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Joined: Jan 2005
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Forum Keilbasa Sleuth Member
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Kapusta, would you please tell us what in the world are you talking about?
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Originally posted by John S.:
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Brethren,
All this talk about liturgical change has me thinking about the future of our Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church in general and what it will look like in the next few decades.
[b]Our strongest parishes are typically full of converts and "rite switchers." These folks want to be immersed in Byzantium. Nothing less than the full program will do. Our 1.5 hour liturgy doesn't phase these folks in the least. It also doesn't seem to disturb the native Rusyns, or our dozens of youngsters helping to fill our temple to capacity each Sunday. Yes, there are Byzantine Catholics who have vespers and matins in their full parishes, clutch their chotkis during the week, find the full fast essential and avoid pews as they would the plague.
The folks filling our churches want to be Byzantine Christians in communion with Rome to the nth degree. Or they would not be there. Let�s face it, our parishes are not in villages like in the old country. We can�t walk to church. Many of us travel great distances, tackling tundra and time for the True Faith and Sunday Divine Liturgy. We search out the far-flung books and devotional items unique to the practice of our faith.
There is a bright future for our parish and the Metropolia. We will have priests and monastic vocations streaming like water from a well. We'll have converts crossing the threshold to take in the light of the Truth. There will be reading and discussion of the Church Fathers. We will have fewer pews and more chotkis.
We will reach deeper into the font of Tradition as we embrace the mysteries Pope John Paul the Great exhorted us to recover. One thing is certain the hip echo-boomer generation -- the baby boomers kids, our Byzanteens -- demand nothing less than authenticity and the fullness of Tradition. The Church will be theirs soon and we will be gone. They will look back and wonder how on earth did the generation before worship with pews? Why would they miss Vespers? Why would they miss Divine Liturgy? Yes, our church will change. We might have to shrink still more before we grow again. But, grow again we will.
As always in Christ,
John [/b] Dear John, I like the positive nature of your post, and its optimism. I want to be optimistic too. Positive talk encourages positive talk. Sometimes in my own posts, it seems like I have been opposed to any change of any kind. I'm sorry about giving that impression, and I think the church will grow and change. I think your talk of "strong parishes" and "folks filling the churches" looking for our tradition to feed them and direct their future, is very helpful. The vision of parishes celebrating the services, and parishioners praying, fasting, and asking for more, fills me with hope. How do we get from here to there? How can I help my priest and my parish to feel more positively about this vision? Nick
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Since John hasn't offered a response yet please allow me to suggest a few things that have happened in our parish since John and I both are members of Annunciation. I'm sure that he will have several more ideas but here goes.
1. The Holy Spirit through Bishop Pataki sent Father Thomas Loya to two of the three parishes that coalesced to become Annunciation.
2. The majority of the three parishes enthusiastically caught the vision.
3. Like a good shepherd Father has guided us in a comprehensive vision of recapturing our Orthodox heritage and our faithfulness to the Papacy. Nearly 1/2 of us stand during liturgy. We follow the liturgy fairly consistently. Father preaches challenging and vey loving sermons. He doesn't flinch from controversial subjects when needing addressed. We are involved in all sorts of things in the community. We often miss opportunities for evangelism but we catch many as well. He's not afraid to speak out in favor of life and against artifical contraception. He welcomes children.
Because of his boldness we have several altar boys, a dynamic choir, a solid core of cantors, several men exploring ordination, etc, etc.
We don't by any means pursue all of the avenues for evangelism but we do have a comprehensive plan and we work it.
A. Boldness of the priest. B. Openness and courage of the laity to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. C. Comprehensive plan that we work. D. A desire to be a witness to the Eparchy. These are three of the keys that have revitalized our Church.
Dan L
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Nick,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dan did a fine job of elaborating.
I think if we turn to the Evangelization bucket of this forum, Fr. Thomas Loya is about to give us some real food for thought about vision. Stay tuned.
In Christ,
John
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A. Boldness of the priest. B. Openness and courage of the laity to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. C. Comprehensive plan that we work. D. A desire to be a witness to the Eparchy. These are three of the keys that have revitalized our Church. Carson: You're right on target, pull the trigger! Scott
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I can second John's and Dan's comments. Recently my family made the move from our latin parish over to Annunciation.
Other things that I can cite:
Adult studies including:
Sunday morning Bible Study
Monthly Patristic reading group
John Gibson
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Hello Folks!
Can someone very briefly tell me what's going on with the "proposed" revisions? Lately, my brain's been blurry due to my ear/hearing problems I've been having. Please bear with me.
What does the revision mean? Does it mean a TRUE restoration of a Byzantine worship, meaning there will be NO shortcuts? No short antiphons, etc.?
The late Holy Father John Paul II asked us to restore the Byzantine faith...meaning we must restore to FULLNESS of Orthodoxy. Let's take a look at the Orthodox Church and see what we're missing.
Thanks for your patience in explaining things to me BRIEFLY. Heh.
SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine
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