Deacon Miron Kerul’-Kmec Jr. was ordained a priest forever by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla during the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, June 26 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Munhall, Pa.
Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were Reverend Father Miron Kerul’-Kmec Sr., father of the ordinand; Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Hayduk; and Reverend Fathers Kevin Marks and David Abernethy. Deacon Robert Jones, Sub-deacons Michael Kunitz and Timothy Fariss, seminarians and a large contingent of altar servers from St Nicholas Church in Barberton, Ohio assisted. Very Reverend Andrew Deskevich and Reverend Father Valerian Michlik served as Masters of Ceremonies, and Darlene Fejka and several members of the Archeparchial choir led the congregational singing. Father Miron Sr. presented his son for ordination.
In attendance were: Very Reverends Vasyl Polyak and Bryan Eyman; Reverend Fathers Robert Karl, William Rupp, Joel Barstad and Jan Cizmar; Abbot Leo Schlosser; Monsignor Lawrence Dominik; and Deacon Robert Cripps.
Archbishop William welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming, and congratulated Father Miron’s family.
In his homily the Archbishop noted the joy of celebrating the ordination for Father Miron, whom he has watched grow in wisdom and strength just as did Jesus. Now he is someone to help share the ministry of the Archbishop. With every step toward ordination, there were challenges and the call to constant learning and growth every day. Now, as a priest, Father Miron will find that as he begins his pastoral ministry he will continue to learn and grow in different ways every day.
Following the liturgy of ordination, a light reception was enjoyed in the lower level of the Cathedral.
The next day, Sunday, June 27, Father Miron Jr. concelebrated his first Divine Liturgy with his father, Father Miron Sr., at his home parish, St. Nicholas Church, in Barberton. He also baptized his son Miron Theophan.
Newly ordained Father Miron’s journey to this day began in Kosice in Slovakia where he was born, the son of a Greek Catholic priest. Growing up, he was very familiar with life in the Church and living in a rectory. With his parents, Father Miron Sr. and mother Marcella, he came to America when he was 14 years old. The family eventually settled at St. Nicholas Church in Barberton, where Father Miron was appointed pastor. Miron Jr. became acquainted in the ways of American life at St. Mary Byzantine School in Cleveland, Coventry High School and the University of Akron. Following the call to holiness and the priesthood which he had discerned at a very young age, he entered SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh. He graduated with the Master of Arts in Theology degree.
He received minor orders, married Sarah Seay and was ordained by Most Reverend Milan Lach SJ, Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma, to the Diaconate on May 21, 2020. A year later, Deacon Miron requested canonical transfer to the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and Archbishop William accepted him on June 15, 2021. With his ordination to the Presbyterate, Father Miron Jr. is ascribed a priest of Pittsburgh. Deacon Miron and Sarah welcomed their son, Miron Theophan, on May 12, 2021.
May God grant to the Priest Miron peace, health and happiness for many blessed years! Axios!
