"In the current war against secularism, both lungs are necessary in order to provide enough “oxygen” for the spiritual battle raging in today’s world. 

The Eastern perspective expands the arsenal of the Western Church’s theology and prayer life. So, on the one hand, breathing with both lungs reinforces the Church Militant, but it is also an invitation to broaden one’s horizon through a beautiful encounter with Christ, who is new every morning.” 

Article by:  Deacon Ken Ramsey, 3/1/2015

 The Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople has expressed a desire that Christians in the East and the West begin celebrating Easter on a “unified date” rather than adhere to separate Lenten calendars. 

“Among [the Council of Nicea’s] pivotal discussions was the matter of establishing a common time frame for the Easter festivities,” Bartholomew said. “We are optimistic, as there is goodwill and willingness on both sides.”

Pope Francis has also expressed his intent to reach an agreement to establish a common date for Easter. In 2015, the pontiff said the two churches “have to come to an agreement.”

The pontiff similarly said that disunity is a scandal and joked that Christians could say to one another: “When did Christ rise from the dead? My Christ rose today, and yours next week.”

National Catholic Register

 Pope Francis met with the St. Irenaeus Joint Orthodox-Catholic Working Group

A gathering of Catholic and Orthodox theologians founded in 2004 to study the many challenges in the ecumenical outreach between the Churches,  Pope Francis declared: 

“Your patron, St. Irenaeus of Lyons — whom soon I will willingly declare a doctor of the Church with the title Doctor Unitatis — came from the East, exercised his episcopal ministry in the West, and was a great spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern and Western Christians.” 

The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil go back centuries and we also offer the Liturgy of St. Gregory, Pope of Rome.  We also study all the ancient Eastern Liturgies...including the first Liturgy of St. James, Brother of the Lord and first Bishop of Jerusalem.   The Eastern Catholic Church continues to offer these liturgies which continue to attract traditional and orthodox Catholics.  

When the Cardinal was trying to unite the Roman Catholic Church with the Orthodox, he did so with Papal Privilege and had the authority to ordain priests, consecrate bishops and develop dioceses.  The Cardinal consecrated Metropolitan Archbishop +Amvrosij to continue these efforts.

HIs Beatitude, Metropolitan +Amvrosij, has the jurisdiction of North and South America with dependencies and has over 80 priests working with him.  He was consecrated by over 12 bishops including Catholic and Orthodox and is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church through Cardinal Slipyj and through the Orthodox through the Patriarch (in the Divine Liturgy with Eastern Rite Consecration).  The strategy is to have valid Sacraments from both sides and to be very familiar with both East and West to have better results in unification (East and West are not yet unified but both accept the Sacraments as valid).  In regard to the dependencies, there are also priests in Africa and South America that are promoting these efforts.

As we continue to strive to unite the Church, we are also providing education and training so more clergy and religious will be able to more fully understand the opportunities the Church has to unite.  We have established the Institute for Eastern Christian Studies to further these efforts and have housing for clergy to reside with us for our program which is tailor made for each person.    

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Our mission at the Institute is to teach clergy, religious and seminarians about the Eastern Catholic Churches and how East and West can work together. 

 Ut unum sint (Latin: 'That they may be one') is an encyclical by Pope John Paul II of 25 May 1995. The encyclical talks about how each Catholic should breathe with both lungs which is understanding the Church in both traditions of East and West.  

We are providing clergy, religious and seminarians with an extensive background on the Eastern Catholic Churches so that this will enhance their understanding of the whole Church.  We firmly believe that most western Catholics are underprepared when it comes to understanding the richness that the East can bring to the People of God through the clergy and religious.   

Our programs at the Institute are tailored to meet the needs and education requirements of each participant.  We are teaching our participants to become whole (breathing with both lungs) in their ministry.

We will work with seminarians, priests, religious men and women as we provide individual, group and on-line education.  We also provide lodging, transportation and formation ministry in our programs.  

If someone wants to reach their full potential in the Catholic Church, one has to breathe with both lungs as it requires much "oxygen."  We look forward to hearing from you and may God bless you as you continue deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ and His One Church!  I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Chorbishop +Joel E. Cycenas, M.Div.

Rector