Photo caption: Archbishop Christophe Pierre (right), apostolic nuncio to the United States, presents Bishop Milan Lach as the new apostolic administrator of the Eparchy of Parma to the 300-plus congregation at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist July 21. (Photo: David Bratnick)
PARMA, Ohio — The clergy and faithful of the Eparchy of Parma welcomed Bishop Milan Lach as their new apostolic administrator July 21.
The 43-year-old Jesuit was serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Presov, Slovakia, at the time of his appointment June 24.
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the Vatican decree of Bishop Lach’s appointment during the Divine Liturgy of welcome at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Archbishop William C. Skurla of Pittsburgh, who preceded Bishop Lach as apostolic administrator of Parma, was the main celebrant.
“The Holy Father Francis in his special solicitude has graciously nominated his excellency Monsignor Milan Lach, S.J.,” said Archbishop Pierre after the Gospel reading, interspersing the formal act with some light humor.
“Do you know what that means, S.J.?” he asked the crowd. “He’s a Jesuit. May I present him to you so that you can meet him. Where is he? He is hidden somewhere. Here he is,” he said, calling Bishop Lach forth from the sanctuary.
The more than 300 people in the congregation responded with a standing ovation and the choir sang the traditional hymn, “Many Years.”
The nuncio then continued reading from the decree and explained that the appointment is for “as long as the pope wants, with all of the rights and duties pertaining to the said office.”
“You will enjoy his presence,” the nuncio told the congregation. “A bishop is there to serve the people, to be with the people,” he added.
Citing Pope Francis, he said the role of a bishop and a priest is to be “ahead to lead the people, behind to push them, and in the middle to be with them.”
He later described the day as a “new beginning” for the eparchy.