Thanks. I was a junior at Auburn and a school friend brought me with him to attend Mass at the church.
It makes me feel at home. I am RC but this church is sooo pre-Vat II and so am I.
I know that you guys were not affected by Vat II.
Now, this is going to sound rather absurd but, VCII actually benefited the Maronite Catholic Church. Prior to VCII, the Maronites, out of fidelity to Rome, had become very latinized. VCII set about to restore these liturgies to their original format DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN RITE. Essentially, VCII became a blessing.
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).
It makes me feel at home. I am RC but this church is sooo pre-Vat II and so am I.
A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Liturgy and fulfill his or her obligations at any Eastern Catholic Parish. A Roman rite Catholic may join any Eastern Catholic Parish and receive any sacrament from an Eastern Catholic priest, since all belong to the Catholic Church as a whole. I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith at a Maronite Catholic Church. Like the Chaldeans, the Maronites retain Aramaic for the Consecration. It is as close as one comes to being at the Last Supper.