WHITING, Ind. — Twelve men from across the Midwest Region of the Eparchy of Parma gathered to consider God’s call in their life during a men’s retreat at St. Mary Parish Dec. 28-29.
Jesuit Father Cyril Pinchak, originally from Cleveland and currently studying at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, led the retreat.
The theme of the retreat centered around the Biblical figures of Jesse, David and Joseph, in light of the liturgical celebration for the Sunday after Christmas.
Father Pinchak walked through the basics of personal prayer, offered guided reflection, and gave retreatants time for liturgical and personal prayer, and small group discussion.
The aim of the retreat was to encourage men to cultivate a more robust prayer life in view of considering a call for more deliberate service in the Byzantine Catholic Church and the Eparchy of Parma, whether as a more committed layman, priest or deacon.
Father Marek Visnovsky, eparchial vocations director, was also present and offered concrete reflections about his life in ministry.
The weekend concluded with Saturday Evening Great Vespers, which was also attended by Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, of Parma.
He joined Father Andrew Summerson, administrator of St. Mary Parish, Father Michael Evanick, a retired priest of the eparchy, and Father Visnovsky in a panel discussion about discernment and the path toward Holy Orders.
Men interested in discerning a vocation to ordained ministry can contact Father Visnovsky at (216) 741-8773, ext. 6 or
frmvisnovsky@parma.org.
Caption: Twelve men participated at the two-day discernment retreat for men in the Midwest Region of the eparchy Dec. 28-29 at St. Mary Parish in Whiting, Indiana. Some participants are pictured praying Vespers in St. Mary church. (Photo: Father Andrew Summerson)
As published in Horizons, Feb. 10, 2019.
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