Byzantine Catholics

We are Catholics in communion with the Bishop of Rome whom we recognize as the visible head of the Catholic Church.  Having said that we are "Catholics", must now state that we are not Roman Catholics but Catholics who are identified as being Eastern Catholics.  As Eastern Catholics we share the same faith and sacraments as our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. However, Eastern Catholic Churches also share the identical spiritual and liturgical heritage as their Orthodox Sister Churches.  The Eastern Churches have their own canonized forms of iconography, church architecture, prayer, liturgical worship and chant.  We also have our own Bishops, Eparchies (Diocese) and canon law. The Eastern Catholic Churches came about as the Catholic Faith spread to the various cultures of the world.  In the ninth century the cultures in Eastern Europe were brought to the faith by two Greek Missionaries, Cyril and Methodius.  These two brothers not only introduced the Christian faith to Eastern Europe, they also brought with them the Byzantine Rite or style of worship and spirituality.  Another important introduction was the use of the vernacular or language of the people in the church services.  In the United States, that means we use English in our Liturgical services. St. John the Baptist Parish is part of the Byzantine Metropolitan Church sui iuris, (Self governing).  Our Byzantine Church has its own canon law, particular law, geographic boundaries and hierarchy.  We practice a rite that has its own liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary heritage.  The Byzantine Metropolitan Church is one of the 23 Churches which make up the Catholic Communion of Churches.  The Byzantine Catholic Church is under the leadership of His Eminence the Very Reverend William C. Skurla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh.  A Metropolitan ranks just below a Patriarch and above an Archbishop.  Our Church is centered on the Risen Christ as revealed through the Scriptures,Divine Liturgy and Holy Tradition.  We are a living example that there are many ways of being Catholic.