Eparchy of Parma

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Family, tradition and friendship were strong themes among the hundreds of pilgrims at the 85th annual pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Maronite Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, New York, was the guest preacher at the closing Divine Liturgy of the pilgrimage, organized by the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. “There is a big difference between a pilgrim and tourist,” Bishop Mansour told the pilgrims. “People are going on a tour to get their money’s worth, that things go right for them. A pilgrim could have the most awful thing happen to them and then offer it up. They recognize that life isn’t only about them. READ MORE.

BURTON, Ohio — About 300 people attended the annual eparchial pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch, Aug. 17-18. The theme for this year’s pilgrimage was, “Rejoice, hope of all.” The pilgrimage began on Saturday afternoon with the lesser blessing of water, followed by Great Vespers with litija and blessing of pilgrims. At the blessing of water, Father Marek Visnovsky, the protosyncellus of the eparchy, said “quenching the spiritual thirst” is what’s important. He encouraged the pilgrims to drink the water and to bless themselves with it. Containers were available for people to take the water home. Vespers were celebrated by Father Visnovsky, with Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma presiding, retired Bishop John Kudrick of Parma in attendance, and Deacon Joseph Hnat serving. Subdeacon Miron Kerul-Kmec Jr., and seminarian Michael Kunitz assisted. READ MORE.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,   The celebration of the golden anniversary of the founding of our Eparchy of Parma is slowly winding down. Throughout this anniversary year, with our spiritual programs and festivities, we have expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings and graces in the past fifty years. At the same time, our great anniversary also motivates us to ponder our future — how do we want to move forward? Growing and advancing is not about starting from scratch, but about taking our cues from who we are and what we have at our disposal, and having the courage to see the future with hope. With this letter, I wish to present to you my vision for our future. READ MORE

PARMA, Ohio — Soon after the start of the new pastoral year Sept. 1, the Catholic Church in the United States will observe Catechetical Sunday Sept. 15. The national council of Eastern Catholic Eparchial Directors of Religious Education (ECED) has issued resource materials to Eastern Catholic parishes across the country in preparation for the launch of their respective Eastern Christian Formation programs this fall. The catechetical theme for all Eastern Catholic Churches in the United States this year is “The Journey to Emmaus,” from the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35). READ MORE.

CLEVELAND — The property of Holy Ghost Parish in Cleveland was sold by the eparchy this summer. Holy Ghost was one of the first Ruthenian parishes to be founded in Cleveland in 1909. It was suppressed in 2009, due to low membership. That same year, Bishop John Kudrick of Parma, now retired, founded the Byzantine Catholic Cultural Center, originally housed in the cathedral complex. He then moved the Cultural Center to Holy Ghost Church and rectory, located in the increasingly trendy Tremont neighborhood, in 2012. However, the church was found to have structural problems and the Cultural Center was re-situated in the cathedral complex and chancery offices in 2015. READ MORE.

DAVISBURG, Mich. — Sacred Heart parishioner Marissa Gross won first place in the Special Needs Class Equestrian Competition at the Oakland County Fair, held in Davisburg, Michigan, July 13. Gross, 26, who has Down Syndrome, began horseback riding eight years ago. READ MORE.