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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 5/19/2008


Question
Father Johnson,

If a person who was baptized and confirmed in the Melkite Catholic Church wanted to receive their First Communion in a Latin Catholic Church (without changing Rites) is there anything official that they would need to do? (Please provide references to Church Law if available)

Also if they did want to change Rites how would they go about doing it?

Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi, Todd:
Thanks for the questions.
Of course a Melkite Catholic is confirmed at the same time as his/her baptism; and I thought that the Holy Eucharist was also given at the same time to complete the Sacraments of Initiation, if even only under one form, that is, a few drops of the Precious Blood from the chalice...
I am quite certain that one need not change Rites in order to receive Holy Communion in the Latin Church, even if it be "First Communion."
For changing Rites, refer to Canon 112 in the 1983 Latin Code of Canon Law;
Paragraphs 2 and 3 are "sui juris" (by the Law itself, surrounding matters pertaining to marriage and family relationships); whereas paragraph 1 is to petition and obtain permission from the Hole See directly.
of course one will always need to go through the processes in place in jurisdictions where these things are apt to happen with some frequency due to the close proximity of the Eastern and Latin Churches in the same territories...

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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