The appointment was announced today of Bishop William Charles Skurla as the new Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan of Pittsburgh.

The Metropolitan-elect was born in 1956 in Duluth and was ordained priest in 1987. He served as Bishop of Van Nuys from 2002 to 2007 and has been the Bishop of Passaic since 2007.

Ad multos annos!

many years. Notice that no replacement was named.

Indeed, may God grant him many years!

As for the absent news of a replacement for Passaic, I'm not surprised this was a singular announcement. It seems logical that the Metropolitan first be appointed, as it would seem appropriate that Rome give the new Archbishop a chance to ponder recommendations. The amount of time it took to get here, however, might suggest that a full plan could have been developed and approved.

Many years! Met him once at Metropolitan Nicholas' 50th anniversary at St. John's in Perth Amboy in 2009. It was remarkable as he was vested and given a place of honor opposite in the nave from Archbishop Demetrios. https://picasaweb.google.com/11328162611...725984034127778 https://picasaweb.google.com/11328162611...726962230935074

May God grant Metropolitan-elect William many blessed and Spirit-filled years!

I would be very surprised if Bishop Gerald did not return to the East Coast...

All praise and glory to God!

Many years.

I pray that my skepticism is proved wrong, although I do not expect it. Everything I understand of Metropolitan-elect William tells me that the liturgy isn't going to be changing as a result of this, and that is all that I truly care about in terms of this appointment.

This was one of the benchmarks I set in terms of my future in the Ruthenian Church.

God grant Metropolitan-elect William many blessed years!

May God grant Metropolitan-elect William many blessed years!

Just a question - I note that the new Metropolitan was not educated at the BCC seminary in Pittsburgh, but rather ...'he completed his theological studies in the Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC, and in the Vincentian Seminary of Palmerston, Pennsylvania. His religious training was supervised by the Byzantine Franciscans Order of Friars Minor, in which he ordained to the priesthood May 23, 1987. He was Director of Vocations for the Franciscan Friars of the Byzantine Monastery of the Dormition in Sybertsville' (from the original link.) Is that the norm?

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pope names Byzantine archbishop for Pittsburgh archeparchy. Archbishop-elect William Skurla, 55, of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, NJ, will be enthroned April 18 at 2 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Munhall.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12019/1204588-100.stm#ixzz1jwAqO3wa

Many years.

The article states that the Pittsburgh Eparchy(Ruthenian) is the only self governing Eastern Catholic Church in the US. If I recall correctly, when the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine recently had a vacancy in the position of its leader, a Synod was convened and a nominee was presented for formal acceptance by Rome. I don't recall the Pittsburgh Eparchy having any such procedure with this, or any prior, vacancy. Are there 'self governing churches' who have greater 'rights' than do others? It seems as if the Ukrainians at least followed some of the historical processes of an Eastern Church in this matter. Why the difference?

The vast majority of our priests are trained in Pittsburgh but you will have one here and there that go elsewhere.

Yes. Patriarchal/Major Archeparchial Churches' elect their own bishops. Metropolitan Churches submit a list of three and the Pope appoints one. Why? Good question.