Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

          
Glory to Jesus Christ!  Thank you for your faithful support for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma.  Thanks be to God and with your generous donation, the 2020-2021 Annual Stewardship Appeal was the Eparchy’s most successful Appeal to date: a majority of our parishes exceeded their goal and earned over $37,000 in rebates, and the Appeal raised a total of $246,857.20.  A report showing the financial support from each parish has been published in the December issue of Horizons.

The Annual Stewardship Appeal provides important financial support for the parishes, missions, ministries, future priests, and retired priests of the Eparchy.   I am grateful to you for realizing how important your support is to the future of this Eparchy – your Eparchy.

Bearing in mind the needs of the Eparchy and our parishes today, the goal for this year’s Appeal will remain the same as last year’s:  $220,000.  As with the previous year, any amount contributed by a parish in excess of its goal will be rebated to the parish.  My hope is for every parish to achieve its goal and earn a rebate.

I am pleased to share with you the good news that the Eparchy has created a foundation, The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma Foundation, to help support the Eparchy in the future.  This new foundation, which was approved by the Internal Revenue Service, is similar to the foundations created by other dioceses, including those of Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, and many other Latin and Eastern Catholic dioceses/eparchies.  It is a separate legal entity from the Eparchy and is governed by a Board of Directors that includes clergy and lay individuals with a broad range of expertise. The Foundation will make grants to the Eparchy and its parishes in a manner consistent with other diocesan foundations throughout the United States.  Two initial deposits totaling $737,000 were made to the Foundation to get it started.

Nothing will change regarding the operation of the Eparchy or the parishes, or the Annual Stewardship Appeal, except that donations to the Appeal will now be made payable to the Foundation. 

This year’s Annual Stewardship Appeal is being conducted to support four important needs in the Eparchy: Development of Parishes; Vocations and Seminarian Education; Works of the Apostolate; and Retired Priests.  Specific examples of these purposes are as follows:
 

1. Development of Parishes – helping parishes with building needs, assisting new missions with basic costs, providing emergency funding to parishes, and other forms of support.

2. Vocations and Seminarian Education – paying the tuition and related costs for men preparing for the priesthood, financial support for the one-year discernment program for young men discerning the priesthood, and expenses for priests coming from Europe to serve in our parishes.

3. Works of the Apostolate – evangelization programs, catechesis and religious education, youth and young adult activities, pro-life ministries, and help for the poor.

4. Retired Priests - financial support for the pension and healthcare costs of our retired bishop and priests.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I am filled with hope for the future of our Eparchy.  We face many challenges, but our Lord told us “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Last month we had our first-ever “Evening of Hope” fundraising dinner which was attended by 185 people and raised over $93,000 to help the Eparchy and its retired priests.   

Ultimately, the future of any eparchy will be determined by its faithful – you.  We are each individually given a mission by Jesus to fulfill – bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, laypeople, everyone.  Our Eparchy is also given a mission by Jesus to fulfill.  The extent to which it can serve the Lord’s purpose is directly determined by your generosity.  Prayerfully consider what you may contribute to the Annual Stewardship Appeal, and please be generous.  The Eparchy needs you – a child of the Church – for support.  You can be assured that your gift will make a difference, and that all gifts will be used wisely.

Thank you very much for your gift to this year’s Annual Stewardship Appeal.  Please know that I pray every Sunday for you, dear believers, that the Lord will bless you for your generosity.

Gratefully yours in the Lord,


      ✠ Most Rev. Milan Lach, SJ
      Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians