Married Priest - A-OK

Been a few years since I last posted...

Have a new pastor. His wife I've seen, but not met. His kids and mine seem to have hit it off.

One of the things that can be a real shocker for many Roman-Rite Catholics is that the Eastern Catholic Churches even exist. Then, they are confronted with "strange masses," "odd vestments," and married priests. Some are even driven into denial...

Rev. Fr. Mikhailo "Michael" Sidun (Михайло Сідун) is a Ruthenian Catholic Priest, from Transcarpathia, Ukraine. He is a married priest, and has been a priest for 8 years; his oldest child is older than that. See, the rule is that no ordained man may get married, but a married man might be ordained.

His joy in the liturgy is infective. Sure, as a Ukrainian transferred to the US, he's got some English issues - but his English is better than my Russian, so I shan't complain.  But he loves his job, and it shows.

I bring him up because he's emblematic of the surge of faith within the Ukraine. In the Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church have full seminaries, and a good number of celibate clergy, but also a large and holy array of married clergy... Deacons and Priests, both. The Ukraine is producing clerics who love the liturgy, love the church, and love God. Men who will point out what you did right, not what you did wrong, until you ask. Many of whom are also husbands, parents, and scholars.

We need to remember: As Catholic Christians, we are both suffering sinners, and lamps for the light of Christ. We should go to Mass, Divine Liturgy, the Quorbono, the Qurbana, etc., with gladness, joy in our hearts, and appreciation for God's mercy. And, when confronted with the Rev. Fr. Michael's of this world, be VERY thankful for them!

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!