Almost 20 bishops and archbishops from across the country – including Cleveland Bishop Nelson Perez, Toledo Bishop Daniel Thomas and Columbus Bishop Robert Brennan -- gathered on June 22 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians.
Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh was the main celebrant of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is the equivalent of the Mass in Roman Catholicism. Deacons and altar servers assisted at the Liturgy.
Cardinal Leonardo Sardi, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, traveled from the Vatican to preach at the Liturgy. His office oversees and assists the 23 Eastern Churches that, along with the Roman Catholic Church, comprise the universal Catholic Church. All of these Churches are in communion with the pope in Rome. The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is a Ruthenian Church, which is one of the 23 Eastern Churches.
The Byzantine Eparchy of Parma was established by Pope Paul VI on Feb. 21, 1969. The eparchy included Ohio – except for the eastern border counties – and all states to the west until 1982, when the western Eparchy of Van Nuys was established. The Eparchy of Parma now ministers to about 8,000 Ruthenian Catholics in Ohio (except the eastern border counties), Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Bishop Milan Lach, SJ was enthroned on June 30, 2018 as the fifth bishop of the eparchy.
“Happy birthday,” Cardinal Sardi said to those gathered at the cathedral. “We are remembering in this Liturgy those who went before us and offered their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ. May he bless them all and their families,” the cardinal said.
He reflected on some of the difficulties those in the Eastern Church have endured over the years, especially in Europe as they struggled to keep their faith in the wake of wars, border changes for many countries and communism.
“Jesus is still alive in your hearts and community thanks to them and thanks to you,” he said. “I think of them as stars in the sky.”
The cardinal also noted that in the paschal mystery of Jesus, we know heaven opened itself so Jesus could ascend. He invited the faithful to give thanks for the gift of freedom they can enjoy in this country, reminding them that it came with a price.
The Liturgy, which lasted more than two hours, was filled with chanting, singing and incense. Several times the faithful chanted, “God give him many years, God give him many years, God give him many blessed years,” when the pope, cardinal or other Church leader was mentioned.
Bishop Lach made remarks after the Liturgy, telling Cardinal Sardi that “believers from 12 states in the Midwest and beyond, Canada and Europe traveled to be here with you as a representative of the Holy Father.” The bishop presented an icon to the cardinal and thanked the priests, bishops, nuns from Christ the Bridegroom Monastery in Burton and the faithful for their contributions to the eparchy.
“Without you, I could not do anything,” he said.
Also attending the celebration was Msgr. Walter Erbi, charge d’affaires and an apostolic nuncio representative; newly enthroned Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Archeparchy of Ukrainian Catholics of Philadelphia; Archbishop Fulop Kocsis, Archeparchy of Hajdudorog, Hungary; and Archbishop Jan Orosch, Archdiocese of Trnava, Slovakia. Bishop Lach is a native of Slovakia.
Other bishops attending included Bishop Jacob Angadiath, Eparchy of St. Thomas, Elmhurst, Illinois; Bishop Kurt Burnette, Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey; Bishop Bohdan Danylo, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat of Parma; Bishop Gerald Dino, retired bishop, Eparchy of Phoenix, Arizona; Bishop John Kudrick, retired bishop, Eparchy of Parma; Bishop Basil Losten, retired bishop, Ukrainian Catholic Church, Stamford, Connecticut; Bishop Marian Andrej Pacak, CSsR, Slovak Catholic Eparchy of SS. Cyril & Methodius, Toronto, Canada; Bishop John Pazak, Eparchy of Phoenix; and Bishop Milan Sasik, bishop of Mukachevo, Ukraine.
After the Liturgy, the cardinal, archbishops and bishops posed for a group photo in front of the altar screens before heading to the church hall for prayer, lunch and a viewing of a short video produced by the eparchy reflecting Ruthenian Catholicism.