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SOLON, Ohio — St. John the Baptist Parish has turned to two martyred bishops for their intercession in reviving the small faith community. About 30 people attended an evening celebration at the church for the reception of the relics of Blesseds Paul Gojdich and Basil Hopko July 23.
Father Frank Firko, former postulator for the bishops’ cause of canonization and pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was the keynote speaker. He brought literature about all three martyred bishops, including Blessed Theodore Romzha of the Eparchy of Mukachevo, Ukraine, as well as large icons depicting the lives of the bishops.
“This parish is praying for support from above” to keep it open, Father Bruce Riebe, parish administrator, told those gathered. Father Dennis Hrubiak, who celebrates Divine Liturgy at the parish regularly, also attended.
At the suggestion of a parishioner, Father Riebe wrote to Metropolitan Archbishop Jan Babjak, SJ, of Presov, Slovakia, asking for the relics, so that parishioners could pray for the martyred bishops’ intercession for their intention. The archbishop readily agreed and sent the relics.
Father Firko’s keynote followed a moleben to the Mother of God. He said Metropolitan Archbishop Stephen Kocisko of Pittsburgh opened the causes for the bishops’ canonization in the United States in 1986, because the Slovak Greek Catholic Church was under communism at that time; he assigned Father Firko as postulator. Father Firko said his job was to gather information about the bishops.
“We did our best and got a lot of testimony,” he said, “and continued on asking Mary’s intercession.”
One miracle attributed to the intercession of each of the blessed bishops is still necessary to declare them saints. He urged those present to pray for these miracles, so that the bishops can be canonized and venerated throughout the entire church. Two miracles have been attributed to Bishop Romzha; the first was not documented but the second, in Argentina, was, he added.
After the fall of communism, Metropolitan Archbishop Judson Procyk of Pittsburgh decided to hand over the canonization causes to their eparchies of origin, said Father Firko. This move helped to promote the cause; within a year, the three bishops were named “blessed.” Father Firko remains the U.S. contact for the cause.
Father Firko brought his own relics of the three bishops, which the people venerated at the close of the moleben. A reception and fellowship followed the program.
Caption: Father Frank Firko, former postulator for the canonization of the three bishops martyred under communism in Europe, speaks to the congregation at St. John Parish in Solon, Ohio, during a ceremony to welcome the bishops' relics July 23. (Photo: Reen Nemeth)
As published in Horizons, Aug. 25, 2019.
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