StrangerToTheKingdom - I would welcome your perspectives and contributions. I disagree about your thoughts on fear. I would think the parable of the talents would be scary enough. Demographic collapse is merely the cherry on top of the real problem, going to Hell because we bury our talents and so rarely do what we are supposed to do, preach the Gospel to the world.

Our communion with Rome should give us a bigger and deeper vision. Rome is both a center of good organization and of scholarly study. Some of our priests and parishes have built on this, for instance, the mission parish in Ukiah California led by Fr David Anderson, and the Chicago parish led by Fr Thomas J. Loya, to name only two.

In my eyes the biggest things we lack are:
–an appreciation of patristic scholarship (typically led by Catholic historians and theologians.)
–an appreciation of our common identity as Greek Catholics and struggle to adapt our faith to the needs of North America.
–maturity in patience, humility, and hope so that we can work together as Greek Catholics in North America and together build bridges with our Latin, Oriental, and various Byzantine Orthodox brethren in Christ.

In this light, none of us have “lost” our monastics, they have simply found a bishop who supports them in their work for the renewal of all the Greek Catholic Churches. Nor have we lost the battle for survival, but simply lost track of our strengths and our friends.

Little is gained by striking fear (as in pushing evangelism through fear of demographic collapse.) Rather, go to the perogie crew in your parish and those near by and encourage them as a community of faith and charity. And when they put on a Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter meal, be there to tell them it was great food and great evangelism to their neighbors… then it will be easier for them to invite people to join in their parish family and less controversial when a new mission starts up near by.

Please pray for me a sinner and would-be missionary,
Stranger to the Kingdom

CDL

I’m very encouraged by your enthusiasm. I know very little about computers so I hope the owner of this board or John S who does know something about computers will respond.

BTW What’s a wiki?

CDL

Here I am. What will you do with me?

Annunciation spread itself out to try to help establish a mission in Peoria but there were no priests available to help advance the work. There is no comprehensive vision of Church growth unless no one is to be allowed to know it outside of Pittsburgh or Parma. There is no plan to assist growing Churches to continue to grow and to plant new missions, unless it’s being kept a secret. There is no plan to make sense of our seminary system. There is nothing being done to reintroduce the minor orders. We’ve closed some churches but it is not clear that there is any plan to help plant new missions from these resources. We’ve broken relations with the last monastery with which we had connection.

The Metropolia is dying for positive direction. Then again perhaps our death is what the Lord desires.

CDL