Unequivocally, YES. We are fully Catholic and in union with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, whom we recognize as the visible head of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is a communion of Eastern and Western churches. While most are familiar with the Roman Catholic Church (Western), the Eastern Catholic Churches—such as ours—share the same faith, sacraments, and communion. However, we express them in different ways according to ancient traditions.

The Byzantine Catholic Church is part of the Eastern Christian tradition. Our worship, theology, and spirituality follow the Byzantine Rite, which emerged in Constantinople (formerly Byzantium) and spread to Eastern Europe through the missionary work of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

We celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, dating to the 4th century, along with the Liturgy of St. Basil on certain feast days.

Communion is distributed under both forms—the consecrated Bread and Wine—together using a golden spoon. Here's how to receive:

• Approach with arms folded right over left on your chest (St. Andrew’s Cross).
• Quietly say your first name.
• The priest says:
  “(Name), servant of God, receives the precious and all-holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and for life everlasting.”
• Tilt your head back and open your mouth very wide (do not stick out your tongue). The priest gently places the Eucharist into your mouth with the spoon. Do not close your mouth until the spoon is removed.

There is no spoken response, unlike in the Roman Rite.