The Eparchy of Parma congratulates and prays for Milan Stipić, the newly appointed Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Križevci, Croatia.  The Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Milan Stipić as Bishop of the Eparchy of Križevci on September 8, 2020. 
Msgr. Milan Stipić was born in Bosanski Novi, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 28 December 1978. In 1997 he continued his formation in the Greek-Catholic major seminary of Zagabria and his studies in the local faculty of Catholic theology.
On 18 October 2003 he was ordained a priest for the eparchy of Križevci. He served as parish priest in Kašt and in Radatovići. In 2007 he became archpriest, and was responsible for the pastoral care of Greek-Catholic faithful in Dalmatia. From 2012 to 2019 he was parish priest in Jastrebarsko. On 18 March 2019 he was appointed as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the eparchy, after the acceptance of the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy presented by Bishop Nicola Kekić.
Besides Croatian, he speaks Russian and Ukrainian.

Source:  http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/09/08/200908b.html

On Sunday, August 16, the Eparchy of Parma made their Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch in Burton, Ohio.  The day was full of prayer and joyful community despite the fact that the program had been slightly amended from previous years due to restrictions around COVID-19.  Although beginning ominously with rain and thunder, the weather cleared up as the day progressed, ultimately resulting in a beautiful afternoon as the sun made its appearance after Divine Liturgy.  The Pilgrimage began at 1:30pm with the Moleben to the Theotokos, led by Fr. Marek Visnovsky and cantored by the nuns of Christ the Bridegroom Monastery.  At 2pm, Fr. Cyril Pinchak, SJ gave a talk on God's love for each one of us and how Mary is our example of how to respond to God's love in our lives.  The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy began at 3pm, celebrated by Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, concelebrated by several priests from the Eparchy, and cantored by Nicholas Lizanich.  The Icon of Our Lady of Klokočov was present for the pilgrimage, and at the end of Divine Liturgy Bishop Milan prayed the Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God of Klokočov (see article below) before the icon.  The Shrine is blessed to have a copy of the Icon of Our Lady of Mariapoch, so both the Icons of Klokočov and Mariapoch were present for the pilgrimage, a wonderful blessing and experience for the pilgrims.  The opportunity for Confession was made available throughout the day by several priests.  The Moleben, talk, and Divine Liturgy were recorded and can be viewed on the St. Joseph Byzantine YouTube channel by clicking here.

The miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Klokočov (prounounced ‘klō,kō-chōv) is historically the first weeping icon out of three miraculous icons in the territory of the Eparchy of Mukachevo. The icon wept in 1670 in the little village of Klokočov, present day Slovakia, to show Mary's protection over the peasants suffering from the war between the Protestant noblity and the Catholic Royal House of Habsburg.  The church in Klokočov, which houses a copy of the icon, is now a pilgrimage site and the Eparchy of Košice is working to renovate the buildings surrounding the church in order to welcome pilgrims. More information about the history of the icon can be found on the Carpatho-Rusyn website by clicking here. 

In 2018, during the pilgrimage to Central Europe hosted by the Eparchy of Parma, Bishop Milan Chautur, CSsR, of Košice, Slovakia, surprised Bishop Milan Lach, SJ with a copy of the image of Our Lady of Klokočov (see picture below). Bishop Chautur said the gift was a sign of the communion and love between the Eparchy of Košice and the Eparchy of Parma.

This year, we celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the weeping of the Icon of Our Lady of Klokočov.  The copy of the icon, that the Eparchy of Parma received from Bishop Milan Chautur, has been housed in a portable protective display case and will be taken to each parish in the Eparchy to be venerated. Please see below for the pilgrimage schedule of the icon for June 20 through August 23. 
 

Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God of Klokočov
 

Most Holy Mother of God, you saved our people from death and destruction in hard times centuries ago. Your weeping and your tears on the icon in the church terrified the enemy and made them flee.

Look at the tears of parents and hear the cry of children who are in danger of family life destruction, and drive away from them the enemy of all love and peace.
Save our families from falling apart and intercede for those who are constricted by spiritual death which is induced by selfishness and sin, especially (insert special intention).

You are our Mother and Protectress in the hard times which still prevail on this earth and which have in various ways jeopardized the happy life of families and the future of humanity.

We ask you sincerely, as the Mother who loves her children, do not allow the one, whose head you trampled on with your faithfulness to God and your heart’s purity, to tread underfoot the dignity of the family in which the faithfulness of the spouses and the purity of their love is the foundation of joy and happiness in their life together.

Forever fend off from us thoughts and ways which are not in unison with the Law of God or our conscience, and which endanger the lives of the unborn as well as the lives and peace of both young and old.

We all dedicate our families to you and we forever wish to remain your children who will never let go of your helping hand or the example of your pure, humble life devoted to God. Provide a firm hand and the necessary strength to all parents so that they might support their stumbling children with their words and example; may they not perish when life weighs them down.

Our Mother, do not abandon us as you did not abandon those seeking rescue from you in the holy church centuries ago. Help us, we pray, to live a life of faith and sacrifice for the good and happiness of our families. Then one day, welcome us into the eternal heavenly family where we will thank you and worship the Godhead three in one for evermore. Amen.