CHICAGO — Father Charles Strebler of the Diocese of Cleveland succeeded Father Martin Celuch of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, as the judicial vicar of the Eparchy of Parma last fall.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Father Strebler entered Borromeo Seminary, the college seminary of the Diocese of Cleveland, in 1985, right out of high school. He entered St. Mary Seminary in 1989. At that time, the seminarians for the Eparchy of Parma also studied at St. Mary Seminary, said Father Strebler, and he befriended Father John Keblesh of Parma, now deceased.
“I traveled many years with him, before and after ordination, to the Uniontown pilgrimage,” Father Strebler recalled.
Father Strebler will celebrate his 25th anniversary of priesthood this year; he was ordained May 28, 1994.
In addition to his undergraduate degree, Father Strebler holds a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio, and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He is currently pastor of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Parish in Avon Lake, Ohio, and continues his work for the tribunal of the Diocese of Cleveland, which was his primary assignment, from 2004 to 2018.
He began as Parma’s judicial vicar in October. In this function, he serves as the head of the tribunal and offers canonical counsel. He also serves on the eparchy’s presbyteral council.
“I have long had an association with and appreciation for the Byzantine Ruthenian Church, and I am happy to assist the eparchy as I can,” he told Horizons.
Father Strebler holds office hours once per week. He can be reached at frcstrebler@parma.org or at (216) 741-8773.
As published in Horizons, Feb. 10, 2019.
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