Bishop Lach accepts Parma appointment as 'will of God'

PARMA, Ohio — Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, will be enthroned as the fifth bishop of the Eparchy of Parma during a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist June 30. He succeeds Bishop John Kudrick, whose resignation was accepted by the Vatican May 7, 2016.

Bishop Lach’s appointment as eparch was announced June 1. Up until then, he had served as apostolic administrator, an appointment he received June 24, 2017.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, will preside at the enthronement liturgy. Archbishop William C. Skurla of Pittsburgh will be the main celebrant.
Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, said he has received his appointment as the fifth eparch of Parma as “the will of God.”

“We ask in the Our Father that the will of God be done,” Bishop Lach told Horizons. “I believe that this (appointment) is the will of God and I accept it, to do my duties as bishop and to shepherd my flock with the help of our priests and deacons.”

Last June, Pope Francis had appointed Bishop Lach, then auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Presov, Slovakia, as the apostolic administrator sede vacante of Parma. His appointment came after Archbishop Skurla had already served as the administrator of Parma for more than a year.

Bishop Lach said the new appointment “does not change anything for the faithful.” The spiritual care and guidance he offered prior to his appointment will continue. 

From a canonical point of view, however, the appointment grants full powers of episcopal governance, as canon law places limitations on an administrator regarding certain ecclesial matters, including parish closures and mergers, the alienation of property and the reorganization of diocesan structures.

Byzantine Catholic faithful, both in the United States and in Slovakia, took to social media to express their joy and congratulations to the 44-year-old bishop upon hearing about the appointment.

Bishop Lach was born in Kezmarok, Slovakia, in 1973. In 1992, he was admitted to the Greek Catholic seminary in Presov and, in 1995, entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Trnava, Slovakia. He continued his studies at Trnava University and also studied at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, where he obtained a master’s degree and a doctorate. In 2009, he began working at the Center of Spirituality East-West of Michal Lacko in Kosice, Slovakia.

He was ordained a deacon of the Society of Jesus Nov. 11, 2000, and was ordained a priest July 1, 2001. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Presov and titular bishop of Ostracine April 19, 2013. He was ordained as auxiliary bishop of Presov and titular bishop of Ostracine, June 1, 2013.  

The faithful are invited to attend the June 30 enthronement in Parma, though tickets are required. Tickets are limited, so those unable to attend may watch the enthronement live on social media.

The Eparchy of Parma was erected Feb. 21, 1969. Currently, the eparchy encompasses Ohio (except the eastern border counties), Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

For free tickets to the enthronement or for up-to-date information on the live stream, go to www.parma.org.
 
Caption: Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, celebrates Divine Liturgy for Pentecost at the Church of St. Anthony the Abbot in Rome, two weeks before being named the fifth bishop of Parma. (Photo: Pavel Vavilin)
 
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