PHOTOS FROM THE WEEK
A Byzantine Deacon /Priest Retreat
for the
Eparchy of Parma, Ohio
October 22-25, 2018
Saint Meinrad Archabbey
Bishop Milan Lach S.J.
Bishop Milan and several of his priests are from Slovakia.
Several of the priests and deacons are married.
Bishop Milan is in the black hat and the gold pectoral cross. All the priests can wear silver pectoral crosses.
Bishop Milan walks over to the Byzantine Chapel at Saint Meinrad early one morning for the Office of Matins (Morning Prayer).
Some of the priests and deacons going back to the Guest House for breakfast and the morning
Conference after Matins.
Martins, the second day, in the Byzantine Chapel led by one of the married Slovakian priests.
Going to the Guest House Chapel for a moment of prayer.
Bishop Milan and two of his recently arrived Slovakian priests.
Archpriest Marek Visnovsky
(Vicar General)
Saint Meinrad Archabbey
Bishop Milan Lach S.J.
Bishop Milan and several of his priests are from Slovakia.
Several of the priests and deacons are married.
Bishop Milan is in the black hat and the gold pectoral cross. All the priests can wear silver pectoral crosses.
Bishop Milan walks over to the Byzantine Chapel at Saint Meinrad early one morning for the Office of Matins (Morning Prayer).
Some of the priests and deacons going back to the Guest House for breakfast and the morning
Conference after Matins.
Martins, the second day, in the Byzantine Chapel led by one of the married Slovakian priests.
Going to the Guest House Chapel for a moment of prayer.
Bishop Milan and two of his recently arrived Slovakian priests.
Archpriest Marek Visnovsky
(Vicar General)
I was thrilled to see that the Eparchy held its retreat at St M's. I know Fr Bryan Eyman from St Athanasius in Indy. I've met Fr Tom Loya and Fr Plishka. The late Fr Sid Sidor, while pastor at St Athanasius, and then-Seminarian (now Fr.) Pliskha, were my guests at the Saint Meinrad dinner in Indianapolis some years back. I don't know if it's a possibility but a Byzantine/Eastern Catholic version of "One Bread One Cup" would be a great help to eparchies across the country. God bless! (PS, we met some years ago when you were still on staff at Saint Meinrad. I was working toward my MA, which I finish in '15.)
ReplyDeleteGreat Retreat. thank you Fr. Ron. Over 50% of the active priests of the Parma Eparchy are married priests. Our youngest active celibate priest is 49 years old.
ReplyDeleteWhat goes around comes around. Married Byzantine priests first came little more than a century ago to serve the immigrants arriving from Eastern Europe. So many had passed onto their Eternal Reward, then seminarian entering SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary were celebate. Many entered into their Eternal Reward, leaving a shortage of priests. Now isn't it interesting that married Byzantine priests are again arriving from Eastern Europe. Full circle. It is unfortunate the Ruthenian language is not celebrated in our Liturgy. At 87 years of age, still remember the Liturgy in our language...now listen on CD's or Pandora, in Russian. It is nice to see married priests and children again. God bless them all for coming to strange shores and culture. I keep all in my prayers. I have visited Slovakia several times and surprised to see almost a quarter of the church there filled with seminarians in 1990's. Having met all the Bishops from Bishop Tkach to Bishop Milan, shepharding with deep faith, I feel sure our Eastern Rite will last for many genrations. No mnohaja i blahaja l'ita!
ReplyDelete