www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Eastern Rite Catholics in Western North Carolina

Christ is Risen, and Peace to All!

I am wondering if anyone knows of an Eastern Rite Catholic Mission forming in Western North Carolina...

I live in Boone, a small college town in the Northwest corner of North Carolina, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains;

There is a fairly large Roman Rite Catholic parish here, and a small Antiochian Orthodox Mission;

I have heard rumours of a Byzantine Rite mission beginning in Hickory, a town which is about 40 miles away, but I haven't been able to find out anything more, so I'm hoping someone on this forum might have some leads.

Also, if anybody knows anything more about Ethiopian / Eritrean Orthodox Churches in the Charlotte, NC area, I'd really like to know about them, also -

My wife's family lives in the Charlotte area, so we visit there often on weekends. I visited the Ethiopian Orthodox community in the Raleigh area when I lived there a few years back (they met in first the Antiochian Orthodox, and then in the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church), and they were wonderful!

I know that Charlotte has an Armenian Apostolic Church (see their web site, Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Charlotte, NC [stsarkis.net] http://www.stsarkis.net, especially the interesting story from "Charlotte Weekly", "Fatefully Faithful", in the "News" section), as well as Greek Orthodox parishes and missions, an OCA parish, and a Serbian church community, with the Eritrean community planning to form a mission ( Eritrean Orthodox Churches in the USA [tewahdo.com] http://www.tewahdo.com/churchLists.htm).

Anywho, any info. on Eastern Rite Catholics in my area would be greatly appreciated!

I am currently an Eastern Orthodox Christian, but I have long been interested in the Catholic Church, especially the Maronite, Ethiopian, and Byzantine Rites.

I don't know about a mission in your area but are you game to try to start one should you not find one?

I must say, you live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. Maybe someday we will join you.

CDL

Dear Rustaveli,

Christ is Risen!

I lived in Winston-Salem for many years. The only Byzantine parish was the one in Cary, which is a long way away. You should consider visiting if you are in the Raleigh/Research Triangle area.

There have been attempts in Charlotte to celebrate Divine Liturgies over the years, but not much has taken a firmer hold.

Please continue to pray. Our prayers are with you.

Deacon El

Carston Daniel and Deacon El,

Many thanks for your responses and advice!

C.D., I suppose that we would be willing to prayerfully consider beginning an Eastern Rite Mission, but I'm not sure quite how to go about that...

Should we contact the local Catholic Church, and / or the appropriate Eastern Rite Eparchy?

[I've written to the Maronite Eparchy about the possibility of conversion, as we are now Orthodox, but have been pondering joining the Catholic Church...] ... I imagine we'll have to go through the reunion with Rome, firstly!

- With regard to your possible, eventual relocation to Appalachia, we would love to have you here, but I also have a soft-spot in my heart-of-hearts for Chicagoland (... to be that close to so many Eastern Catholic / Orthodox Churches ... and Ethiopian Restaurants ... and Blues & Gospel music venues....)!

Deacon El, I used to live in the Raleigh area [... and have recently applied for a job there...] - it seems that, indeed, it is the closest location of Eastern-rite parishes (Byzantine in Cary, and a Maronite mission), although it's not very close to Boone;

We'll keep all this in prayer, and I thank you for your prayers!

I sent a PM to Vie and hopefully she will see it and respond. She lives in NC, so would more than likely know what is happening there.

Excellent!

Thanks, Pani Rose.

There was a young fellow who attended our Orthodox Mission here a year or so ago who was [and, perhaps, yet is] a Byzantine-Rite Catholic;

That's my only source regarding a Mission of a Byzantine Catholic sort close-by -

I've not been able to contact him by email, unfortunately, so any other contacts would be most appreciated.

Christos Voskres'!

Rustaveli,
My husband will be able to give you more details, but there are two missions at this time in Charlotte and Raleigh for the Ukranian Catholic Church.

Glenn will be better able to fill you in on any plans for more missions.

Vie

Rustaveli,

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

You mentioned that you visit family often in Charlotte on the weekends. We are working on starting a Urkainian mission parish in Charlotte. Father Deacon Mark Shuey is spearheading this. We try to make it down twice a month for Liturgies/Typikas. As Deacon El mentioned, there have been previous attempts at organizing a Ukrainian Catholic paish, but I feel the Holy Spirit is strongly behind this effort. As for other missions closer to you, I have no info. Please feel free to PM me and I can get your info and include on our mailing list. We will be having a Liturgy for the Ascension next Thursday, and another at 10:00 on Sunday June 4. We meet at Charlotte Catholic High School on 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road. Looking forward to hearing from you and meeting you.

Glenn
deacon in training
altar boy

Thanks for the information, Ladyhawke1017 & Glenn!

Christos Voskres!
Glenn,
Don't forget your friends in Winston-Salem!!!!

Tari

Go Steelers!

Go Browns!

And the rivalry continues......

ROFL

Glenn,

I live in Charlotte and my wife and I attend St Patrick's Roman Catholic church. I would love to attend an eastern rite service. Please let me know when you are having more Ukrainian Catholic services in Charlotte.