On January 22, 1999, Pope John Paul II promulgated his Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America - The Church in America, calling all members of the Catholic Church to a new evangelization.  In this Exhortation the Holy Father wrote:

"Immigration is an almost constant feature of America's history from the beginning of evangelization to our own day. As part of this complex phenomenon, we see that in recent times different parts of America have welcomed many members of the Eastern Catholic Churches who, for various reasons, have left their native lands. A first wave of immigration came especially from Western Ukraine; and then it involved the nations of the Middle East. This made it pastorally necessary to establish an Eastern Catholic hierarchy for these Catholic immigrants and their descendants. The Synod Fathers recalled the norms given by the Second Vatican Council, which recognize that the Eastern [Catholic] Churches 'have the right and the duty to govern themselves according to their own particular discipline', given the mission they have of bearing witness to an ancient doctrinal, liturgical and monastic tradition. Moreover, these Churches have a duty to maintain their own disciplines, since these 'correspond better to the customs of their faithful and are judged to be better suited to provide for the good of souls'. The universal Church needs a synergy between the particular [Catholic] Churches of East and West so that she may breathe with her two lungs, in the hope of one day doing so in perfect communion between the Catholic Church and the separated Eastern [Orthodox] Churches. Therefore, we cannot but rejoice that the Eastern [Catholic] Churches have in recent times taken root in America alongside the Latin Churches present there from the beginning, thus making the catholicity of the Lord's Church appear more clearly."

Eastern Catholics in the United States

Recently published in June 1999 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on the Relationship Between Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches.  This book provides an overview of the Eastern Catholic traditions and explores the similarities and differences between the Roman and Eastern Churches. . 40 pages, 6x9 inch pamphlet,  $1 plus $1 SH

Later in the Exhortation the Holy Father added:

"In this spirit of communion, it is worth considering a few proposals of the Synod Fathers: ... that catechesis and theological formation for lay people and seminarians of the Latin Church include knowledge of the living tradition of the Christian East; that the Bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches participate in the Latin Episcopal Conferences of the different countries. This fraternal cooperation, while offering valuable help to the Eastern Churches of recent foundation in America, will certainly also enrich the particular Churches of the Latin rite with the spiritual heritage of the Eastern Christian tradition.

The Holy Father concluded his Exhortation stating:

To get to the  Eastern Catholic Spirituality Center and the Mother of God Catholic Church from the Atlanta metropolitan area, take I-285 to Exit #35 East.  This puts you onto I-20 East toward Augusta, Georgia.  Take I-20 East to Exit #82 (one of the Conyers exits) and turn left (north) onto Highway #138 East.  Go on Highway #138 4 miles to the Mother of God Catholic Church on the left (phone: 770/760-1111).  To go to the Spirituality Center travel another ½ mile and turn left onto White Road. The Center is 0.3 miles on the left at 2324 White Rd, Conyers, GA 30012 (phone: 770/922-8885). Information is available at the Welcome Center - Mother of God Catholic Church Book Store and Gift Shop at the Spirituality Center.  Parking is available at both the Church and the Center.