www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News New apostolic administrator for Eparchy of Mukachevo

Joe,

I think that Alex's top ten lists were strictly for your consumption. You seem to always focus on pointing out the negative without offering solutions to the issues that face us. It does seem as if that is what you enjoy most. Maybe Alex was simply trying to make you happy?

Awhile back you did actually post some excellent ideas but then never followed through on them.

Admin

"I think that Alex's top ten lists were strictly for your consumption."

If so, he could have sent them via private message rather than post them on a public forum and we could have shared a mutual chuckle without reprimand. I don't understand why he had to use a public forum to vent his cynicism. Others don't get away with it. What gives?

"You seem to always focus on pointing out the negative without offering solutions to the issues that face us."

And Alex's list is considered positive? What would have been your response if I posted that list? How does it build up the Church? How does it help solve problems by digging up the past? What ARE the solutions?

"Awhile back you did actually post some excellent ideas but then never followed through on them."

Was I supposed to? And what does this have to do with Alex's Top Ten Benefits for being in communion with Rome?

Again, I would like to stick to the topic and discuss what Alex wrote. In response to Lance's initial post, he raised the question about our communion with Rome. He wrote:

"Do you sometimes wonder what we are doing "in communion with Rome" Lance? I do."

This is an important question, but you took it as an opportunity to reprimand me instead.

Admin wrote: "I think that Alex's top ten lists were strictly for your consumption."

Joe T. wrote: If so, he could have sent them via private message rather than post them on a public forum and we could have shared a mutual chuckle without reprimand.

Alex can certainly speak for himself but it�s my guess that he was teasing you since you always seem to look for the most negative aspect of any situation.

Admin wrote: "You seem to always focus on pointing out the negative without offering solutions to the issues that face us."

Joe T. wrote: And Alex is being positive here? What would have been your response if I posted that list? How does it build up the Church? How does it help solve problems by digging up the past? What ARE the solutions?

Actually, I think Alex was being lighthearted and outlining the worst of the worst just to make you happy.

Admin wrote: "Awhile back you did actually post some excellent ideas but then never followed through on them."

Joe T. wrote: Was I supposed to?

Only if you want to build up the Church.

Sorry to be so direct but when I read your posts here I see someone who has a lot of talent who is weighed down by negativity. I think it is always better to simply acknowledge the negative, identify possible solutions, and then work with the appropriate authorities to enact those solutions. There are many things that we, as laypersons, cannot do anything about. But there are many, many other items on the �To Do� list that are just waiting for people to do them. In an earlier thread you identified an excellent list of things that people can do. Why not take the list to your bishop and ask him to give you a task that needs doing in your local eparchy? I would much rather see the Forum become a place where ideas are shared by people needing help doing things instead of some of the endless threads documenting what�s wrong with our Church.

Regarding the specific issues Alex listed, it�s been my experience in life that respect must be earned.

Admin

"Sorry to be so direct but when I read your posts here I see someone who has a lot of talent who is weighed down by negativity."

I agree. I have accumulated many bad experiences over the years, experiences I did not earn or deserve. Every day I ask why I had to endure the pure crock I was given. How does one deal with those who mislead you and lie to you? I have grown weary of the instilled bitterness and do not like it one bit. But if I let bitterness to tarnish my soul and ruin my life, then those who have misled me and lied to me have won.

I still keep trying to forge ahead with some hope, a hope centered on Christ and not on mere mortals.

My positive list on the other thread was a result of my life experiences with those I once had respect for. I have to admit that I no longer have respect for them. Most of them have no inkling of the stress and troubles that I and my family went through - nor do I think they care. I would like to forgive them, but they have never asked for it. I need to take it to the Lord lest I break the sacred silence.

I agree with Alex 100.1% Hopefully, tomorrow will bring a better day.

Joe T:
How does one deal with those who mislead you and lie to you? ... Most of them have no inkling of the stress and troubles that I and my family went through - nor do I think they care. I would like to forgive them, but they have never asked for it. I need to take it to the Lord lest I break the sacred silence.

As Christians we need to forgive people whether they seek our forgiveness or not. This is, of course, a very tall order and impossible for us to do without the Lord's help. But if we do not forgive then we are the ones who will continue to suffer and never know peace.

Here is my own translation from the Ukrainian, of the press release issued at the website of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, regarding the appointment of an apostolic administrator for the Eparchy of Mukachevo. It is not yet available in English. The link to the original article is:
http://www.ugcc.org.ua/ukr/news/article;326/

New Apostolic Administrator for the Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Mukachevo

12.11, [14:22] // Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church News

Today, November 12, 2002, the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine announced the following decisions of the Holy Father John Paul II in regard to the Mukachevo Eparchy of the Greek Catholic Church:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Eparchy of Mukachevo of the Byzantine Rite, presented by Bishop Ivan Semedi, in accordance with Canon 210, para. 1, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary bishop of the Eparchy of Mukachevo of the Byzantine Rite, presented by Bishop Ivan Marhitych, in accordance with Canon 210, para. 1, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

- Appointed as apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the eparchy of Mukachevo of the Byzantine Rite, Fr. Milan Shashik, C.M., who until now, was pastor in Perechyn, Transcarpathian Oblast.

The Most Rev. Milan Shashik was born on September 17, 1952, in Lekhoti, Slovakia. After graduating from elementary and secondary schools, he studied philosophy and theology at the Major Seminary in Bratislava.

On July 31, 1971, he entered the Missionary Congregation of the Lazarist Fathers, making solemn profession in September of 1973. He served in various ministries, including chaplain and then pastor. With the permission of the Holy See, Father Milan Shashik served in both the Byzantine and Latin Rites.

From 1990 - 1992, he studied at the Papal Institute of Spirituality �Teresianum� in Rome, where he received a municipal (civil) degree.

From October 5, 1992 - July 7, 1998, he worked at the Papal Nunciature in Ukraine. Then, for one year he was Director of the Novitiate of the Congregation of the Lazarist Fathers in Slovakia. In August of 2000, he returned to Ukraine and was pastor in Perechyn, Transcarpathia.

In addition to his native Slovak, he is able to speak the Ukrainian, Italian, Czech, Russian and Polish languages.

Press-Secretariat of the
Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Trans. Fr. Joe

ed note: The Vincentians are also known as the Lazarist Fathers.

Perechyn.

No such place. Probably Lehota in western Slovakia.

Probably the Knazsk� semin�r sv. Cyrila a Metoda in Bratislava.

In other words, he is/was a Latin. Is this a first?

Thank you, Lemko. It just dawned on me that Vyshchyji should simply be rendered in its literal sense of "major" as in "major seminary vs. minor seminary." The original article gave the name with a capital letter, so at quick glance, it appeared to be a proper name. I'm not too familiar with most of these Roman Catholic institutes in Slovakia, and like you, have not heard of that Slovakian town either.

Also, in agreement with your comment, this would appear (to me at least) to be a new experience for our Mother Church, for Rome to appoint a principally Latin Rite priest (although bi-ritual) to the See of Mukachevo. The article does not mention any "incardination" into the Mukachevo Eparchy, or formal transfer to the Byzantine Church. I don't think it is even possible for priests who are canonically by patrimony, members of the Latin Church to "change rite" if they remain in a religious order, as they would, in that scenario, not be subject to any eparchial bishop, but rather to their major superior. At best, it would entail functioning under an "indult" from the Holy See. Do you know if the parish in Perechyn is Greek Catholic or Roman?

Fr. Joe

The town of Perechyn is a rather large regional town (it is the admin. center of the Perechynskyj rajon), pop. ~7,500, and is somewhat multi-ethnic. That is, there is a Slovak, Roman Catholic minority which surely has its own parish. But historically and today too the majority population is Rusyn, with Greek Catholic and Orthodox parishes. I've never been there, so I couldn't tell you much else about it.

Good evening,

The Slovak Bishops` Conference posted a news report on their website. Below are parts of the report. The url is: http://www.rcc.sk/servis/index.html
but once on the site, one has to go through several hyperlinks to find the press release section. While I can make out the general thrust of the press release, not knowing Slovak, I will not attempt a translation.

Tlačov� kancel�ria KBS
�slo spr�vy 20021820 | D�tum 13.11.2002 | Zdroj TK KBS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOV� APOŠTOLSK� ADMINISTR�TOR MUKAČEVSKEJ EPARCHIE

"...menoval Apoštolsk�m administr�torom ad nutum Sancte Sedis (do rozhodnutia Sv�t�ho Stolca) Mukačevskej eparchie byzantsk�ho obradu Mons. Milana Šašika C.M, ktor� bol doteraz far�rom v Perečine v Zakarpatskej oblasti Ukrajiny.

Mons. Milan ŠAŠIK sa narodil 17. septembra 1952 v Lehote - Slovensk� republika. Po ukončen� z�kladnej a strednej školy, od roku 1971 do 1976 bol posluch�čom R�mskokatol�ckej cyrilometodskej bohosloveckej fakulty Univerzity Komensk�ho v Bratislave. 31. j�la 1971 vst�pil do Misijnej Kongreg�cie otcov lazaristov; 27. septembra 1973 prijal večn� sľuby. Za kňaza bol vysv�ten� 6. j�na 1976 . V ďalš�ch rokoch vykon�val dušpastiersku činnosť, spočiatku ako kapl�n, nesk�r ako spr�vca farnosti. S povolen�m Sv�tej Stolice sl�žil o. Milan Šašik v dvoch obradoch - byzantskom ( gr�ckokatol�ckom) i latinskom (r�mskokatol�ckom). Od roku 1990 do 1992 študoval v P�pežskom teologickom inštit�te Teresianum v R�me, kde dosiahol stupeň magistra. Od 5. okt�bra 1992 do 7. j�la 1998 pracoval na Apoštolskej nunciat�re na Ukrajine. Potom bol jeden rok riaditeľom novici�tu v Kongreg�cii otcov lazaristov na Slovensku. V auguste roku 2000 sa vr�til na Ukrajinu a stal sa far�rom v Perečine. Okrem materinskej slovenčiny ovl�da ukrajinsk�, taliansky, česk�, rusk� a poľsk� jazyk."

The most important part of the above text to this discussion would be:

He was born in Lehota (as I'd surmised);

"With permission of the Holy See, Father Milan Sasik has served in two rites - Byzantine (Greek Catholic) and Latin (Roman Catholic). From 1990-1992 he studied at the Pontifical Theological Institute Teresianum in Rome, where he earned the "magister" [Mgr.] degree. Between Oct. 5, 1992 and July 7, 1998 he worked at the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine. Then for a year he was novitiate director for the Congregation of the Lazarite [???] Fathers in Slovakia. In August 2000 he returned to Ukraine and became pastor in Perechyn."

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Sorry that I have been away for awhile. I saw the top ten list, and I thought that maybe members might be interested in my Eastern Catholic Manifesto. I think that it is a good tool for dialog with the Romans, and amongst ourselves. I also, have a list of questions that follow it.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

*************************************************
SINCE: The Universal Catholic Church is "a corporate body of Churches" (Lumen Gentium);

SINCE: It "is made up of the faithful who are organically united in the Holy Spirit by the same faith, the same sacraments and the same
government. They combine into different groups, which are held together by their hierarchy, and so form particular Churches or Rites" (Orientalium Ecclesiarum);

SINCE: These "has come about through divine providence that, in the course of time, different Churches set up in various places by the Apostles and their successors joined together in a multiplicity of organically united
groups which, wilst safe guarding the unity of faith and unique divine structure of the universal Church, have their own discipline, enjoy their own liturgical usage and inherit a theological and spiritual patrimony" (Lumen Gentium);

SINCE: "All members of the Eastern Churches should be firmly convinced that they can and ought always preserve their own legitimate liturgical rites and ways of life, and that changes are to be introduced only to forward their own organic development. They themselves are to carry out all these prescriptions with the greatest fidelity. They are to aim always at a more perfect knowledge and practices of their rites, and if they have fallen away due to circumstances of time or persons, they are to strive to return to their ancestral traditions" (Orientalium Ecclesiarum);

BE IT RESOLVED: That "while recommending ecclesiastical celibacy this sacred Council (Vatican II) does not be any means aim at changing that contrary discipline which is lawfully practiced in the Eastern Churches.
Rather the Council affectionately exhorts all those who have received the priesthood in the married state to persevere in their holy vocation and continue to devote their lives fully and generously to the flock entrusted to them" (Prebyterorum Ordinis);

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That "where in the West there are no Eastern priest to look after the faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches,
Latin Ordinaries and their co-workers should see that those faithful grow in awareness and knowledge of their own tradition, and they should be invited to co-operate actively in the growth of the Christian Community by making
their own particular contribution" (Orientale Lumen);

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: A "conversion is ...required of the Latin Church, that she may respect and fully appreciate the dignity of Eastern Christians, and accept gratefully the spiritual treasures of which the Eastern Catholic Churches are the Bearers, to the benefit of the entire Catholic Communion" (Orientale Lumen);

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That "the Eastern Churches in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome have the special duty of fostering the unity of all Christians, in particular of Eastern Christians, according to the
principles laid down in the decree of this holy Council (Vatican II), 'On Ecumenism,' by prayer above all, by their example, by their scrupulous
fidelity to each other, by working together, and by a brotherly attitude towards persons and things" (Orientalium Ecclesiarum);

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Eastern Catholic Churches "play a constructive role in the dialogue of love and in the theological
dialogue at both the local and international levels, and thus contribute to mutual understanding and the continuing pursuit of full unity" (Ut Unum Sint).
*************************************************

Here are the questions that I listed with the Manifesto.

1) How are Eastern Catholics able to "have their own discipline" throughout the World?

2) How are Eastern Catholics in the "West" able to "receive the priesthood in the married state,... and persevere in their holy vocation"?

3) How can Roman Catholics "fully appreciate the dignity of Eastern Christians, and accept gratefully the spiritual treasures of which
the Eastern Catholic Churches are the bearers" if they can not fully exercise their patrimony?

4) And how can Eastern Catholics who defend latinization give out these spirtitual treasures and share their patrimony when they are corrupted?

5) How can Eastern Catholics "co-operate actively in the growth of the Christian community by making their own particular contribution" if we are not exercising their full patrimony?

6) How can "Eastern Churches in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome have the special duty of fostering the unity of all Christians, in
particular of Eastern Christians", if we are denied our full rights, faith, and spirituality?

7) How can Eastern Catholics not fight for these full rights, not only to Rome, but within their own Eparchies and Churches?

8) How can Eastern Catholic Churches "play a constructive role in the dialogue of love and in the theological dialogue at both the local and international levels," if we are not permitted to be full Churches?

9) How can the Rome's Patriarchal authority stretch around the world, but our own Eastern Catholic Patriarchs' authority is limited to the
ancient borders of the Roman Empire?

I was talking with a friend this evening who made two interesting points worth considering:

1) Would the number of eligible candidates to become bishop be fairly small since the vast majority of priests in this eparchy are probably married?

2) Since the Vatican requires all potential bishops to have at least a Master's degree in Theology how may priests would qualify (how many of the priests ordained in the days of the underground Church are well educated)?

In response to the Administrator, may I suggest:

1) That the pool of Episcopal candidates would be much larger if Mukachevo is viewed as part of a wider Kyivan Church; i.e. as part of a nationwide (Ukraine) or worldwide Church.

2) "Since the Vatican requires . . ." --- Maybe we need to pick our own Bishops? A part of a Patriarchal Church, the Synod could pick the Bishops. As a "sui juris" eparchy, Mukachevo seems to be dependent on Rome for all things.

However the new Bishop is appointed, a ocal priest or a priest with cultural/ethnic ties to the region would be the best choice.

Just a few observations from a Kyivan Patriarchate advocate.

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Are these ideas seen as compatible or in conflict?