www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Smithtown Church & Fr. Daniel Bitsko

Does anyone know any facts as to what happened to Fr. Daniel Bitsko and the church in Smithtown, NY?

As far as I know its a big mystery right now to
the parishoners.
Resurrection Church is the wealthiest parish in
Bishop Patakis Eparchy.
There is a lot of speculation but no clear facts
since bith the Bishop and Father Dan are not talking about it.
However, lets see who the Bishop replaces Father
Bitsko with. If anyone.
Smithtown is a vibrant Byzantine Catholic Parish
with many young families(as far as byzantine churches go).There are over 300 families.
Father Dan's community involvement and Slavic festival every two years made Resurrection Church and the Byzantine Church well known throughout mostly Roman Catholic Long Island.
Why would a Bishop suddenly fire a 67 year old Priest who had been at a Church for 38 years and
was loved by everyone inside and outside the Church and especially in the community?
Was it something he did or said?
To whom?
What are the Bishops plans for Resurrection Church?
Are the plans to get another permanant Priest like Father Dan or is the plan to sell Resurrection Church and fill the Passaic Eparchy's
coffers with millions of dollars in real estate
sales profits?
As long as the Bishop keeps this a mideviel secret
from the parishoners we can speculate on any kind
of future scenario.
A Bishop is supposed to be a Shepard of Christ!

Mother of God save us for we are perishing from the multitude of our sins!

Pray and be vigilent!!! Holy Trinity in Bridgeport, CT was often equated with Resurrection BC Church (fundraising ability) in the past. Be on the look out for all fundraising to "grind to a halt" under Bishop Andrew's orders or for reasons of "insurance purposes"

As long as "secrets" are kept from the faithful. The Church will continue to bring nothing but scandal to the overall Church and it's faithful.

Speaking of secrets, can anyone account for the sudden closing of the thread on the sudden closing of Holy Trinity in Bridgeport? The discussion was not particularly vituperative, nobody was using objectionable language and the matter is certainly one of legitimate interest.

Incognitus

I am lead to believe...our discussions were cutting to close to reality and the "powers that be" as they did with the parish said "shut it down". Do I know that to be the case. No. Do I have any reason to believe that is not the case. No. But, that is true to my experiences with the Church of Passaic. I started that thread and I was not the one to close it.

I believed the internet was a place to freely exchange ideas.

Knowing the Administrator, I doubt that he would submit to that kind of pressure.

However, it might be sensible for the parishioners at Holy Trinity in Bridgeport (and other parishes which have been summarily terminated) to organize a web-site of their own.

Incognitus

Does anyone know the proper proceedure to request reopening the thread about the closure of Holy Trinity in Bridgeport, CT?

Who was the Celebrant at the Divine Liturgy today in Long Island?

Father Dan Bitsko resigns from pastor-ship
The Smithtown News

In an October 2 announcement that stunned parishioners, Father Daniel Bitsko said he had resigned his position as pastor of the Byzantine Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Smithtown and was moving immediately to his hometown of Coaldale, PA.
Father Dan, as he is affectionately known to Smithtowners, had served the Smithtown church for 38 years. (See The Smithtown News, Vol. 61, N0.12, 10/06/05 for the rest of the story)
Father Dan, 67, has been an integral part of Smithtown volunteer firefighting life for more than 36 years. He served as their chaplain for that long, he's served as Chief Chaplain of New York State Association of Fire Chaplains, Chaplain of Smithtown's Fire Chiefs Council and of the Fire District Officers Association. Some of his other chaplaincies include the Rotary Club of Smithtown, (also its president) Knights of Columbus Council #3958, Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Emerald Society, which named him "Man of the Year" for 2004. He's a past chaplain of the New York State Police Benevolent Association, the MTA, NYC Transit Authority and the MTA Police. He's been the chaplain for the New York Islanders hockey team since 1972.

Father Dan co-celebrated, on a daily basis, at funeral and memorial masses for our fallen brothers throughout the Long Island area. He would go from mass to mass, sometimes more than one a day, to be there for our "fallen brothers" families. Father Dan gave his all for Christ and his vast community, no one will be able to replace such a man.
Father Dan attended SCARF/Nassau meetings from time to time and blessed our new, "Long Island Association of Retired NYC Firefighters" banners and flags. He had to beg off when I requested his services at our annual, "Remembering September 11, 2001 Memorial Service," due to his stewardship over two parishes, Smithtown and Westbury. I missed his participation in the service, since we all know that he loved the fire service and his connection to the horrendous tragedy of 9/11 was well known.
There's going to be missing face at firematic events throughout Suffolk County with Father Dan not being there. He will be missed.
Ken Dolan
Past Pres. LI Assoc. Ret. NYC Firefighters

Perhaps the discussion should coe under "Town Hall"

If Father Daniel is indeed 67 years of age, that alone entitles him to retire - and at that age, it is not unusual to have health problems which also suggest retirement.

Incognitus

What just does not seem correct is that the Smithtown News stated he resigned his post and returned home to Coledale, PA. He was eligable to retire, so why would he resign and loose all retirement? Why would he not just retire? How will he now generate income to eat?

Quote - "In an October 2 announcement that stunned parishioners, Father Daniel Bitsko said he had resigned his position as pastor of the Byzantine Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Smithtown"

Sorry for asking so many questions. Something just seems wrong.

It is public knowledge that Father Dan was fired
by Bishop Pataki.
If it was an illness why wouldn't Father Dan or the Bishop just say it and avoid all this speculation.

Chotki,
What do you mean by 'fired'. Did he lose his faculties? Fired, as in losing faculties, and resigning from a parish can be two very different things.
Sam