Byzantine liturgy shows Catholic diversity

- CNS photo/ James Baca Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg (centre) presides at a divine Liturgy June 18 during the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City.

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Quebec City

The diversity of the Catholic Church was on display with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy June 18 at the International Eucharistic Congress.

Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg, the metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, celebrated the two-hour Byzantine liturgy inside a packed hockey arena adjacent to the Expo Cite grounds that was transformed into a "eucharistic city" for the June 15-22 congress.

"From the many priests, deacons and laity here today, we have heard prayers chanted in Greek, Arabic, Ukrainian, Spanish, French and English," Huculak said in his homily.

"Later we shall hear them chanted in Slovak, Hungarian and Romanian as well, just as some of the languages in which this ancient Divine Liturgy is celebrated throughout the world.

"Indeed, in this celebration of the Divine Liturgy we experience the great diversity of the people of God," he said. "But, as we heard in the Letter to the Ephesians, we are united in one faith, one Baptism, one God and father of us all."

Eastern churches

While many people identify the Catholic Church only with the Latin rite, almost 30 churches that celebrate Eastern liturgies are in full communion with Rome. The Byzantine liturgy is closer to that of Orthodox churches, and Eastern rite priests are allowed to marry.

At a news conference following the liturgy, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, host of the congress, said most of the pilgrims present would have found the Divine Liturgy a new experience.

"We had an example of the wedding between heaven and earth," he said.

The liturgy provides insight into how the Catholic faith is universal and crosses cultures, he said.

In his homily, Huculak tied the diversity to the unity about which Jesus spoke in the Gospel when he said, "That they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you."

"This unity with our loving God is fundamental to our spiritual identity," he said. "It was the purpose for our creation, and it remains the goal of our existence."

Huculak was joined at the altar by Ukrainian, Slovak and Melkite bishops.

He acknowledged that the diversity in the body of Christ has sometimes become a reason "to treat our brothers and sisters unfairly, to denigrate, to shame."

"Even the very celebration of the holy Eucharist has at times been made a point of division, rather than a time to behold the glory of the Lord Jesus," he said.

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