Greek-Melkite bishop in Hub chosen for Vatican synod

Boston Herald ^ | September 9, 2005

[NYer]

A Boston-based Greek-Melkite archbishop has been tapped by Pope Benedict XVI to a prestigious post to advise the Vatican on a key aspect of Catholic life.

     ``My reaction was (I am) honored by the appointment and of course I am ready to work with the other bishops,'' Archbishop-Bishop Cyrille Salim Bustros said yesterday.
     Bustros, based at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Roslindale, will join other bishops from Catholic branches worldwide for a three-week synod next month at the Vatican to advise the pope on the role of the Eucharist, or holy communion, in church life. The topic was chosen by the late Pope John Paul II.
     Bustros is the spiritual leader of some 40 Greek-Melkite churches located in 18 states around the country.
     Bustros, like the other bishops in attendance, will give his own presentation. Pope Benedict XVI will be in regular attendance.
     This is Bustros's third synod. The Lebanon native attended one devoted to his native land and another focused on Asian issues.

[NYer]

Archbishop Cyril, Eparch of Newton

For those catholics new to the forum .........

Here is a brief introduction to the Eastern Catholic Churches:

Although it is not widely known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. According to the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, the Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity (LG, no. 23). At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The new Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, uses the phrase "autonomous ritual Churches" to describe these various Churches (canon 112). Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, and theological perspective.

Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches. It is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches. While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes this nicely:

"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814).

Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies. Yet they both use the Byzantine Rite.

A Roman Catholic may attend liturgy at any Eastern Catholic Church and fulfill their Sunday obligation.

To learn more about the "two lungs" of the Catholic Church, follow this link:
CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

To locate an Eastern Catholic Church in your community, follow this link:
Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.

Should you have any questions on the Eastern Catholic Churches, please freepmail me.

[ken5050]

May I be permitted to pose a waaaaay off-topic question on this thread. A friend of mine, who is RC, and is having trouble selling his house...told me he was going to buy a statue of St Joseph, and bury it in the backyard, upside down facing the house. He said he was told it will help it sell. I'd never heard of this before. Does anyone know the origin/roots of this, and why it is buried upside down facing the hosue in the backyard....he said his instructions were very precise... Is St Joseph the patron saint of Realtors?

[livius]

Well, it's a superstition, but a pretty common one. St. Joseph is the patron of widows and orphans, clergy, a good death, workers - you name it. However, St. Joseph is very powerful, and the phrase "ite ad Iosephum"("Go to Joseph") is pretty well known in Catholic circles.

Tell you friend to pray to St. Joseph for this and also to lead him to the Christ Child, which is another thing that St. Joseph does very well!

[livius]

Interesting that the Vatican should have picked somebody from the US.

[ken5050]

Thanks...any clue as to why "upside down?"

[NYer]

Interesting that the Vatican should have picked somebody from the US.

That struck me as well. There must be much more to this selection than the simplistic announcement :-).

[livius]

Actually - it was supposed to make him mad. That way he'd get working on your project a little faster. I TOLD you it was a superstition...I think it's Irish in origin, btw, if that's of any interest.

However, don't let this give St. Joseph a bad name in your mind! He is a very important saint, and the saints are our older brothers whom we may ask for help as we need it.

[JohnRoss]

Burying St. Joseph in the ground is nothing but shear superstition.

Holy Transfiguration outside of Washington, D.C. is probably the best Melkite parish in the U.S.A. Lent is the best time to visit because Fr. Joseph Francavilla has liturgies every night followed by shared suppers. It is probably the most welcoming Catholic Church I have ever been to. Also, Paul Weyrich belongs there as a deacon.
http://www.holytransfiguration.org

The Melkite Patriarch is also a successor of St. Peter because St. Peter founded the Patriarchate of Antioch.

[Maeve]

Sheer genius of our Holy Father to choose another man of sheer genius.

[NYer]

The Melkite Patriarch is also a successor of St. Peter because St. Peter founded the Patriarchate of Antioch.

That is absolutely correct! How familiar are you with the Eastern Catholic Churches?

[JohnRoss]

I am one.

[NYer]

Melkite? I maintain two catholic ping lists - a general and an eastern catholic one. Drop me a freepmail if you would like to be added to either or both. The RC's like me who practice our faith at Eastern Catholic Churches, would welcome an extra voice :-).