Search
-
CHICAGO — The fifth bishop of the Eparchy of Parma said he is committed to growing and strengthening the local church in the years ahead, and will refer to a handful of top pastoral priorities that he has identified as a guide.
Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, was enthroned as the eparch June 30, after having tended to the pastoral needs of the eparchy for nearly one year as apostolic administrator.
Having crisscrossed the eparchy and visited nearly every parish in the past 11 months, Bishop Lach told Horizons he intends to develop action points in various areas of pastoral ministry and eparchial management, in view of developing a more vibrant church, though he has not yet articulated an official pastoral plan.
“We are invited to be witnesses to the Gospel,” he said in an interview with Horizons June 7. “Our church must focus on evangelization, have a spirit of openness and prayer.”
He said he would also like to place more emphasis on the “liturgy, the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and confession. This is part of our Eastern theology.”
“We must develop the beauty of our liturgy and spirituality,” he said, underlining the need to offer more catechesis and formation to the faithful.
In view of growing the eparchy’s evangelization efforts and accessibility to the sacraments, Bishop Lach said one of his priorities includes nurturing more priestly vocations.
Due to the current shortage of priests in the eparchy, Bishop Lach has been inviting priests from Slovakia to minister here. Two Slovak priests are currently undergoing the visa application process; one of them is expected to arrive this fall.
Bishop Lach said the recruitment of Slovak priests is a short-term measure to try to meet the urgent need for priests: two priests retired this past year and at least another four are expected to retire in the next 12 months.
He said he hopes prospective vocations to the priesthood from the various parishes will be nurtured and that there will be American candidates for seminary soon. The eparchy currently has two men in seminary formation and a third who will be ordained a subdeacon in August.
Youth ministry is another pastoral priority for the 44-year-old bishop. He recently created an eparchial youth commission, comprised of priests, nuns and a layman, to try to jumpstart more youth ministry efforts and implement more effective planning at the parish level for larger events, such as the biannual national youth rally.
In addition, Bishop Lach said he will look into the possibility of reorganizing parishes, in order to shift already limited resources, both pastoral and financial, to support and grow the new missions and prayer communities that have developed in the western part of the eparchy.
“Perhaps we will have fewer parishes, but they will be more open (to welcoming others) and more vibrant,” he said.
He said there is an important thrust to get the eparchy in stronger financial shape, which includes reducing costs across the board.
The move of the chancery offices next month, from the cathedral complex in Parma, Ohio, to a smaller office space in an office tower in nearby Independence, is one such effort.
Caption: Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, prays while holding the chalice during the Great Entrance. (Photo: Reen Nemeth)
As published in Horizons, July 8, 2017.
Sign up for the Horizons e-newsletter.
