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PARMA, Ohio — Father Martin Celuch of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, was named judicial vicar of the Eparchy of Parma last October, succeeding Father Nick Rachford.
He was born Nov. 15, 1975, in Bardejov, Slovakia, and entered seminary in Kosice, Slovakia, in 1994. In 1999, upon the invitation of the bishop of Youngstown, he came to the United States. He finished his studies at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he earned a master’s of divinity (2002), and a bachelor’s of theology (2003). He was ordained June 14, 2003, by Bishop Alojz Tkac in Kosice.
He returned to the United States and was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Nicholas Parish in Struthers, Ohio. He was incardinated to Youngstown in 2007, and was appointed as an advocate at the tribunal. He earned a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America, and was appointed a judge on the Youngstown tribunal in 2011. He is currently adjutant judicial vicar and pastor of Christ Our Savior Parish in Struthers.
Father Celuch said his main responsibilities for Parma include the transfer of rites, annulments, and being a canonical advisor to the bishop. He is in the eparchial offices every Friday afternoon.
“Even though I came from Slovakia where the Byzantine community is very strong, it was the Eparchy of Parma that introduced me to the richness and beauty of the Eastern rite,” said Father Celuch. “By working at the eparchy, I have discovered many hidden gems of the Catholic faith expressed by the Eastern Churches.”
Father Richard Bona of the Diocese of Cleveland joined Parma’s tribunal in January as an ecclesiastical notary, which entails “offering canonical advice, drafting requested documents and verifying the veracity of official papers,” he said.
Father Bona is of Hungarian origin but hails from Bratislava, Slovakia, where he began his seminary studies. He completed seminary at St. Mary Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio, and was ordained for Cleveland in 2003.
After serving in parish ministry for eight years, Father Bona studied canon law at the Catholic University of America.
He earned a licentiate in 2014, and is currently completing his doctoral dissertation. He works full time at the Cleveland tribunal as an auditor, assessor and associate judge.
Father Bona said he is “very glad to work and help the eparchy” as it gives him “a chance to learn more about the Ruthenian Church in the United States.”
Caption 1: Father Martin Celuch of Youngstown is the new judicial vicar for Parma.
Caption 2: Father Richard Bona of Cleveland is a new ecclesiastical notary on the Parma tribunal.
As published in Horizons, April 15, 2018.
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