Visiting Our Parish
Are non-Catholic visitors welcome?
Absolutely! We have many visitors of all types to our parish and you are most welcome to join us in worship. Even if you're just curious to experience something new please come in!
Do you have parking? Where do I enter?
We do not have a parking lot but there is street parking in the neighborhood. You can enter the church one of two ways. There is a side door facing out on Highview Road. Just walk in and you'll be in our church hall where bathrooms are available for use. Once you're ready to enter the sanctuary for the service just walk up the stairs near the restrooms. The other entrance is our front door up the steps facing Linden Avenue.
As a first timer I'm nervous, what should I do?
First off we get a lot of visitors with no experience in our liturgy and church traditions so no one is going to bite your head off. Just being with us at our liturgical celebration is great, you don't have to do much more than stand when we stand and sit when we sit. If you feel compelled please sing along with us as we chant the liturgy. The green books in each pew can guide you and parishioners will be happy to point out where we are in the service. We have coffee and light fare in the hall after liturgy each Sunday, we would love for you to join us if you're able!
Do you offer the sacrament of Confession?
Absolutely! Confession is an integral part of properly preparing to partake of the Eucharist at Liturgy. Confession is offered 1 hour before the start of the liturgy and stops about 15 minutes before we begin the celebration.
Can I bring children?
Most definitely. Our entire parish of all ages worships together. We do have a nursery/cry room at the entrance of the church if you'd like to use it but it's not necessary. We've already seen it all :)
I'm a Roman or other Eastern Catholic, can I receive communion at Patronage?
Yes, any Catholic who is properly prepared may partake of communion at our church. Attending our church will also count as your Sunday obligation.
We distribute communion in both species (body and blood) on a spoon. Simply come up to the priest, open your mouth, and allow him to place it in your mouth. You do not need to cross yourself or say "Amen."
I am not Catholic, am I able to receive communion?
Catholics believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Out of respect for our tradition we humbly ask that those who have not been received into the Catholic faith not take the Eucharist. Visitors are very welcome to come forward at the end of services to the icon displayed at the center of the iconostas (gate separating the altar from the main part of the church) to receive blessed bread (Antidoron) laid out on a wooden plate. Additionally for feast days a special blessing from the priest called "mirovanje" is open to everyone in attendance at our church. You'll see this happen when people line up again after communion at the end of the service and the priest will brush a small amount of blessed oil on the forehead. You can simply walk up, the priest will say "Christ is among us," and you can say "Indeed He is among us" or say nothing at all. The priest will then apply the oil and you can return to your seat (if you have bangs that cover the forehead you can just hold them to the side so he can apply the oil)
What are church services like at Patronage?
Our church celebrates the Liturgy of our Holy Father Saint John Chrysostom. The tradition of our church comes from the Carpathian region of Central Europe which is famous for it's "plainchant." The entire congregation sings the liturgy together without instruments. You can head to our music section in the menu for a sample recording.
What language are church services in?
Services at our church are in English (with occasional hymns and liturgies in Old Church Slavonic - the precursor to modern Slavic languages like Russian and Ukrainian). While our tradition comes from the Carpathian region of Europe the Byzantine Catholic Church is a fully American church which welcomes any and all ethnicities - celebrating in the main language of the parishioners.