherited a parish with a MUCH better financial outlook than it had when the old priest started, a larger congregation and quite a few converts and families with young children. We, the parish faithful love both the old and new priests.

If you want to return, please be advised that we are not a Latin parish and your efforts and changing it will result in your frustration, just like the last time and the time before that.

You should also speak to our priest before returning, as you have actually been asked NOT to return. Remember that?

I hate to have to speak like this, but every single time you come here you spout slander against our priests. I simply won't stand for it. I don't like my parish or my priest denegrated and lied about by an anonymous internet person.

I have my own issues.....but personal attacks on priests isn't the way to solve them.