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Hi all. My journey to the eastern Catholic church has been difficult. I wanted to come into communion with the Byzantine Catholic church because I believe in the Papacy but I also believe in the dogmas of the Catholic church.

To cut a long story short when I approached the Ukrainian Catholic church they didn't seem interested in helping me make a profession of faith. So I had to out source a Latin rite priest to do it and he did and then said I need to approach my nearest Eparchy. I only have one Byzantine Catholic church near me and it's the Ukrainian one, very modern, no incense no servers and whale noises are played on a cd player as a meditation aid priest also interrupts the liturgy to crack jokes. Not going back there. To make it more complicated I ended up falling away from the church and committed acts of Apostasy out of emotion and lack of any pastoral support. My question is, how do I come back to the church ? Does confession bring a person back into good standing with the church or have I excommunicated myself ? And can I make a confession to any priest of any rite?

And would it be worth me approaching the Melkite Eparchy, they are about 3 hours away from my house but they have more traditional orthodox liturgy it seems and more programs to keep you active in the faith plus young adult support groups. I don't know what to do and no priest wants to help me when I ask they just forget about me and my situation.

Christ is in our midst!!

James19,

Welcome to the forum. We hope you will be spiritually nourished by your presence here.

ALERT: IMHO

You have made profession of the Catholic Faith. That said, you may approach any Catholic priest for confession. My suggestion is that you go back to the Latin Catholic priest who took your profession of faith and put this in his lap. From your story, I think you may be better served, spiritually, by beginning to worship regularly with his parish. I am not trying to push you to the Latins, but you must think in terms of your immortal soul. We are saved individually, but we are saved in community. You cannot be an isolated Catholic--or Christian for that matter. We sharpen each other--steel on steel--by being in community.

I am sorry that your experience in the Ukrainian Catholic parish was as you describe. That said there are many flawed parishes of every sui juris branch of the Catholic Church. Again, if I were you, I would go back to the priest who took your profession of faith and put this in his lap. That's his mission.

Bob
Moderator

Yes, when it comes to the UGCC here, I've had to recommend to some to seek spiritual homes elsewhere.

It is that cultural identity thingy that gets in the way.

There is always the Russian Orthodox church you know - it prefers to stay clear of narrow thinking . . .

What are your thoughts on reaching out to the Melkite Eparchy, even though it is three hours away, to find a more traditional church community that might offer the support and programs you need?

Christ is in our midst!!

A parish community that is three hours away is a tough situation to be in. A community is meant to be a support, but to be that far away makes it difficult to become part of the community and for the community members to come to know the individual. Is it possible to move closer to the community? If not, there needs to be some more soul searching. I have heard it said that "An isolated Christian is soon a dead Christian." The faith is difficult enough to maintain within a community but is all but impossible when one is alone.