I am tentatively considering seeking permission to change rites and become a Maronite Catholic. I've been reading and studying intensively about the Melkite and Maronite rites over my summer, and I like what I find. As the Middle East has been such an important part of my past and upbringing, I would like to maintain that connection through the liturgy I attend and allow it to nourish my spiritual life.

Unfortunately the Melkite community in Britain is extremely small. There is a Melkite service in London once a fortnight. That's the only one I've been able to track down. The Maronite community has a larger presence. I can forge links with it. It's more practical for me.

I want to know what kind of impact this would have on my vocational discernment. If I changed rites formally, would I be bound to look at Maronite communities only? I can find no information about this on the Internet. I do know that I would be bound canonically to the traditions and customs of the Maronite Church if I changed rites, so that would make belonging to a Latin Rite community very difficult.

I'm Ukrainian Catholic by chrismation at the age of one month. I am still technically Ukrainian Catholic as I have not formally changed rites, even though I have not participated in a Chrysostom Mass in 20 years or so.

If I take vows at Christ in the Desert, that will automatically change my rite. The Abbot would have to get permission from the Eparch of Regina, Saskatchewan to receive that vow. It was in his jurisdiction that I was chrismated, even though I haven't lived in that part of north america in 40 years. So, from what I've been able to gather about my own canonical situation, you would still be free to pursue a vocation in communities of different rites, but you could delay making a formal change until you take vows.

But, I am no canon lawyer by any means. I am just a bear of little brain

I'm not sure if there's different rules for those entering religious life, but my understanding is that you can only change rites once in your life, and that's it! You might want to look into this more to verify, but I'd say be careful before making such a move. I think it would be difficult (but possible) to be part of a religious community that follows different rules than you (esp. in regards to fasting, different feast & fast days, etc.).

You are free to attend a Catholic church of a different rite and receive sacraments there, with no need to change rites. I'd suggest doing that for awhile to help you decide whether you want to make the switch.

My mother is of Maronite origin, although in Spain all we are Romans. To be maronita is more that a religious rite, is something cultural, even racial, my father never adapt them and for that reason they emigrated to Spain and not with others to El Salvador or the USA. Although this is changing, several of its communities are very closed.
The Maronitas returned to the Catholic Church in century XVI and still the differences stay.

Most of the religious congregations they are in Lebanon, although extended in other countries, the congregations do not are closed to other catholics, but I believe that there is no in Uk.

yes, as ruso points out, there is a lot of "denominationalism" among the eastern rites.

Actually the Maronites are the one Eastern church that was never separated from the Catholic Church and the pope. As such, there are no "Maronite Orthodox" churches. Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN is bi-ritual with Latin rite and Maronite rite.

Some of the Eastern churches attempt to prevent "Latinization" meaning preserving their own traditions and culture rather than being influenced by the Latin rite. The Maronites are not like that and in fact, other Eastern churches criticize them for allowing their church to become overly "Latinized". Well my opinion is why can't all the different rites influence each other? Why can't Latin rite churches have more of the beautiful religious icons that we see in the east, for example?

For example I saw a Maronite priest wearing a badge of the Sacred Heart. Some Eastern Catholics would say "that was private revelation that came in the Latin rite so it should be confined to Latin rite churches". Well I think that reasoning does not make sense since if God sends us a message of His love he means it to be for the whole church. They say the same thing about the Rosary, the Divine Mercy devotion, etc.

The Maronites, in my experience, do not tend to be like that and have allowed themselves to be very influenced by the Latin rite, perhaps too much so as to lose some of their own cultural identity. But I think some sharing across the different groups is healthy.

The Melkites you will find on the other hand tend to stick very much to traditions that come from the East and Orthodox churches, and try to avoid any hint of Latinization. They actually have some different beliefs that are more similar to the Orthodox beliefs, but are still in union with Rome. The Orthodox church from which they came is the Antiochan Orthodox. If you want to learn more about the Melkites, check out this site: http://www.melkite.org/. It is the site for the American eparchy (aka diocese) of Melkite churches, and explains a lot about their beliefs and practices.

Lastly, regarding religious communities, I know of some Maronite monks in the US that accept members of other rites. Their site here says "Those wishing to join this Eastern Catholic monastic community are not obliged to become members of the Maronite Catholic Church. If one was baptized Melkite or Latin, for example, he remains Melkite or Latin." So with this wording it sounds like it may be up to each community to decide.

CA, there is a Byzantine OCD monastery here in the States. I freely admit to knowing nothing about the impact of rites. I give the link as a source of information only. They would probably be a good community to talk to. I know they have nuns from two different rites in the community.

http://www.byzantinediscalcedcarmelites.com/

Yes, they have sisters from both the Roman rite and Syro-Malabar rite (not to mention the Byzantine rite). I know of a couple sisters that were in the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel from India that when they came to the United States joined there. So it seems that you can join a community of a different rite without actually being of that rite yourself - though as stated above, it probably depends on the particular community.

For the Monastic Family of Bethlehem, they have a Byzantine rite office and ordinary Roman rite Mass, with some Eastern and Latin hymns/responsorials, etc. They blend the two traditions beautifully!