What is the Byzantine Catholic Church w/ Fr. Michael Lee

[@goodbanter4427]

On the 25th of June I'll be received into the Byzantine Catholic Church coming from the Orthodox Church, so this is just what I needed! Pray for me, everyone 🙏

[@reasonandtheology]

Congratulations!

[@jebbush2527]

Uniate W we love you

[@trinidadraj152]

Welcome. Slava Isusu Khrystos

[@davidkoepnick4314]

Many years to you! Mohaya l’ita!

[@goodbanter4427]

@@davidkoepnick4314 What language is that?

[@NiccoloGiuliano3]

I love Father Michael. St.Luke is where I’ve discovered the Byzantine Catholic tradition and I’m in love with it and I just feel an upmost love for it.

[@SaintCharbelMiracleworker]

Interesting discussion, thank you Fr MIichael and Michael. "you Catholics are weird"...have been hearing that a lot lately from protestant neighbors with Sister Wilhelmina. I reply "when you're in it, nothing is weird."😂

[@kimberlyhall3992]

I appreciate this video. Im Latin Rite but this was very informative.

[@reasonandtheology]

Glad it was helpful!

[@therealAZLN]

Hey! That's Fr. Mike from St. Luke in KC! Love that beautiful church.

[@cjsal8646]

It was a blessing to listen to interview Fr Lee...he well represented the Byz Catholic Church.

[@CatholicByzantineEvangelist]

Love Fr. Michael!

[@JDARJISJ]

My wife joined the church in the Byzantine rite and Fr Lee’s parish (St Luke’s in Sugar Creek, MO) is our closest parish. I personally very much appreciate the Byzantine rite and Fr Lee gives excellent homilies. Thanks for this conversation.

[@cactoidjim1477]

The Ruthenian Church is unique in not being tied to a single ethnicity (like the Ukranian, Romanian, Melkite, etc.). This may be part of the reason for its' success in the US.

[@basedbyzantine]

Historically, the Ruthenian church is associated with the Rusnak / Rusyn people from the Carpathian Mountains in eastern Slovakia, southeast Poland, northeast Hungary, and far western Ukraine. But yes, today it is quite Americanized and there are many non-Rusnaks. But so are the Melkites in America, from my experience. Lots of people who aren't Middle Eastern. The Ukrainians, less so. They are still more ethnic. Even nowadays.

[@cactoidjim1477]

@@basedbyzantine Exactly! The lack of a tie to a distinct extant country has made the Ruthenian Church more easily appealing to a polyglot American population. I don't think it's likely, but it is possible the Ruthenian and Melkite Churches - in this moment - could spark a major redefinition of what it means to be an "American Catholic".

[@basedbyzantine]

​@@cactoidjim1477 That would be ideal. The situation of the Ruthenian church is currently a mixed bag. In the older, more traditionally ethnic areas (like PA where I live), we're not doing very well. But there is growth and vitality in the younger, vibrant cities, with many non-ethnic people and even converts. Like our parish in Irving (Dallas), Texas. In my opinion we need to focus our efforts on missionary activity in those kinds of places. Also, it would help if we could have some kind of a (re)union with the Ukrainians in America. To create something like a Catholic version of the OCA. Where we would share a common hierarchy and resources. But each parish could preserve its own liturgical usages, customs, and traditions. That would seem most reasonable.

[@cactoidjim1477]

@D. J. Shulick Fr. Daniel Dozier (St. George, Marian Shrine) agrees with that approach, I think.

[@basedbyzantine]

@@cactoidjim1477 Also, from the Ukrainian side, Fr. Joseph Matlak agrees with the idea of union with the Ruthenians.

[@rx88088]

I'm Orthodox, but I live in the Canadian Ukrainian Diaspora, so I have several Eastern Catholic friends, including clergy. They seem to like Ancient Faith Ministries and Ancient Faith Radio. We heavily use prayer books, and it is the norm for Ukrainian Catholics here. While they do have their own resources for Eastern Catholics, they love a lot of things on this site. Books, prayer books, podcasts, music, lives of the saints, daily scripture readings, service books (liturgy, etc.)

[@judithmurray6458]

Only 22 years? My calling to the consecrated life is now double that. I'm in the process of returning to the Catholic Church. I've been living a semi eremitic life for the past two years and reading the Early Fathers and pray daily the Jesus Prayer. Michael, watching your podcasts are really helping me; I am now on my way. Father, thank you for sharing your story, it gives me hope. I am searching for a local Byzantine ☦ church. God bless you. I am born in Scotland and also from a Protestant background and later Catholic during the time of Vatican 2. I've had a long time out from the Catholic Church. Perhaps the Eastern Rite might offer a good fit for me. It's early days still.

[@donnacaco6321]

Thank you so much for this. There are so few of us. Proud to be Byzantine!

[@capricornyearofthetiger]

@@donnacaco6321 can you explain more of this.

[@judithmurray6458]

Thank you for a wonderful presentation. I've been researching for a Byzantine church here and found one. I sent an email and they replied immediately. I also checked out the resources that Father mentioned. Michael, what I discovered is that I'm already half way there (without realising) just going on my reading choices in recent times and my preferences in religious iconography. I still have much to learn. I firmly believe that watching your program is also having some influence in moving me in the right direction for me. I love the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Catherine Doherty and I have a set of the Philokalia. GOD bless you!

[@DrSheri.teaches]

I'm a Catholic convert (just over 3 years) and I attend a Roman Rite. However, I have found that what Fr. Michael Lee says about many people doing the minimum (specifically in the area of fasting) is certainly the case. I am very interested in the Byzantine Catholic Church and I'm definitely going to visit St. Anne's Church in San Luis Obispo, about 30 miles from my home. I love my parish, but feel drawn to what I'm hearing in this video.

[@px2762]

More of these please

[@YardenJZ]

The ITI is where I found the Byzantine Rite, as well! (even though I wasn't a student, I converted from the Jehovah's Witnesses when I lived nearby it)

[@robbchristopher158]

I'm going to be attending the st. Luke's Church in sugarcreek. I'm planning on becoming Eastern Catholic someday. I used to be a Jehovah's witness when I lived in Gladstone Missouri.

[@basedbyzantine]

Slava Isusu Christu! ☦️

[@Radabah]

Slava na viki

[@RayWihak-nw3sv]

Ukrainian Catholic here. The big sister to the Ruthenian church which was once under its umbrella.

[@CPATuttle]

There's a recent archeology discovery of a 5th century Byzantine church in Jerusalem, believed to be ancient Bethsaida. Where Peter was from. And the inscription reads "the chief and commander of the heavenly apostles"

[@waznyf]

Mr. Lofton, thank you so much for this discussion, it couldn’t have come at a better time. As you may remember, my family and I are just starting to discern The Byzantine Catholic Church! I’ll be watching this a couple more times.

[@elainekhan8882]

Thank you 🙏🏻 God bless you all & Fr Michael, very edifying & educational discussion,

[@Tank_That]

I've been to Fr Michael's church, he does an amazing job. I'm seriously starting to fall for the Eastern Church after having gone to Divine Liturgy. God bless you Fr Michael, and Michael.

[@reasonandtheology]

Thanks

[@leylinegoddess]

st anne byzantine in my town is in the eparchy of parma , the ruthenian.

[@CorEtLumenChristi86]

Please do more videos on Byzantine rite and process of annulments etc

[@Emily-pl7fv]

This was a great introduction to the Byzantines Catholic Church! There's one in my neighborhood (only a 5 minute walk from my house), and I've been curious about it for a while now. This video was very informative, so thank you!

[@reasonandtheology]

Thanks

[@dsonyay]

Run! Don’t walk :)

[@Emily-pl7fv]

@@dsonyay Idk if I'll ever go... It seems intimidating 😅

[@dylanstuckey3824]

A Ukrainian Catholic priest gave me a copy of the Ukrainian Catholic catechism that he referenced. I didn’t realize it was out of print!

[@JobinJacobKavalam]

Just an honest feedback: The host is often seen distracted working on the chat and hence not making eye contact with the guest. As a viewer, it is kind of distracting.

[@2196logan]

how do I go about finding a good Byzantine church? I live in Oregon so I know we don't have much here, but I am looking to move and where I move is going to be dependent on finding a good church to be a part of. any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[@dsonyay]

Q- I heard you mention living in La? Which Byzantine Cath Church do you attend? I only know of one in New Orleans area on S Carrolton next to the big seminary. Thanks! I went to Mass there on occasion- beautiful Mass

[@LovedbyJesus23]

Great talk! Can a young child, like a 4 or 3 year old, that is baptized in the Latin Rite receive Holy Communion at a Byzantine church?

[@catholicbites6605]

No, if your child is Latin Rite and hasn’t received first communion then he/she cannot receive even in a Byzantine Catholic Church. Such a tragedy. Come on Latin Rite! Return to the ancient tradition!

[@goodbanter4427]

No, since he hasn't been confirmed, so that's unfortunate. The East does this better

[@cactoidjim1477]

There are Canonical considerations here, so it doesn't quite work that way. If you have been a member of an Eastern parish (but have not formally changed Rites) you may be able to have your newborn receive all the Sacraments in the East - but then you might have Latin Rite priests perturbed when you try to later take your 4 year old Confirmed child forward for Communion in the West.

[@cactoidjim1477]

This is what happened with us. Our youngest was able to receive Communion, while our other children (still under 7) were not.

[@zacbrewer4368]

Wellllll if you attend a Byzantine Church weekly, ask your priest.

[@adamkemner8137]

Saint Ann's in Independence is for sale...

[@TheMCNanno]

So is a Eparchy more like a non territorial Diocese? because I met Bishop Milan in Parma Ohio but hes no longer stationed in the US; and the website says Fr Michael Lee's Parish is in Missouri

[@cactoidjim1477]

It is territorial, just like dioceses. However, Bishop Milan's situation is a bit irregular. The Ruthenian eparchies are geographically large - there's 4 or 5 IIRC for the US. Most of the other Eastern Churches only have one eparchy or an exarchate for the US.

[@TheMCNanno]

@@cactoidjim1477 interesting. So I just live in a weird Eparchy?

[@cactoidjim1477]

@@TheMCNanno I mean, all the eparchies seem a bit weird when compared with the Latin dioceses. There are only 4 for the Ruthenians in the US. The Ukranian and Melkite Churches also have 3 or 4. The other Rites can be found at Byzcath.org

[@trinidadraj152]

Our previous bishop, Bishop Milan recently went back to Eastern Europe. Temporarily our Byzantine parish in Kansas City is under the Metropolitan. Technically the Metropolitan is always over all of our Eparchies (dioceses), but normally it's only our immediate bishop who exercises immediate say over the pastoral and administrative concerns of our local parish. Since the Ruthenian world in America is fairly small, many states only have one Byzantine Catholic parish. One Eparchy may cover several states, which is really just a handful of parishes.

[@masinaverde901]

​@@cactoidjim1477We have one and it extends to all of US and Canada.

[@GabrielWithoutWings]

Oh, this is easy. The Byzantine Liturgy is the service you attend while you talk down to Latin Rite Catholics who don't want their traditions destroyed.

[@RayWihak-nw3sv]

National churches are not a fact. One doesn’t have to be Roman or Italian to be Roman Catholic and one does not need to be Ukrainian to be Ukrainian Catholic. The faith cam from Kyivan RUS and spread throughout the world

[@juanayala4560]

Their basically orthodox in communion with the Catholic Church