Eparchial Newsletter
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http://eparchy-of-van-nuys.org/
Vol.
IX, No 4 July - September,
2000
Right
Reverend Wesley Izer, SDB is relieved
of his responsibilities as Administrator of St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic
Church in Los Gatos, California, effective September 1, 2000.
Reverend
R. Anthony Hernandez is appointed
Administrator of St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Los Gatos,
California, effective September 1, 2000.
Deacon
Richard Wortman submitted his
resignation as Deacon of St. Philip the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church in
Sacramento, California. His Grace
Bishop George accepted his resignation and placed him on inactive leave
effective September 5, 2000.
Andrew
Bodnar of Holy Protection Church in
Denver has been accepted for ordination to the Diaconate
The Pastoral Center for the Eparchy
of Van Nuys will move to 8105 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, Arizona on October 2nd. The newly renovated offices for the Bishop
and his staff are located on the Pro-Cathedral grounds in the building that
once housed the Sun Catholic Credit Union. The former Pastoral Center will be
converted into a library and heritage center for the Eparchy.
The reasons for this move are
to make the Pastoral Center more visibly independent of the Pro-Cathedral
offices as well as to better utilize the space for displaying items of cultural
and religious value. The Library will
also be housed in the old Pastoral Center and will be available for those
wishing to do reading and research in our Eastern spirituality and
history. The Heritage Center and
Library will open once books have been catalogued and the displays arranged.
Eparchial
Calendar
Byzantine Catholic Seminary
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Reverend Stephen G. Washko
St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Holy Resurrection Monastery
Newberry Springs, California
Holy Resurrection Monastery
Newberry Springs, California
Mt. Angel Seminary
St. Benedict, Oregon
Oct. 25 Eparchial Clergy/Religious
Evening of Gratitude
Honoring Bishop George
Phoenix, Arizona
Evening of Gratitude
Honoring Bishop George
Phoenix, Arizona
Teens Attend Rallies
Teens from the Eparchy of Van Nuys recently attended 2 rallies: the Southwest Vicariate Youth Rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico in late July, and the first-ever National Byzantine Youth Rally, Jubilee 2000 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania in late June.
A total of 35 Byzan-Teens and their chaperons attended the second Southwestern Vicariate youth gathering, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Albuquerque. Participants came from that parish, as well St Stephen Pro-Cathedral (Phoenix), St Thomas (Gilbert AZ), St Melany (Tucson) St Gabriel (Las Vegas), Our Lady of Wisdom (Las Vegas), and St Nicholas (Fontana CA). Father Robert Pipta, Administrator of St Gabriel and Vocation Director for the Eparchy, and Fr. Chris Zugger of OLPH were the speakers and presenters. Fr Joseph Hutsko of St. Nicholas parish assisted by leading the Divine Praises and helping with Confessions.
Prayer, in addition to the Divine Liturgy, included the Divine Praises of the Third and Sixth Hours and Compline, also a Moleben for Healing and another for Vocations, a Penance Service and Night Prayer by candle light. Meals were donated and served by adults of the parish, and parish families opened their homes to participants.
Talks covered topics on discipleship, Byzantine youth prayer, and relationships with self, others and God.
Fun time included a tram trip up the mountain, an outing to Old Town with a trip to the Jubilee Church of San Felipe, and Gooney Golf.
The evaluations from the retreat were unanimous in wanting
another youth gathering, for a longer period of time, and embracing both
spiritual topics and contemporary issues. The next gathering will be at St
Stephen Pro-Cathedral in 2001.
The Uniontown rally, which took place at Mount St. Macrina on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Basil, drew over 300 youths plus adult chaperones and clergy. Van Nuys diocese participants were over 45 in number.
In addition to the talks given by nationally-known speakers, Matthew Kelly and Mary Beth Bonacci, the youths heard talks from local clergy and religious on Liturgy, Scripture and Evangelization.
The fun part of the weekend included a dinner-dance cruise on the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, songs and sharing around evening bonfires, and team sports.
The
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall with
Metropolitan Judson M. Procyk as Celebrant and the visit to the Seminary in
Pittsburgh were listed as highlights of the trip by many teens.
Church Goal Actual
Albuquerque $22,800.00 $13,450
Anaheim $21,000.00 $21,000
Anchorage $14,400.00 $17,298
Denver $10,800.00 $1,750
Fontana $5,600.00 $5,940
Gilbert $8,200.00 $5,345
Italo-Greeks $7,800.00 $9,675
Las Vegas $18,400.00 $18,440
Los Gatos $4,600.00 $6,100
Olympia $7,200.00 $7,287
Phoenix $29,000.00 $29,000
Portland $3,200.00 $3,210
Sacramento $7,600.00 $7,637
San Diego $16,800.00 $12,005
San Luis Obispo $9,200.00 $9,980
Seattle $16,000.00 $19,575
Spokane $8,000.00 $1,125
Tucson $13,000.00 $13,000
Van Nuys $21,400.00 $25,505
____________ _________
Total $245,000 $226,917
Father Anthony Hernandez
First Hispanic Priest Ordained
Father Anthony Hernandes was ordained a priest at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Santa Clara, California on August 17, 2000. His Grace, Most Reverend Basil Schott, OFM, Eparch of Parma, celebrated the Hierarchial Divine Liturgy of ordination, in the absence of Most Reverend George M. Kuzma, Eparch of Van Nuys. Father Hernandez is the first Hispanic priest ordained for the Byzantine Church.
Concelebrating with Bishop Basil were Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Wesley Izer, SDB, Protosyncellus of Van Nuys Eparchy; Archimandrite Januarius Izzo, OFM, Msgr. John J. Sweeney, Pastor of Our Lady of Peace; and Rev. William O’Brien. Rev. Robert Pipta served as Master of Ceremonies.
A procession of clergy and religious began the services. Over 750 family, friends and parishioners of Our Lady of Peace and St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church witnessed the ordination. The choir from St. Basil’s sang the responses for the Liturgy and the Ordination.
Bishop Basil gave the homily, stressing the importance of the virtues and prayer in the life of a priest and of the faithful.
Father Anthony has served as Deacon at St. Basil Byzantine Church for the last year and as Director of the Catechetical Formation at Our Lady of Peace for 20 years.
A reception in the church hall followed the ordination.
On Saturday and Sunday Father Anthony celebrated his first Divine Liturgies at St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Los Gatos, California, a suburb of San Jose. Two hundred parishioners, family and friends were in attendance. A dinner-reception hosted by the parish followed both Liturgies in the parish hall.
Bishop Basil, Mrs. Consuelo Hernandez and Father Anthony Hernandez with his family and clergy.
The second intensive summer Session for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh took place at Byzantine Catholic Seminary in late June. All 21 candidates who had enrolled the first year returned from Pittstbugh, Parma, Van Nuys, and the Romanian Eparchy and spent two weeks studying, praying, and enjoying each other’s company.
In addition to the classes during this time, the chapel reverberated with the sound of chant and prayer as the group joined their voices in the Divine Liturgy, Matins and Vespers. An opportunity to experience the variety of prayers in our church occurred on Sunday with the chanting of Compline. An appreciation for prayer and its richness was expressed as the highlight of the program by many of the candidates.
When Metropolitan Judson joined the candidates for lunch
one day, he learned how the classes have affected their lives and that of their
families in a very positive way.
The instructors for the 2 weeks included Fr. David Petras, Fr. James Spontak, Deacon Valerian Michlik, Fr. Elias O’Brien, O.Carm. Fr. Timothy Ferguson and Fr. Andrew Campbell OSB.
Luke Mark Bell received the Holy Order of Deacon at the hands of the Most Reverend George M. Kuzma in St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral in Phoenix on August 9, 2000 at the evening Liturgy.
Right Reverend Wesley Izer, SDB, Protosyncellus of the Eparchy of Van Nuys, was the main celebrant of the Liturgy. Concelebrating with him were Very Rev. Stephen Washko, Rector of St. Stephen; Rev. William Skurla of Tucson; Rev. Joseph Hutsko of Fontana, California; and Rev. William O’Brien. Rev. Mr. R. Anthony Hernandez served as Deacon.
Additional priests in attendance included Rt. Rev. Francis Vivona, Rev. Nicholas Zachariadis, Hegumen of Holy Resurrection Monastery, Rev. Philip Acquaro, Rev. Alexei Smith and Rev. David Logan.
Following the liturgical services a “Wine and Cheese Reception” was held in the church hall for all in attendance.
Deacon Luke will be returning to Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon for his final year of studies. He has been a student there for the past 3 years.
Metropolitan Judson and the Bishops of the Byzantine Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh initiated a special year of prayer for vocations during the Labor Day weekend September 1 to 3. Beginning at the Sisters of St. Basil Uniontown Pilgrimage with its focus on vocations to the priesthood and the religious life, this year of prayer will include many special programs of prayer and encouragement for vocations. The Council of Hierarchs will issue a pastoral letter to this effect. Later in the year the “Called by Name Program” will be instituted in every Byzantine Catholic parish in the United States.
The Shrine in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help located on the
property of St. George Byzantine Catholic Church in Olympia, Washington opened
on Friday, August 19 with the enthronement of the Icon at the Shrine altar
followed by Vespers. With this simple act the first Pilgrimage for the faithful
of our Eparchy in the Pacific Northwest began. Father Kurt Burnette of St.
Irene Byzantine Catholic Mission in Portland, Oregon celebrated Vespers with
Mitred Archpriest Joseph Stanichar of St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic
Church in Seattle, Washington delivering the homily. Following Vespers a social was held in the Parish Hall.
Matins was celebrated at the shrine on Saturday morning despite a light
rain. After Matins there was an opportunity
for Confessions. The rains stopped as
it became time to begin the 10:30 AM Divine Liturgy. Mitred Archpriest Joseph Stanichar, representing His Grace,
Bishop George who was absent due to poor health, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy. Abbot Neal from St Martin
Benedictine Monastery in Lacy, Washington preached the homily. Over 250 Catholics from our Byzantine
parishes of the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, California and New Mexico were
joined by many Roman Catholics in honoring the Mother of God.
The Akathist to the
Mother of God was celebrated by Father Michael Durka of St. George Byzantine
Catholic Church at 2:00 PM under a light sprinkle with well over 100 persons in
attendance. The Pilgrimage ended with
the procession of the icon back to the church.
New Annunciation Hall - Anaheim CA
The building of the parish hall, patio, bell tower, and the parking lot near completion.