The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its establishment with a whole weekend of activities June 26-28 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 1900 Carlton Road, Parma. The event’s Executive Committee has planned an exciting weekend, which will include guest speakers for men, women, married couples and teens, activities for children and teens; a hierarchical Divine Liturgy with guest bishops concelebrating; prayer services and choir concerts; a brunch with the eparchy’s Bishop John Kudrick and guest bishops; entertainment; displays; and the dedication of the new Bishop Emil J. Mihalik Center for Byzantine Catholic Culture and the Carpatho-Rusin Museum. (See the entire schedule on the eparchial Web site, www.parma.org.)
Guest speakers are Danny Abramowicz, former NFL all-pro wide receiver who now has a national outreach ministry to Catholic men; Benedictine Father Michael Brunovsky, a local bi-ritual priest and educator; Frederica Mathewes-Green, nationally known Eastern Christian spirituality author and speaker; and Michael Walsh, former model and stuntman, who now has a ministry to teens and young adults.
Entertainment includes Beacon Street, a local performing arts ministry group for children; Mat Burke, a Byzantine Catholic punk rock/folk music performer; Johnny Koenig, a young accordion player with his polka band; Living Traditions Folk Ensemble, performing Carpatho-Rusyn folk songs and dances; and concerts by the Parma Byzantine Eparchial Choir and Annunciation Parish Choir (Homer Glen, Ill.).
Sunday’s highlights are Brunch with Bishop John and guest bishops (limited tickets are still available; see www.parma.org 40th anniversary “Join us” link); hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Basil presiding, and Bishop William (Eparchy of Passaic), Bishop Gerald (Eparchy of Van Nuys), Bishop Leonard Blair (bishop of Toledo), Bishop George Murry, S.J. (bishop of Youngstown), Bishop Anthony Pilla (bishop emeritus of Cleveland), and Bishop Edward Pevec (retired auxiliary bishop of Cleveland) concelebrating and special guest Metropolitan Nicholas (The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, Johnstown, Pa.); and the dedication of the Bishop Emil J. Mihalik Center for Byzantine Catholic Culture and the Carpatho-Rusin Museum.
The event is open to the public and free (except for the Bishop’s Brunch); the eparchy invites everyone to join in the celebration.
For more information contact:
Loretta Nemeth, 216-741-3312
5/27/09