www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Are our Churches open to converts?

Dan,

Some folks are just never happy. They can not see the work of the Holy Spirit, and when the Holy Spirit is at work they will try to stifle Him. At my parishes visitors find a real heart-felt welcome from most people. There is a loud, but small minority who believe that they need to challenge why anyone would come into our Byzantine Catholic Church. They are usually very latinized, and are unhappy with the eastward progress of our Church. My experience is that their children I are most frequently unchurched, or sometimes attend the local RC or Protestant Church. They are often times negatively "Nationalistic" (I have many people who are positively involved with their national origins. They are proud of their heritage, but do not believe that the Church is a natioanl social club.)

Dan keep up the good work, and may God bless you an your Pastor.
the unworthy Priest,
Fr. Vladimir

Dear Friends,

My parish has become so inclusive and multicultural!

We even embrace people in mixed marriages!

There are still some of the "old guard" who will walk away when mention of "English in the liturgy" is made, but, at last count, these number just two now - and they are married to each other . . .

The Orthodox who come are increasing in numbers and they are largely recent immigrants.

Somehow, we're able to offer something to everyone.

That is thanks to the Mother of God of Zhirovitsi - and our version of it can be seen in my avatar.

I've also started to teach religion in English to Ukie students, including those of the "fourth wave" who want to learn about their Church(es) and faith in English.

One must simply go with the flow, I suppose . . .

Alex

Dear Fr. Vladimir,

Have you also noticed a bizarre phenomenon in your parish in which people with to get people to convert by immediately "downplaying" the parish? By which I mean saying thing like, "the priest says to fast, but no one does that, you can convert without doing that..."

I think they intend it to reassure vacillating potential converts, but I would think the opposite happens...It would make someone wonder what sort of parish it is where no one seems to care to practice what is preached or professed..

Gaudior, wondering whether anyone else noticed this when people speak to potential converts...

After much travel and much experience of various parishes, I shall testify that I know of no parish anywhere that is blessed with perfect priest and perfect faithful. If such a parish exists, I would obviously not fit in. If somebody is waiting to find such a parish before becoming a practicing Christian, he or she had better be prepared for a long wait.
Incognitus

As Groucho Marx roughly said "Any club that would take me is not worth joining."

Any Church that was perfect would cease to be so when I joined! :p

Dear Jbosl - I'm with you. Let's rejoice to attend churches that are meant for sinners (such as ourselves). If anybody finds a Perfect Church, please let me know so that I can (for once) be polite and avoid disturbing them.
Incognitus

Dear Friends,
Christ is among us!

Yes, I have often noted that those who believe that the BCC is their private social club, downplay the fasting ideal, and anything else they do not like about the direction of the Church. They say things like: "We never did this before Fr. Vladimir came here." or "Father Vladimir is way too orthodox for most of us!" But that is just part of life.

But God is good! Recently one of the biggest "parish social clubbers" latinizers in the parish has disappeared! They have reappearred in one of the local Roman Catholic Churches, where they make obvious their lack of commitment to Byzantine Christianity or the teachings of the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, my Roman Catholic colleagues simply ignore the Canons regarding these issues. A pox on all of them! (OOPs, I guess I have to go to confession again!)

The unworthy priest,
Fr. Vladimir

Bless me father.

Not to worry if going to confession is the price one must pay for openness and honesty I think it is well worth the cost. Besides if your confessor is as good as mine and is as good as the counsel you've given here your theosis will be greatly aided.

Dan L

Bless, Father Vladimir,

Not to worry about the "pox" thingy!

It seems that the phrase was transformed from its original "Pax" or "peace on your house" that people said when they entered another's domicile - and this is the oldest version.

Kissing your right hand, I again implore your blessing,

Alex

Dear Alex,

I read it the same way...these computers...

Thank you Fr. Vladimir!

Gaudior, with humble bow

Evangelization is a two way street.
I was taught that the Bible �was written by believers.....for believers.�
Taking that premise to our Byzantine Catholic faithful, being under constant pressure to convert to the �true faith� meaning Orthodoxy, sometimes our good people are just a bit suspicious of people they do not know. Pity. But get beyond that, and you will have a wonderful and rich experience with our faithful.
I grant you that the pastor must put a stop to the �Country Club� mentality that their church may seem to have, as I did in my parish. I would not tolerate it one bit!
I welcome black people, Spanish, and any other color, or back round, because we offer so much to them. It�s our spirituality that brings other cultures to us.

Our church can be so attractive to other ethnic backgrounds because of our tradition of worship and singing.......... ritual, pomp, and ceremony.
The priest is �sometimes� the impediment, as are a small group of diehards.

No matter, I believe that parishes in the North are more exclusive and un-welcoming than we who are in the hinterland ......like Florida.
That�s because we want to grow.
We love every new visitor to our church because they just might be our newest member no matter what their background is!

PS.......St Gregory�s was served by my brother Fr. Emil Sopoliga in the early 70's.
Any way,
Welcome people, and you will grow!
Fr. Michael Sopoliga

Father Michael wrote:

Father, bless!

I was puzzled by the reference to Byzantine Catholics being "under constant pressure to convert to...Orthodoxy." What are you referring to?

DT,

I was a bit confused by that reference as well and hope that Father can help us understand. It has been my experience and the experience of others here that the pressure to convert comes almost exclusively from the RC side. They have the schools and they are so much larger that many of the children in many parishes wind up marrying and leaving for the RC's. Very few convert to Orthodoxy from what I hear.

Dan L

I am not sure what the original statement intended, but from my experience a lot of that pressure is 'internally' generated!

Sometimes we bring it upon ourselves, for one reason or another. Any comments?

I have also on many different levels felt more external pressure to leave Catholicism entirely, not from other Eastern Catholics or Eastern Orthodox, but actually from Roman Catholic laypeople who, in their ignorance, think of me as outside of the True Faith.

No Roman Catholic priest (I know a few) has ever taken such an attitude.

Michael, that sinner

One variety of such pressure is manifested by "ecumenists" who urge us to leave the Catholic Church and become Eastern Orthodox, under the mistaken impression that this would somehow promote a "reconciliation" of the Great Schism. I have heard serious people propose this.
Incognitus