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June 9-12 *Orientale Lumen II Conference* Protosyncellus
Catholic University of America
Washington, DCJune 28 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 4:00 PM
100th Anniversary of Founding
St. John Cathedral
Parma, OhioJuly 4-5 *Pastoral Visitation
St Nicholas of Myra Church
Anchorage, AlaskaJuly 15 *Blessing of Church 7:00 PM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
Albuquerque, NMJuly 28-31 Inter-Eparchial Liturgical Commission
Phoenix, Arizona
Very Reverend Stephen Washko is appointed Eparchial Director of Ecumenical Affairs, effective April 30, 1998.
Right Reverend Archimandrite Francis Vivona is appointed Eparchial Censor, effective May 11, 1998.
Reverend Stephen Muth is relieved of his responsibilities as Administrator of the Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Colorado Springs and freed to return to his monastic community, effective May 11, 1998.
Reverend Joseph Hutsko is appointed Administrator of the Byzantine Catholic Outreach in Colorado Springs, effective May 11, 1998.
[It is customary for Bishops to give a monetary offering to the Holy
Father at the time of the private audience during the Ad Limina Visit.
The following letter is an acknowledgment:]
| Secretariat of State Vatican City
April 1, 1998 N. 430.266 Dear Bishop Kuzma: The Holy Father has directed me to acknowledge the kind offering of five thousand dollars which you presented to him on the occasion of your ad limina visit. His Holiness is grateful for this donation and for the devoted sentiments which inspire it. He very much appreciates the support which you have given to the Successor of Peter in his ministry to the universal Church. I am pleased to assure you of the Holy Father’s prayers for the clergy, religious and laity of the Eparchy of Van Nuys. Upon all of you he invokes the joy and peace which flow from fidelity to Christ and his Church, and he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing. Sincerely yours in Christ,
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The Council of Hierarchs of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Metropolitan Church, sui juris, met in Phoenix, Arizona from March 30 through April 1, 1998 to discuss pastoral matters and concerns for the Metropolia in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
At this meeting the hierarchs approved the translations of the Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great which were submitted by the Inter-Eparchial Commission for Sacred Liturgy and Music. These texts will now be sent to the Congregation for Eastern Churches in Rome for final approval.
In an effort to coordinate activities of great pastoral concern to the church, the bishops established the following Metropolitan Commissions:
Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic will serve as episcopal advisor. At previous meetings the Council established Inter-Eparchial Commissions for Sacred Liturgy and Music, Canonical Affairs and the Metropolitan Seminary. These commissions continue to operate with regard to their respective tasks.
One of the responsibilities of the Commission for Canonical Affairs was to prepare particular law for the Metropolia in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. The commission has worked over the past two years to develop and refine this compilations of law, utilizing suggestions from the Congregation for Eastern Churches. These laws will be binding throughout the Metropolia. At this most recent meeting the Council of Hierarchs reviewed the Statutes of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia, sui juris, of the United States. They responded to the most recent concerns of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, signed the document and sent it to the Congregation for acknowledgment. Once the Congregation acknowledges the receipt of these laws they will be promulgated by Metropolitan Judson for the entire Metropolia. The recently completed handbook of the Metropolitan Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh was reviewed and approved by the bishops at this meeting. In addition, the hierarchs have approved the creation of a Seminary Advisory Board and discussed a Diaconate Program for the Metropolia.
The Council of Hierarchs meets at least twice a year, in accordance
with the prescriptions of canon law and the particular law of the Metropolia,
to discuss matters of common pastoral concern as well as juridic and liturgical
matters. This Council consists of all bishops of the Metropolia of
Pittsburgh and is convoked and presided over by Metropolitan Judson.
The Eparchy of Van Nuys hosted the winter quarter meeting of the Inter-Eparchial
Liturgical Commission in early February. The Commission, formed by
the Council of Hierarchs with two members from each Eparchy, meets quarterly
to study, translate, and review liturgical matters and chant. The
February meeting focused on a final review of the Liturgies of St. John
Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great prior to presenting the Council of Hierarchs
with the drafts. In May the Commission met in Pittsburgh to finalize
the draft that was reviewed by the Council of Hierarchs at the end of March.
The Very Reverend Stephen Washko and Reverend Robert Pipta represent our
Eparchy on the Commission.
Right Reverend Archimandrite Wesley Izer, SDB, presided at the celebration
on Sunday, May 17 at the Monastery of the Good Shepherd in Tijuana,
Mexico. He represented Bishop George at the 10th anniversary Liturgy and
Fiesta celebrating the founding of the Misioneros del Buen Pastor.
Over seven hundred priests, religious and faithful gathered for Liturgy
and the fiesta of food and musical entertainment. During the Liturgy Father
Archimandrite Wes, who is also the Protosyncellus and Chancellor
of the Van Nuys Eparchy, invested six new novices in the monastic habit
and invested Brother Francisco in the full monastic habit as part of his
monastic profession.
Father Juanito Jensen, the Founder of the Community, preached the homily
in which he thanked God and His All-Holy Mother, the Virgin of Guadalupe,
whom he credits for establishing the Misioneros del Buen Pastor.
He also thanked those present for the support and assistance they have
given the Community and their apostolate over the years. He gave special
mention to Bishop George who has been a source of constant support for
him and the monks. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Father Wes spoke in
Spanish and gave the greetings of congratulations, love, and encouragement
from Bishop George to all assembled.
The Missionaries were founded in 1988 to help rehabilitate drug addicts.
Their successful program has been studied by many from the international
community. Father Juanito Jensen is a priest of the Eparchy
of Van Nuys, whom Bishop George granted permission to pursue this most
needed apostolate. Currently the Missionaries have five professed
members, seven novices, and
numerous candidates. In January at the invitation of the Bishop
of Mexicali, they opened their second house for drug rehabilitation.
The Tijuana monastery is now the house of formation for new members.
The Reverend John Dorich, a retired priest of the Eparchy of Van Nuys,
is staying with the monks in Tijuana during June and assisting them in
various projects.
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