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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma. Like other milestones, this is an occasion to look back and celebrate the past, and look forward to plan for the future.
The Eparchy's future is marked by one thing above all: hope. I say this with certainty because the Eparchy's future has the same foundation as its past: Jesus Christ. What better foundation is there?
The mission of the Eparchy is the same as it has always been: to proclaim the Word of God - Jesus Christ - in our Byzantine Christian tradition, and to serve you, the faithful, on your journey with the Lord. Everything in the Eparchy must be directed toward this. We must strengthen our parishes and missions to better serve the faithful throughout the 12 states of the Eparchy. We must continue to form our priests and clergy to help them better minister to the faithful. We must prepare a new generation of priests to serve for the next 50 years. And we must expand and improve our ministries to help bring people closer to God.
Our Church has a wonderful future, which will be realized through evangelization and reaching out with ministries such as youth ministry, family ministry, religious education and catechesis. Of course, like any family (or diocese!), our Eparchy has challenges - but these are an opportunity to grow in faith! Let us not be anxious about the challenges, but embrace them with faith and confidence, and build the Eparchy's future with hope. It is my deepest wish as your bishop that we will be partners in this.
The Eparchy's Annual Appeal provides critical support for the Eparchy.The pie chart on the next page outlines how the proceeds of this Appeal will be used - to support active priests, missionary priests with families, future priests, parishes, missions, and ministries. I ask for your prayers, fasting, sacrifice, and support - spiritual and material - for the Eparchy, and in particular for this Appeal. I pray you will be generous as we build our future together. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Please be assured that I am celebrating the Divine Liturgy every Sunday and on major feast days for you, together with our priests, deacons, and sisters. You are precious to me. May God bless you!
Gratefully yours in Christ,
✠ Most Rev. Milan Lach, SJ
Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma