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ECGRNA.
WHO?
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It is quite possible that you may have never heard about this Corporation and its difficult acronym. It stands for Eritrean Catholics of the Geez Rite in North America. It enjoys the recognition of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and it is a registered Corporation with the District of Columbia since August 2002. It embraces all local communities of Catholic Eritreans in the United States. One of the goals of the corporation is the establishment of
a Geez Rite Eparchy for the faithful in North America,
a need which is long
overdue, but which seems not taken in serious consideration by
the proper authority. The active presence of such a Geez
Rite Hierarchy
would add to the rich American Catholic heritage with the tradition
of this ancient Oriental Church. It would foster a greater understanding
and mutual acceptance between the American ecclesial authorities
and the Eritrean Communities, reach out to its youth and so insure
the future of the rite in North America, would act as a bridge
to the other Christian Eritrean communities in US as well
as promote
a cooperation with the initiatives of the various Eritrean Communities.
Our experience shows how at times even people working at some Chanceries
have never heard of the Geez Rite, have some doubts about its catholic
roots, and in general do not offer much help in the pastoral care
of the members of our rites. So ECGRNA has set for itself a huge
task. |
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The corporation has so far called for annual congresses held in some of the largest cities in the United States, like Chicago (2002), Dallas (2003), Seattle (2004), St. Paul-Minneapolis (2005). This year the congress will be held in Washington DC, Aug. 25-26, 2006. It will be preceded by a three day retreat for the Eritrean Clergy at the Loyola Retreat House, Faulkner, MD. Besides, the Congress itself will be opened to all Eritrean Catholics in North America, a first step forward. Last year in Chicago the Eritrean Clergy had a chance to have their first retreat together as a group to which four priests from the United States, and two visitors participated. Other priests working in the United States could not make it for various reasons. Congresses are good occasions of revival for the hosting community and an awakening call to the sleeping groups. It is hoped that this call encounters the interest of the Catholic Eritreans at the grass root levels. It is hoped that the outcome of this first Congress in Washington will inspire other similar congresses at regional and provincial levels. |
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| Eritrean Catholics in Toronto were kindly invited to be part of the ECGRNA, and, in fact, they did participate in one or two congresses as observers and invited guests. Up to now, though, they have yet to formerly adhere to it. It is a generally feeling that we should first have a sister organization of our own with parallel goals and interests for Canada. This calls for the establishment of a network of local communities in the main cities with a lager Eritrean concentration. At present communities in Winnipeg (Manitoba), Windsor, Kitchener, Ottawa, Toronto (Ontario) and Montreal (Quebec) are set on firm footings. A monthly meeting with Mass, Rosary, Bible study sessions are part of the commitment. | ||||
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