We have all watched with dismay as the Jesuit Order has slithered into the more liberal realms of church teaching. However, one star that shines brightly in the order is ....
Fr. Mitch Pacwa
Jesuit priest and popular television host of several EWTN (www.ewtn.com) television and radio programs, including EWTN Live,The Holy Rosary in the Holy Land , and currently Threshold of Hope, Fr Mitch has a dynamic and engaging presence. An accomplished biblical scholar and apologist, Fr Mitch holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Theology from University of Detroit (summa cum laude), a Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from the Jesuit School of Theology at Loyola University (magna cum laude), and Phd in Old Testament from Vanderbilt University. He speaks 12 languages, some of which include; Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Koine Greek, and has taught courses in Old Testament, New Testament in high schools, seminaries, and universities, including Loyola University (Chicago) and University of Dallas. Fr Mitch is also a seasoned world-traveler, particularly to the Holy Land , where he has visited no fewer than 44 times.
Fr. Mitch is author of Catholics and the New Age, Forgive Me Father, for I am Frustrated, and Some Heard Thunder, Some Heard God. He is founder of Ignatius Productions, under the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus -- a multi-media teaching apostolate that features his books, tapes, and video productions. He is contributing author to several Catholic publications, including; This Rock Magazine.
Bi-ritual in the Maronite rite, Pacwa is a frequent visitor to the homes of Lebanese parishioners in Birmingham.
It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus Christ converted by Paul and Barnabas were first called Christians [Acts 11:26]. Antioch, especially after the destruction of Jerusalem in 71 AD, became a center for Christianity. The first Bishop was St. Peter before his travels to Rome. The third Bishop was the Apostolic Father St. Ignatius of Antioch. Antioch became one of the five original Patriarchates after Constantine recognized Christianity.
Maron, a contemporary and friend of St. John Chrysostom, was a monk in the fourth century who left Antioch for the Orontes River to lead an ascetic life, following the traditions of St. Anthony of the Desert and St. Pachomius of Egypt. He soon had many followers that adopted his monastic life. Following the death of St. Maron in 410, his disciples built a monastery in his memory and formed the nucleus of the Maronite Church. 8
The Maronites held fast to the beliefs of the Council of Chalcedon in 451. When 350 monks were slain by the Monophysites of Antioch, the Maronites sought refuge in the mountains of Lebanon. Correspondence concerning the event brought papal recognition of the Maronites by Pope Hormisdas on February 10, 518. 9
The martyrdom of the Patriarch of Antioch in 602 left the Maronites without a leader, and led them to elect their first Maronite Patriarch, St. John Maron, in 685.
Little was heard from the Maronites for 400 years, as they quietly escaped the Muslim invasions in the mountains of Lebanon, until the Crusader Raymond of Toulouse discovered the Maronites in the mountains near Tripoli, Lebanon on his way to conquer Jerusalem. The Maronites again confirmed their loyalty to the Pope in 1181. The Maronites have always remained true to Rome. 5, 8, 9, 10
The Maronites, because of their monastic origin, were able to withstand intense pressure and even persecution to preserve their Church, not just by the Muslims, but also by separated brethren such as the Orthodox and Churches of the East, as well as efforts at Latinization from Rome. Even today, the words at the Consecration of the Mass are said in Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
The Maronites have especially fluorished since the Second Vatican Council, and are now the third largest Eastern Catholic Church, numbering about 3,200,000 faithful throughout the world, including parishes in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Australia. We are blessed to have Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in Washington, D. C., established in 1961.
A Roman Catholic may attend Divine Liturgy at any Eastern Catholic Church and fulfill their Sunday obligation.
The Catholic Church is both Western and Eastern. As most of us realize, the Church began in the East. Our Lord lived and died and resurrected in the Holy Land. The Church spread from Jerusalem throughout the known world. As the Church spread, it encountered different cultures and adapted, retaining from each culture what was consistent with the Gospel. In the city of Alexandria, the Church became very Egyptian; in Antioch it remained very Jewish; in Rome it took on an Italian appearance and in the Constantinople it took on the trappings of the Roman imperial court. All the churches which developed this way were Eastern, except Rome. Most Catholics in the United States have their roots in Western Europe where the Roman rite predominated. It has been said that the Eastern Catholic Churches are "the best kept secret in the Catholic Church."
The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15). Pope John Paul II said that "the Catholic Church is both Eastern and Western."
Check your local community at the following link and look into attending an Eastern Catholic Liturgy (not to be confused with the Orthodox Church).
Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.
The Eastern Catholic Rites retain the rich heritage of our church, without the "novelties" introduced into the Novus Ordo liturgy. Incense is used throughout.
I attend a Maronite Catholic Church. The Consecration is in Aramaic, using the words and language of our Lord at the Last Supper. Communion is ONLY distributed by the priest. It is by intinction (the priest dips the consecrated host into the Precious Blood) and is ONLY received on the tongue. The priest administers communion with the words: "Receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sin and eternal salvation".
A Roman Catholic may attend the Divine Liturgy at any Eastern Catholic Church. You can learn more about the 22 different liturgies at this link: