www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Bishop changes in Metropolia of Pittsburgh & Elsewhere

May 7, 2016

The Holy Father has made the following appointments which are announced today:

Has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino from the pastoral governance of the Holy Protection of Mary Eparchy of Phoenix;

Has appointed as his successor Most Reverend John S Pazak C.S.s.R., bishop of the Eparchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Toronto, Canada; He remains the temporary administrator of the Eparchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.


Has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend John M. Kudrick from the pastoral governance of the Eparchy of Parma;

And has appointed Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla Apostolic Administrator
of the Eparchy until a new bishop is appointed.

Additionally, The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Eparchy of "St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego" of the Chaldeans, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jamma, in accordance with canon 210, para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches, and appointed Bishop Shlemon Warduni, auxiliary of Baghdad of the Chaldeans, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same eparchy.

Many years,

Neil

May God grant many years in health and joyful retirement to His faithful servants, the High Priests John, Gerald, and Sarhad - three shepherds who will be greatly missed!

Many years,

Neil

Many years to our retired Bishop Gerald and our new Bishop John!

So if I have this straight, Bishop Gerald is being replaced with a bishop from outside of our church?

Is this common?

hawk

Bishop John was ordained a priest by the former Bishop of Parma, Bishop Emil of blessed memory. I believe the he is bishop of the Ruthenian Church in Canada, though they do go by Slovak Catholics there instead of Byzantines.


Good question. IDK.

I would not call the Slovak Eparchy in Toronto outside our church. They are descended from Mukachevo via Presov and are one with us. Bishop John has been coming to Uniontown for many years.

I understand that we're both descended from Mukachevo, but we're also a sui juris church; I had thought that bishops generally came from their own churches, unless there were no choices available (OK, now that I put it like that, I understand that there is a near-unanimous disinterest in the episcopacy among our priests . . .)

hawk

The Church, and its laws, are both champion and adherent of traditions but not its slave. Consider that Chrysostom was born in Antioch and a presbyter there before being chosen to be Archbishop of Constantinople. And even today, according to law, at the least ANY Catholic (regardless of particular church membership) eligible for episcopal ordination or already so ordained, can be elected Pope of Rome.

And the boundaries and constituencies of those Sui iuris churches, who drew them, who decided Mukachevo, Presov, Hadudorog, and Krizevci should be separated? Not us. The Slovak Eparchy of Toronto is us, that is the point I am trying to make. I don't care what some Italian Cardinal says or did or wrote in the Pontifical Annual.

I believe the Slovak Geek Catholics are a very small group. Much smaller than the Ruthenians. Maybe this is the first step to combine the Slovak Greek Catholics with the Ruthenians.

But I would have thought to put Bishop John in Parma. There are many more Eastern European in the Cleveland area. I think it might be a better fit. But what do I know.

In the announcement it did not say Bishop Kundrik retired. It said he resigned. Why the change in words?

The Slovaks and Rusyns are already combined. The Rusyns in Slovakia are under Presov. The Slovaks in the US are under Pittsburgh.

The canonical term is resignation whether for health, age, or other reason.

Who are the likely candidates for the Eparchy of Parma? Could priests like Fr Tom Loya or Fr Bryan Eyman be considered?

I spoke to Fr. Bryan about it and he feels he is extremely unlikely as a candidate. I haven't asked Fr. Tom but I only recently met him.

The question I have is this; are there any Parma Priests who are WILLING to be the Bishop?