St. Eugene Parish closes its doors after 68 years

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.

At a meeting with parishioners Oct. 1, Bishop Lach had announced that the parish would be closed after years of declining membership and no more services would take place at the church.

However, a final liturgy was organized to give community members the opportunity to say farewell.

Many in attendance recorded the liturgy or took photos for remembrance.

Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma preached about the salvation that God offers and the importance of preserving faith in one’s heart.

Preaching about the day’s Gospel, in which Jesus first proclaims the Gospel publicly, he said God offers everyone salvation freely through the death of Christ on the cross. People only need to accept salvation and their lives will be changed.

The bishop also spoke of the persecution of Christians in Eastern Europe under communism, when people were not allowed to worship in their churches. But they “preserved God in their hearts,” he said, concluding: “I encourage you to preserve your faith in your heart.”

After the final blessing, Bishop Lach addressed the congregation again. He paraphrased Scripture, saying that there is a season for all things.



“As a shepherd it’s not easy to make this step (to close the parish). This is not the first church and I know it won’t be the last in our eparchy we need to put in order,” he said, noting that other Catholic dioceses in the United States have had to close parishes as well.

He recognized the parishioners present, as well as the faithful from other parishes who had received their sacraments at St. Eugene’s.

“This is the last liturgy but not our last meeting,” he continued.

The bishop expressed gratitude for all of the priests who had served there. They included: Fathers Joseph Bodnar (1951-52), John Romanack (1952-55), Andrew Parvensky (1955-57), Myron Horvath (1957-61), Nicholas Ivan (1961-70), George Kuzma (1970-72), Sebastian Szabol (1972-79), John Rabovich (1979-85), Donald Petyo (1985-92), Gary Francisko (1993-96), Joseph Repko (1996-2015), Andrey Kovalenko Smith (2016-18), and Bruce Riebe (2018-19). The parish boasted two church vocations: Father David Petras and Basilian Sister Margaret Ann Andrako.

“With all honor and respect, I appreciate all founders and benefactors,” he added. He repeated that it was not easy to close the parish, and thanked God that there are other parishes close by. He encouraged St. Eugene parishioners to “find your new parish.”

According to the parish history published in the Eparchy of Parma’s 40th-anniversary book, St. Eugene Parish was founded in January 1951, by Bishop Daniel Evancho. He responded to a request to establish a church in the southeastern suburbs of Cleveland after the area was canvassed for Byzantine Catholics. At the time, 35 families petitioned to have a church built.

Later in 1951, a Lutheran church on Friend Avenue in Maple Heights was purchased by the exarchate. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated at this site July 29,1951.

In 1957, parishioners decided to build a church. Bishop Nicholas Elko broke ground for the new church five years later at 264 Warrensville Center Road in Bedford. In 1964, the new church was blessed and dedicated, and parishioners paid off the mortgage under the leadership of Father George Kuzma.

The church interior was remodeled in the 1970s. An icon screen was installed and Eastern Christian Formation classrooms were added. In the 1980s, a new illuminated outdoor sign was purchased. In the 1990s, the icon screen was refurbished, and the rectory was remodeled.

But in recent decades, the parish population had been shrinking, Bishop Lach told the congregation Jan. 13, and a decision was taken to suppress the parish. He said the decision was not made in haste.



“I appreciate your efforts over the last year to save this parish, but as you know that is not possible,” he said.

“I am with you; I pray for you; I am always open to listen to you,” he continued. “As a father, I have to listen to my children. As a shepherd, I need to listen to everybody and to have time for you because you are precious, not the buildings. You are precious because you are eternal souls, souls destined to live forever.”

After liturgy, all were invited to the parish hall for refreshments and fellowship. Bishop Lach stayed until the end of the event to meet and speak with the people.

Many in attendance expressed their sadness at the closing but realized the necessity. Barbara Zaborowski had been a parishioner for 31 years; she returned for the farewell “with mixed feelings.”

Karen Bobik said she felt sad for her parents; her father had been a trustee at the parish.

Parishioner Mike Potoma, 89, told Horizons, “I opened this church and I’m closing it down!”

Steve Donaldson Jr. said his mother was baptized at St. Eugene’s. He said the church is beautiful and he “always wanted to stay here,” but he has found a new spiritual home at St. Joseph Parish in Brecksville.

Laurel A. Tombazzi, of St. Emilian Parish in Brunswick, was baptized at St. Eugene’s.

“As demographics change, in addition to other factors, our family understands how population shifting ... plays a part in whether a church remains open. What is important is that our Byzantine faith goes beyond a building,” she said, “making reference to the call of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 to “go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”

Information on the canonical suppression of the parish is forthcoming.

Laura Ieraci contributed to this report.
 
Caption 1: Sunlight streams into the empty church of St. Eugene Parish, after its final liturgy Jan. 13. Founded in 1951, with 35 families, the church in Bedford, Ohio, was completed in 1964, and the interior, with its magnificent mosaics and icon screen, was remodeled in the 1970s. The parish was closed due to low membership.
 
Caption 2: Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, flanked by Fathers Joseph Repko (left) and Bruce Riebe, addresses the congregation after the final liturgy at St. Eugene Parish Jan. 13.
 
Caption 3: The mosaics of Theophany and Pentecost adorn the far ends of the icon screen of St. Eugene church above the two side chapels, where parishioners could light candles for their prayer intentions.
 
(Photos: Reen Nemeth)
 
As published in Horizons, Feb. 10, 2019.
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