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STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — The second weekend of September marked a joyous celebration for parishioners of St. Basil the Great Parish with a visit from their recently enthroned Bishop Milan Lach, SJ.
The celebration began with Vespers on Saturday evening. Cantors Larry Hruska and Mike Huddas led parishioners through the service. Bishop Lach preached an uplifting homily on evangelizing and treating one’s neighbors as each person would like to be treated.
Sunday morning began with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Bishop Lach celebrated the Divine Liturgy; the parish administrator, Father Mychail Rozmarynowycz, and Franciscan Father Michael Lenz concelebrated. Deacon Paul Latcha served the liturgy. Adult altar servers Larry Hruska and Mike Huddas carried the bishop’s trikirion and dikirion candles; the young parish altar servers, Joseph, David, Daniel and Jacob, also served during liturgy.
Upon entering the church, as is custom for the visit of a bishop, Bishop Lach was greeted by founding parishioners Beverly and Nicholas Kovalcik, who presented him with bread and salt. He was also greeted with flowers by three young ladies in the parish’s Eastern Christian Formation program: Gabrielle and Sienna McNeal and Mary Shoriz. A beautiful and spiritual liturgy ensued, with cantor Ann Pawluszka leading the parish choir.
After liturgy, the activity moved to the church hall for a welcome reception, organized and sponsored by the St. Macrina Guild. The hall and church were decorated with fall-themed flowers and everyone attending received a prayer card commemorating the event.
The program began with a welcome address by Anita Cipa, president of the St. Macrina Guild. Lori Saunders, representing all the St. Macrina Guild members, presented Bishop Lach an icon of St. Macrina; an inscription on the back of the icon commemorated his visit to the parish. She also gave him a book, signed by all the guild members, on the life of St. Macrina.
Rachel and Grace Pawluszka recited a poem dedicated to Bishop Lach and all priests attending the reception. Cathy Hruska concluded the program with a toast to Bishop Lach, in gratitude for his pastoral visit and wishing him success as the fifth bishop of Parma.
After the blessing, clergy and parishioners enjoyed a buffet dinner prepared by the hall caterer. A dessert buffet, with cakes, cookies and other goodies, was prepared by ladies of the parish.
After his meal, Bishop Lach, along with Father Rozmarynowycz, met with every parishioner at the reception.
Pictures of the pastoral visit are available on the “St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church Sterling Heights Michigan” Facebook page.
Caption: Beverly and Nicholas Kovalcik present Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, with the traditional bread and salt at the start of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Basil the Great Parish in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Sept. 9. (Photo: Cathy Hruska)
As published in Horizons, Nov. 11, 2018.
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