BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — Engaged couples who plan to marry in the Byzantine Catholic Church are invited to the Eparchy of Parma’s Pre-Cana Weekend at St. Joseph Parish, 8111 Brecksville Road, April 6-7. The Pre-Cana Weekend is a program in preparation for marriage according to the Byzantine rite. Each day will run from 12:30 p.m.-6. READ MORE.

What does it mean to you to belong to a community? When I consider this question, my mind goes to the many tangible and intangible things that are of benefit to me as a result of this belonging. Certainly the various benefits depend on the type of community to which one chooses to belong, so let us look at our belonging to the eparchial community.There are many benefits to our parish membership, including the celebration of the mysteries, especially that of the Eucharist at every Divine Liturgy. The church provides the Mysteries of Initiation: baptism, chrismation and Eucharist to those who seek to be adopted sons and daughters of God. READ MORE.

LIVONIA, Mich. — The Byzantine Catholic parish in Livonia, Michigan, has recently become a pilgrimage site, aimed at helping pilgrims connect with the Early Church martyrs. Sacred Heart Parish inaugurated a new, unique shrine of many first-class relics, with a particular emphasis upon saints, representing the first five centuries of church history. Six wood-and-glass cabinets, or ambries, were donated by individual parishioners, the Ladies of Sacred Heart and St. Nicholas Institute, to house the relics of the more than 30 individual saints. The relics are preserved in individual, smaller reliquaries. The ambries are located in the two side altars. READ MORE.

WHITING, Ind. — Twelve men from across the Midwest Region of the Eparchy of Parma gathered to consider God’s call in their life during a men’s retreat at St. Mary Parish Dec. 28-29. Jesuit Father Cyril Pinchak, originally from Cleveland and currently studying at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, led the retreat. The theme of the retreat centered around the Biblical figures of Jesse, David and Joseph, in light of the liturgical celebration for the Sunday after Christmas. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — Father Charles Strebler of the Diocese of Cleveland succeeded Father Martin Celuch of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, as the judicial vicar of the Eparchy of Parma last fall. Born in Akron, Ohio, Father Strebler entered Borromeo Seminary, the college seminary of the Diocese of Cleveland, in 1985, right out of high school. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — The chancery has hired a new full-time finance manager. Matthew McDonald began in his function in mid-December. McDonald grew up in Fairview Park and Olmsted Falls, Ohio, both on the west side of Cleveland. He earned an associate degree in graphic design and worked in the field for a few years, before returning to school to earn his bachelor’s degree in business management, with a focus in finance. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — The Eparchy of Parma has been awarded $145,000 from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions for 2019, the largest grant yet for the eparchy from this grant-making organization. The eparchy submitted an application for the maximum permitted, $125,000, in its three usual project areas: Horizons and Horizons Press, $60,000; Byzantine Catholic Cultural Center, $40,000; and the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch, mission parishes and outreaches, $25,000. READ MORE.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The annual Bringing America Back to Life Convention will be held at the Embassy Suites in Independence March 8-9. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma will attend. The pro-life convention, organized by Cleveland Right to Life, will feature 18 speakers from across the country. READ MORE.

Natalie Martha Loya, a Byzantine Catholic laywoman dedicated to promoting the message of Our Lady of Fatima throughout the United States, died Jan. 15; she was 92. Known to family and friends as Martha, she was born March 21, 1926, in Clymer, Pennsylvania, to Father John and Elizabeth Loya. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a field then dominated by men, from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1948. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — The seldom seen Eastern Catholic treasures of Rome will be the focus of Horizons’ May 13-22 pilgrimage in celebration of the Eparchy of Parma’s 50th anniversary. Pilgrims will join Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, Horizons editor Laura Ieraci, and chaplain Father Andrew Summerson, all of whom studied in Rome for several years. READ MORE.

WASHINGTON — Byzantine Catholics from the Eparchy of Parma and their bishop were amid the sea of marchers at the 46th National March for Life in Washington Jan. 18. Among them was a small contingent from Ohio, led by Dr. Susan A. Gallagher of St. Mary Parish in Marblehead. “Our time was short. Still, we decided that it was of paramount importance as Byzantine Ruthenian Catholics to march in Washington on behalf of the unborn children,” she said. READ MORE.

PARMA, Ohio — In commemoration of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States in 1973, Holy Spirit Parish held its annual Pro-Life Moleben and March to the Tomb of the Unborn in the parish cemetery Jan. 18. New to the pro-life gathering this year was a Divine Liturgy before the moleben. About 70 people participated, among them numerous Roman Catholics as well. READ MORE.

BEDFORD, Ohio — After serving the Byzantine Catholic community south of Cleveland for 68 years, St. Eugene Parish held its final liturgy Jan. 13. About 90 people attended. The few remaining parishioners were joined by dozens of other people who had been parishioners at St. Eugene’s at one time in their lives. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Former pastor Father Joseph Repko, current administrator Father Bruce Riebe and Deacon Gregory Loya concelebrated. READ MORE.

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — The Acts of Kindness Club at St. Joseph Parish has set out to promote National Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 17-23. “We are really talking about ‘acts of Jesus’ here,” said pastor Father Bruce Riebe. “Be sure and take part.” Father Riebe said the club was inspired by a parishioner at his former parish, St. Mary Assumption Parish in Joliet, Illinois, now closed. READ MORE.

On the first Sunday after Theophany, we read about Jesus’ first public proclamation of the Gospel. He arrives as in the prophecy of Isaiah: “The people… in darkness have seen a great light” (9:2). In that moment, Jesus made known that he was the fulfillment of all prophecy. Then Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). READ MORE.

CHICAGO — The annual Stewardship Appeal of the Eparchy of Parma has raised about 60 percent of its $250,000 goal as of Jan. 29. The total funds received were $144,664 at the end of January, and about another $9,500 was received as pledges. Of the total monies received, about $7,500 were from donors who are not affiliated with a parish. The appeal began in November and will run until Easter, though people may make a donation until the end of June. Funds from the appeal will support health insurance for the retired priests of the eparchy, youth and marriage ministry, seminary formation and support for active priests, including the recruitment and immigration of younger priests from abroad. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — The Eparchy of Parma’s 2019 “I Believe” Stewardship Appeal has raised 25 percent more at its halfway point this year compared with last year. In 2018, the appeal had raised $91,458 by the end of January. This year, the campaign has raised $122,487, as of Jan. 7. Donors can still give to the campaign, whose “I Believe” theme is linked with a yearlong, eparchy-wide adult faith education program, until June 30. READ MORE.

PITTSBURGH — The Greek Catholic Union (GCU) gave its support to the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Sts. Cyril and Methodius once again this year, with the presentation of a $110,000 donation to Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla of Pittsburgh Dec. 9. GCU president and CEO George Juba made the presentation at the 62nd annual St. Nicholas Charity Dinner at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Center in Munhall, Pennsylvania. The GCU has donated $3.26 million to the seminary since 1960. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — Experience the universal Catholic Church — both East and West — at its very heart, with Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma, on Horizons’ 2019 pilgrimage to Rome in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Eparchy of Parma. The May 13-22 pilgrimage will highlight the Byzantine Catholic aspects of Rome, often unseen on usual tours of the Eternal City. READ MORE.

EUCLID, Ohio — One of three seminarians for the Eparchy of Parma was ordained a deacon Dec. 27. About 60 people gathered at St. Stephen Parish to witness Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma ordain Nathan Adams to the diaconate. “Approaching the diaconate is a humbling experience,” Deacon Adams told Horizons Media. He said the diaconate elicits for him the ideas of “servanthood” and “martyrdom.” He asked for prayers, as he offers himself in service to the eparchy, that he will develop “in holiness and service to the church.” READ MORE.