Liturgy and Worship Workshop in Latham, NY
The Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa Polish National Catholic Church in Latham, New York will be hosting a Liturgy and Worship Workshop given by Father Francis DesMarais, pastor of the Western Orthodox Community of St. Gregory of Rome (Orthodox Catholic Church of France
The workshop will be held at the parish on Tuesday, September 1st at 6:30pm. All are welcome.
My pastor has known Fr. DesMarais for years and the presentation should be thought provoking and enjoyable. Fr. DesMarais prepared an English translation and adaptation in booklet form on the Divine Liturgy of Saint Germanus of Paris along with Prof. William Carragan.
I’ve been in one of their churches, but not to a service, and was impressed with the Orthodox literature they had for inquirers – sound as a pound. They used to meet at what was St Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church in South Philly (a marvellous Italianate building for Anglo-Catholics, built before the area became Italian). Both are gone, St E’s buildings now a COGIC Pentecostal church. (Much of St E’s including all the clergy converted to Rome after the Episcopalians in 1908 approved non-Episcopal ministers preaching in Episcopal churches – the parish limped along for decades after.) I don’t know why l’ECOF have the canonical problems they do; I should think if they’re sound some canonical church could take them in again. In America where the Antiochians run the Western Rite stuff why not go under them?
Hello Deacon Konicki,
Thank you for the posting of the Liturgy Workshop on your blog. From all accounts it was a success.
May I offer you the following information regarding my bio. I am no longer with the Orthodox Church of France (ECOF). Since 2005 I have been attached to the Western European Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate- http://exarchat.eu – under Archbishop Gabriel. This year I will be on canonical leave again to teach English under the aegis of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Iasi, Romania.
Also the parish under ECOF in the Capital Region has ceased to function. Its members have joined other Orthodox parishes in the region.
And finally, this past Aug. 15 I was tonsured as a monk in the Orthodox Church and given the name Gregory. Therefore I am now addressed as Priest-Monk Gregory. However, I am sure that the name Francis will follow me for a long time – an honorable and worthy one it is.
Thanks again, my greetings to Fr. Stanley,
May God continue to bless you,
Fr. Gregory+
Thank you Father Gregory. I wish you many blessings and many years on your entry into monastic orders. I also passed along your greetings. I hope that our Church’s efforts at a dialog with Orthodoxy come to fruition. I believe we have much in common.
@Fr. Gregory (Francis ) DesMarais
Greetings Fr. Gregory,
My name is Fred Eaton IV. My father (Fred III) is friends with Bill Carragan, perhaps you remember me.
My wife and I have left the Roman Catholic Church and have started visiting Orthodox churches in the Syracuse area. We went to St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox church a few weeks ago, but felt a little left out what with the language barrier and all. Today we went to Sts Peter and Paul Orthodox Church and felt much more at home there. I was hoping that maybe you could help us with some answers to make the transition to Orthodoxy.
My email is shropcop@gmail.com. If you could contact me, it would be great.
Many thanks,
Fred