SMB Students Partake in Nativity Play

Students and teachers from St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic school in Cleveland, Ohio and The Dormition of the Mother of God Parish in Cleveland, Ohio put on a lovely Christmas play to get us ready for the Season. From our children’s hearts to yours: Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Icon of Christ Emmanuel

Fr. Marek Visnovsky recently offered an iconography workshop at Holy Spirit in Parma, Ohio. Participants partook in prayer, discussion, and a hands-on icon writing demonstration, painting the Icon of Christ Emmanuel. Additional workshops will be held in the new year!

Emmanuel means "God with us," and is often used to refer to Christ as a youth. Yet He appears as an adult, showing that He lived and grew up as an ordinary man.

Supporting our Mission Parishes

“Anytime with an institution, organization, any kind of entity like that, it always thrives when it remains faithful to its original charism; the spirit that founded it. The charism of the Eparchy of Parma, the soul of it, is missionary.” -Very Rev. Thomas J. Loya, Syncellus for Missions and Outreaches

During this year’s “Evening of Hope” Gala, we shared the video above. In it, Fr. Tom Loya and Fr. Michael Lee speak eloquently about the movement and shifts they are seeing around our Eparchy, specifically related to our mission parishes:  

Growth. Multiculturalism. Eagerness. Commitment.

The video presentation was followed by a Fund-A-Need which raised $21,255. These funds will directly support the Eparchy’s mission parishes. Thank you for the role you played and these financial gifts that will enable others to go out and spread the Gospel message in the rich tradition of the Byzantine Catholic Church.

This year’s Stewardship Appeal continues to focus on support for our four greatest needs in the Eparchy: the Development of Parishes; Vocations and Seminarian Education; Works of the Apostolate; and Supporting Retired Priests. This includes the following: The Development of Parishes means helping poor parishes with their financial needs and building needs, assisting new missions with basic costs, and other forms of support. If you’d like to support the continuation of this work, please visit:  https://parma.org/stewardship-message2022

2022 #WeGiveCatholic CAMPAIGN SURPASSES GOAL

Thank you for your generous support! Together, we surpassed St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic School's goal and helped raise over $20,000! SMB strives to prepare students for life-long learning by providing a strong academic program, extra-curricular activities, service opportunities, and a Byzantine Catholic religious experience.  This year's campaign will enhance the experience of SMB students, families, and community through field trips, expanded STEM education, improved recess equipment, and enhanced security systems. 

POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS NEW PREFECT FOR THE DICASTERY OF EASTERN CHURCHES

Pope Francis appoints 67-year-old Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio to Great Britain until now, to take the place of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri who concludes his service as prefect having reached the age limit.

THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY OF PARMA'S
"EVENING OF HOPE"

A MEMORABLE EVENING OF FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, GENEROSITY, AND GRATITUDE 

Faith, hope, love, generosity, and gratitude filled the ballroom at the Eparchy of Parma’s “Evening of Hope” Gala, leaving us with vivid memories that are a gift from God.

The 135 guests gathered on Saturday, October 22, 2022, in the beautifully adorned Holiday Inn South events center in Independence, Ohio to celebrate the love of God and to support the Eparchy of Parma’s mission. The “Evening of Hope” featured a delicious meal, singing by students from St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic School, piano music by Caroline Visnovsky and Margaret Burik, a captivating story by the charismatic speaker, Father Jason Charron, a video presentation on our Mission Parishes, and the successful Fund-A-Need.

Father Jason Charron served as the Keynote speaker. Father Jason Charron has been a priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Church since 2008, and currently serves in two parishes, as well as in a bi-ritual capacity with the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Father Jason also serves as a member of the Presbyteral Council of his eparchy, the Eparchy of Saint Josaphat of Parma. Father Jason and his wife, Halyna, are parents to seven children.

The event raised $79,745 in support of the four established eparchial funds for 1) development of parishes; 2) promotion of vocations and seminary education; 3) the eparchial pension fund for priests; and 4) works of the apostolate. The Fund-A-Need was orchestrated by Auctioneer Bob Hale and exceeded its goal of $10,000, by raising $21,255. The Fund-A-Need directly supported the Mission Parishes of the Eparchy of Parma.

A heartfelt thank you is extended by Bishop Milan Lach, S. J. to our sponsors, donors, and guests for supporting the “Evening of Hope.” May God richly bless all our donors and guests who helped create a memorable and successful evening.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 21, 2023, for the Eparchy of Parma’s “Evening of Hope” to be held at the Holiday Inn South, Independence, OH.

Thank you to our very generous sponsors.

Diamond Sponsor

CBIZ
Fedeli Family Charitable Foundation

Ruby Sponsor

John and Elizabeth Budnik
GCU
William and Mary Strippy

Sapphire Sponsor

Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

Opal Sponsor

Eastern Christian Publications
Peter Damian Kopcha
Victor Krevinko
Schnell House Jesuit Community
Edward Sudzina

Jade Sponsor

Anonymous (3)
Sean P. Cronin
Albert and Kimberly Matyas
St. Ignatius Jesuit Community
St. Joseph Men’s Club
Dave and Carol Szucs
Robert Lehman & Marlene Bodecker

For more pictures from this year's event, click here.

TONSURE OF DOKIMOS OLIVIA OF CHRIST THE BRIDEGROOM MONASTERY 

On November 20, 2022, Dokimos Olivia was tonsured as a rasophore ("robe-bearer") nun. During Vespers for the feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple, at Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Parish in Euclid, Ohio, Bishop Milan cut four small sections of her hair as a sign of her deepening commitment to God in the monastic life. She was also clothed in the monastic habit, including the tunic, apostolnik (veil), belt, riassa (robe) and skufia (soft-sided hat). And finally, she received her new monastic name, Sister Onuphria. For a recording of the livestream, click here.

Please pray for Olivia as she enters this next step in her monastic formation and discernment!

BISHOP ATTENDS USCCB PLENARY

From November 14-17, 2022, Bishop Milan attended the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Plenary in Baltimore, MD. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was elected as USCCB president, and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore was elected as vice president. They succeed Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit, who are concluding their terms. A presentation on the War Against Ukraine was given by Archbishop-Metropolitan Borys Gudziak and a sub-meeting of the Eastern Catholic Bishops also took place. For more information, click here.

POPE FRANCIS ON FORMATION FOR THE PRIESTHOOD

To read His Holiness Pope Francis' address to participants in the course for seminary rectors and formators of Latin American, click here. 

BISHOP MILAN VISITS ST. THOMAS MORE NEWMAN CENTER

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, at the invite of Bishop Earl Fernandes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Bishop Milan visited the St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, Ohio, and celebrated Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with the students of The Ohio State University.