PARMA, Ohio — The youngest ordinary bishop of a Catholic diocese in North America was enthroned June 30. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, became the fifth bishop of the Byzantine Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma during a Divine Liturgy of Enthronement at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma, Ohio after having served as its apostolic administrator since June 24, 2017. He succeeds Bishop John Kudrick, who retired May 2016.

Bishop Lach, 44, is also the third-youngest Eastern Catholic ordinary in the world and the first foreign-born bishop for the eparchy that comprises 12 states in the Midwest. He is among about a dozen bishops from other countries that Pope Francis has appointed to the United States.

The Slovak-born bishop has visited almost every parish and mission of the eparchy since his arrival to the United States last summer and has established pastoral priorities that include youth, evangelization, and parish reorganization. Slovak Greek Catholic Bishop Milan Chautur, CSsR, of Kosice, Slovakia, who was present for the enthronement, said his “wish for Continue reading →

Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, was enthroned as the fifth bishop of the Eparchy of Parma during a June 30 Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. He succeeds Bishop John Kudrick, whose resignation was accepted by the Vatican May 7, 2016.

Bishop Milan’ s appointment as eparch was announced June 1. Up until then, he had served as apostolic administrator, an appointment he received June 24, 2017. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States presided at the enthronement liturgy. Archbishop William C. Skurla was the main celebrant.

Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, said he has received his appointment as the fifth eparch of the Eparchy of Parma as the will of God. “We ask in the Our Father that the will of God be done,” Bishop Lach told Horizons. “I believe that this (appointment) is the will of God and I accept it, to do my duties as bishop and to shepherd my flock with the help of our priests and deacons.”

Last June, Pope Francis had appointed Bishop Milan, then auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Presov, Slovakia, as the apostolic administrator sede vacante of Parma. His appointment came after Archbishop William had already served as the administrator of Continue reading →