CHARLOTTE — St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Mission has been raised to the status of parish by Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma. Bishop Danylo made the announcement during his pastoral visit and celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) on March 18.
The community was established in 2006, and persevered without a resident priest for a decade, noted pastor Father Joseph Matlak. “The elevation of the community to parish status recognizes their perseverance in faith and enduring love for the Church. The parish is focused on evangelization and mission, and seeks to make disciples of all people by the proclamation of the Gospel. The community hopes to raise funds for a traditional Eastern-Byzantine church to adorn the city of Charlotte and to welcome everyone to an encounter with the Risen Lord.”
St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish meets at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. It is an Eastern (Byzantine) church in full communion with the pope.
The parish has also recently planted two new missions: one in the greater Greenville, S.C., area and the other in the greater Columbia, S.C., area. Dormition (Assumption) of the Mother of God Eastern Catholic Mission in Greenville meets at St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church in Greer, S.C., and Holy Cross Eastern Catholic Mission in Columbia meets at Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in Blythewood, S.C.
To learn more about St. Basil the Great Parish, go to www.stbasil.weebly.com.
To learn more about the new missions, go to www.colabyzcatholic.weebly.com (Columbia) and www.dormition.weebly.com (Greenville).