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Last Updated: 30 January 2023

Washington, DC - The 2023 Ecumenism Award of the Washington Theological Consortium, a group of theological schools and seminaries around Washington, will be given to Archdeacon John Chryssavgis on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 7:00 pm in Caldwell Hall of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He will give the Figel Lecture titled "Toward an Ecumenical Outlook: Reviving Foundational Principles of Ecumenism" followed by a reception. Deacon John is an advisor to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, especially on environmental issues. The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required at the Consortium website. Lector Jack Figel, of Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in Annandale, VA, and a longtime member of this forum, sponsors this lecture every year and is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Consortium. When you register online, you can select a virtual option for livestreaming. Register online here:

https://washtheocon.org/wtc_events/2023-figel-address/

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Last Updated: 26 January 2023

ugcc.ua - On January 23–24, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, funeral services were held for the retired Auxiliary bishop of the Philadelphia Archeparchy, John Bura, who passed away on January 17, in Washington, DC. Funeral services were led by Metropolitan Borys Gudziak with Bishops Paul Chomnycky (Stamford Eparchy), Bohdan Danylo (St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma), Bryan Bayda (Toronto and Eastern Canada Eparchy), as well as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Greensburg Larry Kulick concelebrating.

Close to 40 priests — clergy of the Philadelphia Archeparchy, Stamford and Parma Eparchies, representatives of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church in the USA, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox priests joined the prayer.

The Head and Father of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk and the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin sent their letters of condolences. Cardinal Parolin behalf of Pope Francis thanked God for the years of priestly and episcopal service of Bishop Bura, who died in the 52nd year of the priesthood and the 17th year of the episcopacy.

Bishop Bohdan Danylo, during the Parastas on January 23, said that the life of Bishop John was one link in the chain of the history of salvation and compared him to Zacchaeus, whom the Church remembers at this time of the liturgical year. “Bishop John was not the tallest member of our Synod, but like Zacchaeus, throughout his life, he always was searching for God. He wanted to feel God’s mercy and God’s love and then share this gift with others,” emphasized the Parma bishop, who succeeded Bishop John in this seat in 2015. He also noted that the last sermon of the deceased is in the wonderful deep texts of the funeral services.

During the Parastas, Metropolitan Borys thanked Father Robert Hitchens, rector of St. Josaphat Seminary in Washington, DC, where Bishop Bura lived in recent years, for his devotion and care, especially at the time when Bishop’s health deteriorated significantly.

In his remarks, Fr. Robert shared several stories illustrating the character and style of the late Bishop Bura, whom he met upon entering the seminary. “In his office, which is now my office, he made my mother cry because he said I wouldn’t always be able to be home for the holidays. He was teaching about the seriousness of this vocation to be a priest. It is about the service to the people. Not taking the place of problems, but rather being a server and going until you are dead tired, to offer whatever care and consolation and celebration that might be part of the priestly life and serve the people,” shared Fr. Robert. “One of the most important things that he has taught me during our time together is to be humble and to serve the people of God,” said Fr. Robert, recalling a detail that struck him — already seriously ill, unable to perform pastoral ministry, Bishop John kept his emergency sick call kit at the entrance to his apartment in case he had to leave urgently.

In his sermon at the funeral liturgy on January 24, Metropolitan Borys drew attention to the fact that the Church accompanies Bishop John on his last journey at a time when many Ukrainians have the feeling that they are surrounded by death: “Death is a daily painful experience of our people and our Church. The world is talking about death in Ukraine. And Ukrainians say that it is not only about death but about life, about eternity.”

“From his Baptism, having accepted the gift of eternity, being nourished by the Sacraments, he [Bishop John] accepted Christ’s invitation to share this gift — to baptize, to celebrate the Eucharist, to absolve, to wed, to help people understand death, to understand that they are called to live eternally,” said Metropolitan Borys. On behalf of the clergy and the faithful, he thanked the late bishop for the fact that he fully devoted himself to his service, for his modesty and kindness.

In his letter, which was read by Bishop Paul Chomnycky, Metropolitan Emeritus Stefan Soroka, who worked with Bishop Bura who was his auxiliary, also thanked him for his service and support.

“I am most grateful to Our Lord for giving me the opportunity to have shared in a portion of Bishop John’s journey of life, and for his invaluable assistance and guidance. Perhaps the most joyful times for me while living in the Archbishop’s residence in Philadelphia were when Bishop John Bura, Bishop Walter Paska, and I resided together at the residence. A joyful and trusting bond of fraternity was our gift to one another,” wrote the retired Metropolitan Soroka, who was unable come to the funeral.

Toronto Eparch Bryan Bayda in his brief address focused on the art of presence, which Bishop Bura had mastered. He recalled that Bishop John did not speak much during the Synods of Bishops of the UGCC, but he said it best when he said nothing at all. “We give thanks today for times when John was present. For that opportunity to really sense an encounter with the Trinity, an encounter with the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is speaking to you when you have that encounter, when you recognize and underline the presence of somebody else.”

The Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus of the Philadelphia Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church was buried at the St Andrew’s cemetery in Bound Brook, New Jersey, which belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA. “Through this symbol, Bishop John will testify to the end of history about the unity in Christ, about the fact that human sin, discord, and the walls that exist on this earth do not reach the heaven,” said Metropolitan Borys Gudziak.

The need for unity in today’s polarized world was also emphasized by Larry Kulick in his short speech on behalf of the Roman Catholic bishops: “Today, as we commend our brother to the Lord, we know that he sees and understands the fullness of that unity represented in being united with God his creator, with Christ who died for him, and with the Holy Spirit who in this world gave him the breath of life.”

During the burial ceremony, Metropolitan Antony Scharba, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA, joined in prayer. He expressed his condolences to the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the USA and shared several memories about Bishop John, whom he called a man of few words, but who knew how to be close to his faithful.

Click here for story at ugcc.ua with photos and links to videos.

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Last Updated: 23 January 2023

vatican.va - The Holy Father has made effective the following transfers and appointments regarding Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics:

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of the eparchy of Bratislava for Catholics of Byzantine Rite, Slovakia

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Milan Lach, S.J., as auxiliary bishop of the eparchy of Bratislava for Catholics of Byzantine Rite, transferring him from the office of bishop of the Ruthenian eparchy of Parma, United States of America, and assigning him the titular see of Ostracine.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Milan Lach, S.J., was born on 18 November 1973 in Kežmarok, in the archeparchy of Prešov of the Byzantines, Slovakia. He attended the Greek-Catholic Theological Faculty of Prešov. In 1995 he entered the noviaite of the Jesuits in Trnava, and subsequently completed his theological studies in the Theological Faculty of the University of Trnava.

He was ordained a priest in 2001 in Košice.

From 2001 to 2003 he worked in the scientific area of the East-West Centre of Spirituality of Michal Lacko in Košice, and from 2009 to 2011 he served as superior of the same Centre. In 2009 he was awarded a doctorate in Eastern ecclesiastical sciences from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, at the same time serving as spiritual father of the Pontifical Russicum College and spiritual assistant of the Federation of Scouts of Europe in Rome.

Since 2010 he has been a member of the editorial team of the theological journal Verba Theologica.

Since 2011 he has been deputy dean of the Theological Faculty of the University of Trnava, for foreign relations and development.

He was appointed as auxiliary bishop of the archeparchy of Prešov of the Byzantines, Slovakia, on 19 April 2013, and assigned the titular see of Ostracine.

From 2016 to 2017 he was visitator of the Congregation for Eastern Churches of the Eastern seminaries and colleges in Rome.

He was appointed apostolic administrator sede vacante of the Ruthenian eparchy of Parma, United States of America, on 24 June, and bishop of the same circumscription on 1 June 2018.

Appointment of apostolic administrator of the Ruthenian eparchy of Parma, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Ruthenian eparchy of Passaic as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the Ruthenian eparchy of Parma, United States of America.

Appointment of apostolic administrator of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic eparchy of Phoenix, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Ruthenian eparchy of Passaic as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic eparchy of Phoenix, United States of America.

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Last Updated: 15 December 2022

Fairfax, VA - Eastern Christian Publication has published "The Book of Hours", an authentic translation of the Church Slavonic Časoslov including Vespers, Matins, The Hours, Compline, the Canonicon, Troparia of the Year, and Menologion of the Saints.

For information on "The Book of Hours" and how to order it, please visit "The Book of Hours" at ecpubs.com.

For imformation on how to use "The Book of Hours", please visit "Full English Translation of the Ruthenian Časoslóv (Book of Hours) with Videos by Father Jack Custer" at The Byzantine Forum.

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Last Updated: 15 December 2022

By Anna Farrow, Catholic Register Special

December 8, 2022

As a woman of faith, Canadian journalist Laura Ieraci has a pastoral heart — one that can lead her to distant pastures.

Ieraci spent two weeks this past summer filming on location in Hungary for a forthcoming documentary focused on the faith of a gypsy community and the life of a heroic priest. But the gestation of the project started seven years ago as she and her husband, Rev. Andrew Summerson, had a couple of weeks to kill between the end of their studies in Rome and the next stage of their lives in North America. 

When her husband asked her how she wanted to fill the time, Ieraci answered, “I want to go and learn about Mother Church.” Two years earlier, this cradle Roman Catholic from Montreal had married into the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. She wanted, she said, “to see the geography, to eat the food and to hear its chant.” 

By the end of their 2015 trip to eastern Hungary and western Ukraine, Ieraci was already making plans. She told her husband, a Byzantine Catholic priest of the Eparchy of Parma, “One day it would be great if we could organize a pilgrimage for the people in North America.” 

In 2018, with the help of her husband and their bishop, she did just that. She wanted to provide an opportunity for Greek Catholics in North America to learn about the history of their Church and to connect with the physical touchstones, the icons and buildings, of the faith. 

As a journalist, she has an instinct for capturing a story. Then editor for Horizons, the newspaper of the Eparchy of Parma, Ieraci organized things so the pilgrimage could have a small film crew attached. She and her team produced a documentary, From Mariapoch to Mariapoch: A Journey of Discovery, that aired on EWTN.

Click here to continue reading the full story at catholicregister.org.

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Last Updated: 03 November 2022

vatican.va - The Holy Father Francis has granted his assent to the election by the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of the Reverend Andriy Khimyak as auxiliary bishop of the archeparchy of Kyiv, assigning him the titular see of Cuicul.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Khimyak was born on 13 April 1981 in Lviv.

From 1998 to 2005 he received his priestly formation at the Major Seminary of Lviv and, from 2005 to 2008, he studied liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, obtaining a licentiate.

On 9 May 2012 he was ordained a deacon and, on the following 4 November, priest, for the archeparchy of Kyiv.

From 2009 to 2021 he was assistant to the secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Since 2021 he has held the role of secretary of the same Synod.

Since 2011 he has also served as lecturer in the Kyiv Theological Seminary of the Three Holy Hierarchs.

Besides Ukrainian, he speaks Italian, Russian and English. - 2022-11-03