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Bishop’s
Appeal Sets Record
The annual Bishop’s Appeal is a huge success this year breaking the $200,000 mark the first time since its inception. Sixteen of the nineteen parishes and missions reached their goals for a total of $229,765.00 with 72% of the eparchial households participating. The projected goal for the appeal was $242,600.00. The rebates to the parishes will total $60,654.00. The three parishes not meeting their goals showed a marked improvement over last year’s returns.
Most of the Appeal monies are earmarked for a special fund to help the churches with short-term emergency loans. It is Bishop George’s goal to have this fund set at $500,000.00 before he retires as Bishop next July.
When asked his reaction to the news of the record income from the Appeal, Bishop George stated, “I rejoice at the news and thank our parishioners for securing the future of our Eparchy. I thank them for their generosity and ask the Lord to bless them with the graces and gifts they are in need of.”
Bishop’s Appeal Final Report
(July 20, 1999)
*Albuquerque (Zugger) $11,825.00
Anaheim (Vida) $21,800.00
Anchorage (Greskowiak) $16,718.00
*Denver (Hutsko) $ 5,455.00
Fontana (Izer) $ 6,200.00
Gilbert (Acquaro) $ 8,202.00
Italo Greeks (Vivona) $ 7,815.00
Las Vegas (Pipta) $17,330.00
Los Gatos (O’Brien) $ 7,200.00
Olympia (Durka) $ 6,200.00
Phoenix (Washko) $29,480.00
Portland (Burnette) $ 3,500.00
Sacramento (Izzo) $ 5,385.00
*San Diego (Rybarczyk) $10,290.00
San Luis Obispo (Idranyi) $ 8,200.00
Seattle (Stanichar) $21,525.00
Spokane (Logan) $ 8,025.00
Tucson (Skurla) $11,800.00
Van Nuys (Moran) $22,815.00
TOTAL $229,765.00
*Parish not making goal
Eparchial
Appointments
His Grace Bishop George has announced the following pastoral assignments:
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Deacon John Miller is relieved of his responsibilities as Deacon at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Gilbert, Arizona due to age and health concerns.
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Deacon Douglas LeClair with the permission of his Ordinary, the Most
Reverend Thomas O’Brien of Phoenix, is granted diaconal faculties and assigned to minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Gilbert, Arizona.
ByzanTEENS Seek the Desert Oasis
ByzanTEENS and their chaperones from St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral, Phoenix, Arizona; St. Thomas the Apostle, Gilbert, Arizona; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Albuquerque, New Mexico converged on St. Gabriel Church in Las Vegas on the Memorial Day weekend, and found an oasis of prayer, fun and friends in the desert. St. Gabriel Church hosted this event.
35 ByzanTEENS and their chaperones traveled on Saturday into the Mohave Desert of California to become part of the life of prayer at Holy Resurrection Monastery. They were welcomed by Father Nicholas and the monks. Brother Maximos welcomed the youth to this “Factory of Prayer,” and encouraged each one to “take home...some of the factory’s materials.” A Moleben for Vocations followed. Brother then told of the humble beginnings and growth of the Monastery under the Protection of the Mother of God, “Searcher for the Lost.” Father Nicholas pointed out main vocational choices available to youth including monasticism, which he emphasized as a life of prayer made easier in the desert where there are fewer distraction.
Quiet time allowed for personal reflection, and the Holy Mystery of Penance was made available. The day concluded with Vespers. This was a first monastic experience for many of the ‘TEENS.
The ByzanTEENS joined the entire St. Gabriel community for Sunday Divine Liturgy. In his homily, Father Robert Pipta of the hosting parish commended the ‘TEENS for their desert trip “where they could more easily experience the goodness of God and one another.”
In the afternoon, the entire group assembled at MGM Grand Theme Park for an afternoon filled with thrilling rides, stunt shows, and shared community camraderie.
Parastas was sung Memorial Day morning. The ByzanTEENS received the Travelers’ blessing before departing from church. They also received prayer ropes as a special present from their hosts.
All accommodations for the ByzanTEENS were provided by the parish
families of St. Gabriel the Archangel Church and Our Lady of Wisdom Italo-Greek Mission in Las Vegas.
Deacon Course Begins
Deacon candidates from across the United States assembled at SS. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh for the first Metropolia Diaconal Program. Stephen Casmus, Joseph Wargacki, and John Montalvo from the Eparchy of Van Nuys were among the 21 students participating.
This year is the beginning of a four year academic and formation program that will consist of a two-week intensive summer program at the Seminary in the month of June. These summer courses will be followed by a program of guided reading and written papers through the rest of the year.
Three academic classes were held each day Monday through Friday with two sessions on Saturday. Course taught were Theological Foundations, Introduction to Moral Theology, Introduction to Byzantine Spirituality, Introduction to Scripture, Introduction to Liturgy, Church History. On Saturdays classes in Liturgical Chant and Services were taught. The candidates were also introduced into the Church’s rich liturgical life with the celebration of Compline, Matins and Vespers along with Divine Liturgy.
Those participating from our Eparchy are (see photo, left to right) Stephen Casmus of Our Lady of Wisdom in Las Vegas, Joseph Wargacki of St. George in Olympia, and John Montalvo III of St. Stephen in Phoenix.
Catechists Enjoy Recollection
Twenty catechists from the three Arizona parishes enjoyed a Day of Recollection at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Gilbert on Saturday, June 12th.
The Reverend Philip Acquaro, St. Thomas’ Administrator, directed the day. In his first presentation “Teaching as Jesus Did”, Father stressed the affirming nature of Jesus in His contacts with all sorts of people. The afternoon talk brought out how effective Christ’s parables can be for the faith-sharing that is basic to catechesis.
Parishioners from St. Thomas hosted the event and supplied the noon meal and snacks for the group. The day concluded with a Moleben for the intentions of the catechists.
Uniontown Pilgrimage
The annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will take place Labor Day Weekend (September 3-6) at Mount Saint Macrina in Uniontown, PA. The Pilgrimage is an opportunity for the Christian faithful of our Metropolia to gather in prayer, reconciliation, reflection, and fellowship as we prepare to end one millennium and enter into the next.
Italo-Greek
Mission Opened
Archpriest
Wes Izer
blesses
the new mission. |
The Right Reverend Archimandrite Wes Izer, SDB opened the newest church in the Eparchy of Van Nuys, Our Lady of Wisdom
Italo-Greek Mission, on July 14th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Assisting Father Wes were the Right Reverend Francis
Vivona, Mission Administrator, and the Reverend Robert Pipta of St. Gabriel Church in Las Vegas.
Witnessing the simple and brief service were the parishioners, friends, and benefactors of the Mission. |
The Community prayed a service in honor of the Mother of God led by Father Francis who preached a short homily reflecting on the years leading to this day when the Mission would have a permanent home. Father Wes spoke at the end of the service and added the congratulations of Bishop George and the Eparchy. He encouraged the people to keep their eyes focused on Jesus Christ in order to proclaim the Gospel and evangelize the local area.
The Italo-Greek Mission was established by Bishop George in 1993. For the last six year, the Mission has been celebrating Divine Liturgy in a number of places, most recently at St. Gabriel 25 miles to the southeast of the new site. In 1997a piece of land was purchased by the Mission on the corner of Lindell and O’Bannon just one block north of Sahara in Las Vegas’ west side. The Mission’s 30 family paid the $100,000 mortgage off in one year! In 1998 the Mission purchased a modular bank building and converted it into the new mission church. The Italo-Greek Community is working hard to raise money to pay its mortgage for the site improvements and its new church.
Congratulations to Father Francis and the Italo-Greek Community!
Seminary Advisory Board Meets
The
Seminary Board at a recent meeting on the front steps of the Seminary
The
Advisory Board of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary gathered on May 6 and 7 for its spring meeting. All twenty appointed members—five from each Eparchy—and the three ex-officio members were present. The purpose of the Board is to support the seminary in its effective work and to generate ideas and plans for the improvement of the seminary so it can continue to be an outstanding center of learning, serving the entire Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh.
Board members worked in Committees to focus on specific issues, prioritize needs and formulate recommendations which are offered to the Council of Hierarchs, the governing Board of the seminary, for its consideration, deliberation and decision. A major objective of all the committees is to prepare the seminary for accreditation and thereby offer graduate degrees. The Institutional Planning Committee led by Father Edward Cimbala of Jessup, PA. focused on seminary recruitment. The Committee on Student and Academic Affairs led by Father Kurt Burnette of Portland, OR examined ideas for programming and staffing. The Development and Finance Committee chaired by Attorney Michael Krenicky of Kimberton, PA had a major role of determining short and long-range plans for securing funds to operate the seminary.
The Board also had the opportunity to meet with the Council of Hierarchs to share mutual concerns and exchange ideas regarding the seminary and its future.
At the business segment of the meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Betty Ravak Shovlin, the Board elected two members to the Executive Board. They are the Very Reverend Gerald Dino, Protosyncellus of the Passaic Eparchy, and the Right Reverend Wesley Izer, SDB, Protosyncellus of the Van Nuys Eparchy.
The Advisory Board invites all interested people of the Metropolia to offer suggestions for ways that the Byzantine Catholic Seminary can continue the fine aspects of the seminary program and grow to become a truly significant center of learning for the entire Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh.
Denver Celebrates Silver Anniversary
Holy Protection Church in Denver celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 18th with a Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving followed by a banquet at a local hotel. Over 100 parishioners, clergy, and religious gathered in the Church for the Liturgy celebrated by the Right Reverend Archimandrite Wes Izer, SDB, Protosyncellus and representative of Bishop George.
Concelebrating with Father were the Reverend Joseph Hutsko, Pastor, and former pastors Reverend John M. Dorich and Stephen Washko. Both in his homily and his reflections at the banquet Father Wes reminded the parishioners of their responsibility to ensure the future by evangelizing and growing as a faith community resulting in Holy Protection being the Mother Church to a number of new churches in Denver.
Byzantine Catholic Seminary to Mark 50th
Anniversary
The Year 2000 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, PA. With the impending celebration being planned, an effort is under way to locate all those who have studied at the Seminary for any length of time. If you are a former seminarian or know of some one who studied at the seminary, please send the name, address, telephone (and fax) number, e-mail address if available to: Father Richard Lambert, 506 Saline St., Pittsburgh, PA 15207 or FAX to: (412)422-3624.
Eparchial
Calendar
July 6-9 - Inter-Eparchial Liturgical Commission, Phoenix, Arizona
July 14 - Our Lady of Wisdom Mission
Simple Blessing of Church
July 20 - Bishop’s Appeal Due
Aug. 2-13 - Pastoral Center Closed
Aug. 16-19 - Inter-Eparchial Liturgical Commission, Pittsburgh, PA
Sept. 3-6 - Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Uniontown, PA
Oct. 3 - 75th Anniversary of Pittsburgh Metropolia, Pittsburgh, PA
Oct. 4-5 - Seminary Advisory Board Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA
Oct. 9-11 - Pilgrimage to the Mother of God, Holy Resurrection Monastery, Newberry Springs, CA
New
Metropolitan Evangelization Commission Meets
Initial meeting of the Metropolitan Evangelization Commission
with Most Reverend Basil Schott, OFM. Sister Barbara Swindells Eparchy of
Van Nuys, Bishop Basil, Father Batcho and Father Oravetz. Suitable
guidelines for evangelization will be set up by the group to consolidate the
efforts of the individual eparchies.
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