Happy Birthday!

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1–4

Dear Friends,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
As I write this article, we will are preparing to celebrate Pentecost Sunday. This major feast is known as the feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Trinity Sunday, or the Green Holiday. In the “old country” this feast day is also called Русадля or Rusaľa. These last two titles have a pre-Christian origin amongst the Slavs.

What took place in the upper room in Jerusalem is also the celebration of the “beginning.” What beginning? The “birthday” of the Church as the presence among us of the Holy Spirit, of the new life in Christ, of grace, knowledge, adoption to God and holiness.

Friends, from its “beginning” in 1892 our GCU was always associated with our Byzantine Catholic Church. GCU lodges were born in Church halls and for years the GCU continues to be active in Byzantine Catholic Churches nationwide.

This year is significant for us as we will celebrate the centennial of the establishment of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church Exarchate in the United States (1924) and the golden anniversary of the dedication/consecration of the Byzantine Ruthenian Chapel at the Basilica in Washington, DC. (1974). Since then, our Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church in the United States has been dedicated to the Protection-Pokrov of the Mother of God.

Yes, a lot of time has passed since these significant events in the life of our Church. However, they are still very important for us as we look towards the future of our Church especially since “You have to know the past to understand the present” (Carl Sagan).

But where do you and I stand in relationship to the “Church”? How important is it to you, my friend? I recall one day when one of our daughters came home from school and I asked one of them: “So what did you learn today?” My daughter goes “Here is the church, and here is the steeple, open the door and see all the people.” And that of course was accompanied by her little fingers. This happened 20 years ago!

The Church is you and me, the people of God. The Church, or rather the Church of the faithful, embodies the Christian faith, projects Christian hope, and gives life to Christian love. In my previous parish assignment, we had a new Church sign built and underneath that sign it said, “All Are Welcome.” Believe it or not I did receive a few comments like: “Why are ALL welcome Fr. Val?” We the faithful, whether we are saints or sinners, we assemble together under the Church’s shelter to achieve repentance and forgiveness. Our Lord continues to call ALL of us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) From that first Pentecost in Jerusalem, in this Church, the truth is preserved, proclaimed, and shared sacredly among ALL the faithful.

As you read this article you might say “But what about my Church? The attendance is low, we have trouble paying the bills, we have no younger families/children in the parish, etc. Yes, we do have reasons to be discouraged. The statistics are gloomy. It’s easy for us to fall into decline narratives—believing things will only get worse. They can and probably will. Let’s be honest, our historical Byzantine Catholic Churches are not in areas that have booming economies.

Still, Our Lord continues to teach us: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) Even though our attendance may be low in a number of our Churches, we can still live the life of the Church to which we are called. But how?

Let our Byzantine Catholic Churches continue to provide a sense of belonging. Being part of a Church gives you a sense of belonging and acceptance, which can be difficult to find elsewhere. That is something our parishes and GCU always provided for our faithful. The sense of belonging is essential for us to survive.

Let our Byzantine Catholic Churches continue to foster relationships. Especially in our smaller communities we can foster meaningful relationships and friendships that can last a lifetime. Sharing with someone in your parish your interests, passions and even struggles.

Let our Byzantine Catholic Churches continue to promote a ministry of service to our faithful and to the wider community. Even in our smaller communities working together with the GCU we can provide outreach programs, charity events and opportunities to serve others.

Let our Byzantine Catholic Churches continue to offer support and personal growth. Our Divine Liturgy and Divine Services are celebrated to bring you into communion with God. Our spiritual expression provides many Divine Services which are cycles of prayers for the day, the week and the year, commemorating various events in the lives of Jesus Christ and His Saints. Personal growth can also be achieved in our parishes through prayer groups, Bible studies, presentations and other programs that can help you deepen your faith, strengthen your character and grow as a person.

Friends, writing this article I recognize the hardships our “Church” is going through in the 21st century. When the GCU was established in 1892 the founders also recognized the hardships our faithful were facing in their lives. These were humble beginnings, but they took action! I might even add that they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church, let us remember that the Holy Spirit vivifies the Church, impels it to carry out its mission and unifies it in love. Before you take action in your Church - in your parish, remember my friend to offer that beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth
You are everywhere present and fill all things.
Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life,
Come and dwell within in us,
Cleanse us of all stain,
And save our souls O Gracious One.

The legacy of our Byzantine Catholic Church and the GCU, if anything, teaches us that humble beginnings with prayer, perseverance and action can help us overcome challenges and keep us moving forward. As we will celebrate this year’s historical milestones of our Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church, let us call upon the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide our hierarchy, clergy, monastics-religious and beloved faithful for the benefit of the whole Church.