News - October 2017 RSS Feed

PARMA, Ohio —  The Eparchy of Parma welcomed a new priest this month with the ordination of Father John R.P. Russell. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, apostolic administrator of Parma, ordained Father Russell, 37, during a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Oct. 8. READ MORE.

SOLON and BEDFORD, Ohio — The Eparchy of Parma’s oldest parish celebrated its 125th anniversary last month. St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Parish also has the distinction of being the oldest Byzantine Catholic parish in the United States established by a Hungarian community. The parish was founded in Cleveland’s east-side Hungarian neighborhood, with its first three churches built there. In 1983, the parish moved to its current location in Solon. READ MORE.

CHICAGO — Holy Resurrection Monastery welcomed its first permanent member since its founding 22 years ago, when Father Isaac Hughey was tonsured a stavrophore monk Oct. 7. The 36-year-old former hip-hop artist’s journey to Byzantine Catholic monasticism was one of unique pilgrimage, which led him to St. Athanasius the Great Parish in Indianapolis and eventually to the monastery in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin. READ MORE.

One week ago we suffered a tragedy in Las Vegas. Hearing awful news such as this is likely to make us fearful and sad. Similarly, the death of a close friend or relative can bring about the same sadness. The Gospel passage of the raising of the widow’s son (Lk 7:11-16) offers Christ’s response to tragedy. We hear about the tragic death of a young man. It is tragic because, as a young man, his life and bright future ended all too quickly. But tragic also for his mother, for she had but one son and was widowed.

In the Byzantine tradition, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of the 12 great feasts of the church. We lend our attention to the cross for a simple reason: through the cross, salvation has come to the world. Through the death of Jesus Christ, we receive new life, eternal life. Jesus explains this to us in the Gospel of St. John.