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LORAIN, Ohio — A single spark can get a fire going.
Parishioners of St. Nicholas Parish and the 240 people who gathered for their evening of outreach and fellowship March 1 were testimonies to this fact.
Supported by their priests, Fathers Jan Cizmar and Andrew Nagrant, parishioners worked for several months to plan, prepare and publicize the event, called “Rediscover Your Roots: A Journey through Central Europe,” which included a Vespers service with Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma, a traditional ethnic meal and the screening of the first documentary for Horizons Media.
The volunteer kitchen crew worked doggedly for weeks to make all of the traditional ethnic food served that evening, including pierogis, halushki, nut rolls and pascha bread. Faithful of the Eparchy of Parma attended, along with members of Lorain’s diverse Christian community and their clergy. Several ethnic and religious organizations had display tables, and local media covered the event.
The evening was the brainchild of longtime parishioner Madeline Zaworski, who participated in Horizons’ 2018 pilgrimage to the spiritual and historic roots of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church in Central Europe last September. Moved by the experience and convinced that the pilgrimage should be shared with others back home as a form of outreach and evangelization, she approached Horizons editor Laura Ieraci with the idea. Zaworski’s vision included a media presentation on the pilgrimage, produced by Horizons. Ieraci agreed, as the project was in line with Horizons’ mission to make Jesus Christ and the Byzantine Catholic Church more known and loved.
A date was set and Horizons videographer David Bratnick got to work on the editing. The result was a 40-minute documentary, titled “From Mariapoch to Mariapoch: A Journey of Discovery,” which traces Bratnick’s faith journey as a young Byzantine Catholic and how his experience on pilgrimage helped to shape his identity and commitment as a Byzantine Catholic.
The film was received enthusiastically by audience members and Horizons is currently working on broadcast and public screening opportunities. The film will be available for purchase, once broadcast opportunities have been exhausted.
Parishioners who attended Horizons’ pilgrimage also shared their testimonies with the crowd.
“I traveled a long way to realize that life’s utter perfection becomes much clearer when you let your thoughts be known to God,” said pilgrim Diana Mahilo, who lives in Cincinnati.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone when you trust in God. We all must look forward to a brighter future, and the hope that we can restore our Lorain landmark for years to come.”
Bishop Lach addressed the guests after the screening as well. He encouraged them to reflect on the meaning of their life, their identity, and their roots, urging them to live their faith visibly, knowing they are saved by Jesus Christ.
Caption 1: Clockwise, from front left: St. Nicholas parishioners Bruce Skibo and Linda Squires share in an ethnic meal with Father Robert Pipta, rector of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Father Andrew Summerson, administrator of St. Mary and St. Michael parishes in Indiana, Horizons’ videographer David Bratnick, Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma, and Father Marek Visnovsky, protosyncellus and pastor of St. Mary Parish in Cleveland, March 1. (Photo: Laura Ieraci)
Caption 2: Diana Mahilo of Cincinnati shares what she experienced on Horizons’ pilgrimage to Central Europe with the 240 people who attended the evening event at St. Nicholas Parish March 1. (Photo: Father Andrew Summerson)
Caption 3: Paula Oshinski of St. John Chrysostom Parish in Columbus, Ohio, venerates the relics of Blessed Paul Gojdich at the end of Vespers March 1. She and her husband, John, made the two-hour drive to attend the event at St. Nicholas Parish in Lorain. (Photo: Laura Ieraci)
As published in Horizons, March 24, 2019.
