www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology How to become a Byzantine priest

You are right about time.

If the Lord has the Priesthood planned for you, He will make the time.

Father Sidney Sidor in Indianapolis was ordained at 76.

Father Stephen Hrynuck in Olyphant, PA is 96 and has been pastor at Sts. Cyril and Methodius since 1951.


St. John Neumann completed his seminary studies in Bohemia but the Bishop would not ordain him, due to a surplus of priests. Wanting to do missionary work, he traveled to New York at his own expense and walked the streets untilhe found a Catholic Church. He dove right in, teaching the children.

St. John was directed to the Bishop of New York, who ordained him and sent him to the Niagara frontier as a travelling missionary. He joined the redemptorists, served in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

As pastor at St. Alphonus in Baltimore, he became the confessor for Archbishop Kenrick and was appointed as Bishop of Philadelphia.

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Byzantine Catholic Seminary
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Just a note to keep some context here. This is an old thread (begun in 2006 as I recollect) - resurrected by someone posting to it recently. So, if you are reading through any but the most recent posts - look at the date of same before you quote and address queries to folk who may or may not still post here regularly (or at all)

Many years,

Neil

Hi,
I am interested in Eastern liturgy in communion with Roman Catholic Church. I am around 30 year old. I was 6 years in Jesuit order after high school in Poland. I wanted to become priest. Right now I work in corporation in account service. Sometime I come back with my thoughts to come back to seminary. I know that is very hard environment. In Poland, there is lot of young vocation. Clergy choose the group of people to whom give sacrament of priesthood. I know that being a priest, as a seminary, is hard task. Mainly my observation on hard side of priesthood as in order: loneliness, criticism from superiors, being on legs from dawn to the dusk; no support in daily life; gossiping; vow of poverty is really only for the strongest one. I was walking in one shoes for 4 years. Trousers and shirts I had from high school . I don’t say to criticize the order only to say how it was. To live in a group of people that is strange to each other without any living roots like faith or family is very hard. Mainly order is in lack of positive relationships.

I observed Ukraine Catholic Church in Canada. I believe deeply in person of Jesus Christ as a Master, Savior and Messiah that had and have to save the world. I practice regular. I pray everyday and read Bible, church documents and mystics. I try to be with Jesus everyday. I know that being alone is hard topic in my life. I would like to have a wife and children. I know that Greek Catholics can have a family and be a priest. It is a good way for me.

I was thinking about moving to Greek Catholic church in Canada to join. My questions.

1. I see that liturgy is mainly in Ukraine language? (through the youtube I can observe the service in Ukraine catholic churches in Canada). This is Ukraine language or old Slavic?
2. Do the liturgy is mainly in Ukraine language in Greek Catholics?
3. Mainly community Greek Catholics in Canada is Ukraine roots? The service is mainly addressed to them? Or there is a open community that gather all nations?
4. I saw that in USA liturgy is American English. The same question like 3. Liturgy focus mainly Ukraine people or other nations?
5. I am looking for a Denomination that allow priests to have wife and children and is mainly open on all nations. Not only on Ukraine.
6. How looks life on parish? Priest with wife and children live alone or there is other priest with family?
7. Priest join his life with work? He goes to corporation, or devout all his life to parish?
8. Do you run school, nursery school, kindergarten, or only focus on the liturgy and church?

Could you please give answers to my questions, give link to seminaries.

I know that it is very hard to realize such a dream of vocation but it is possible.

I know that your life is much more easier then Roman Catholics. Especially in Poland, where there are many priests. In my parish where I live there are 3 priests. It is average number. Not always the relationships in the parish are fine. Sometimes there is silence conflicts. In my family parish where I come from on the beginning there were 2 priests. Right now there are 4. Sometime they double work.

You can have a wife and children. It is great enrichment. I have a good relationships with my family where I come from and to friends and I know that is very useful in life. In short words. You are very lucky one that you can devout your life to Jesus, priesthood, family and community. You can do what you make happy. Making 8 hours invoices and etc. with accounting is very boring. It gives money and I can travel from some to time make it sense but corporation in itself kills spirit  .

Kind regards, Naxis

Czesc Naxisprix.

See your PM.

Dear Naxis,

While in the Society, you had perhaps met Fr. Marek Blaza?

hieromnich Marek SJ [mblaza.prv.pl]

Hi,
Praise be Jesus Christ,
I had a chance to meet father Marek in novitiate. He came to us, I don't know from what occasion. I remember him as a very positive person. As I remember, he has got roots from Silesia (part of South Poland). This is a mix region - Polish, German. They build their own dialect - mix of polish and german. And I remember that we met all of guys and father magister and he set to speak in this dialect all many funny stories. About the creation the world. It was amazing. Lot of laugh.

I think that he is a very spiritual man that loves God and people and understands the liturgy more then many priests. I think that he understands that Roman Catholic liturgy is one of the many liturgies as a way to contact and worship God.

I remember one (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzhublyk) of the massage from Mary Mother. Miss prof. Agnieszka (Agnes) Halemba wrote quoted that Mary said in one of the revelations that she is open for variety of liturgy especially to sense of liturgy in Greek Catholic church (please refer to notes. It is in the one of professor article). There is a trend for making this church in modern to Catholic Church liturgy and design of the chapels and churches.

Do you know father Marek Blaza? He was one of the most positive, happy, smiling father in Jesuit order.