Emil John Mihalik

Emil John Mihalik (February 7, 1920 – January 27, 1984) was the first Eparch of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio.[1] His appointment occurred simultaneously with the erection of the see. At that time, his jurisdiction encompassed central and western Ohio, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii.[1][2][3][4]

His Grace

Emil John Mihalik
Bishop of Parma for the Byzantines
Orders
OrdinationSeptember 21, 1945
ConsecrationJune 12, 1969
Personal details
Born(1920-02-07)February 7, 1920
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
DiedJanuary 27, 1984(1984-01-27) (aged 63)
Cleveland, Ohio
Styles of
Emil John Mihalik
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleHis Grace

Early life

Emil John Mihalik was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2] He attended high school in Brentwood, Pennsylvania, and received his undergraduate degree from St. Procopius College.[5]

Pastoral appointments

As many Eastern Catholic seminarians of his time, Mihalik attended a Roman Rite seminary,[4] but was ordained to the Byzantine Catholic priesthood on September 21, 1945, at St. Mary's Church in Trenton, New Jersey, by Bishop Basil Takach.[2][5][6]

He was pastor at St. Thomas Church in Rahway, New Jersey, from February 1, 1961, until June 12, 1969,[6] and the Eparchy of Passaic's chancellor.[7]

Eparch of Parma

On February 21, 1969, Pope Paul VI created the Eparchy of Parma.[7][3] Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, announced its creation and Father Mihalik's appointment effective March 22, 1969.[7][3]

Mihalik was consecrated as the eparch on June 12, 1969, with Archbishop Stephen Kocisko as his principal consecrator.[2][8] His principal co-consecrators were Bishops Michael Dudick and Michael Rusnak.[2]

On September 6, 1970, during the 36th annual pilgrimage that drew approximately 45,000 people to Mount Saint Macrina, Mihalik, Kocisko, and Dudick blessed a cornerstone for a 50-bed nursing home.[9]

In May 1977, Bishop Alden Bell of the Diocese of Sacramento gave $20,000, which had been a World War II relief fund for Slovaks, to Mihalik.[4] The eparch said the money would be used to build a church in Sacramento.[4] At the time, all the western US states including Alaska and Hawaii were part of the eparchy.[1]

Final years

Mihalik died in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 27, 1984, shortly before his 64th birthday, leaving the See sede vacante. He died of lung cancer.[1][2] His vicar general, Monsignor Andrew Vaida, was named as diocesan administrator.[10]

Legacy

During his priesthood, Mihalik is credited with the establishment of 18 parishes and ordaining 23 priests.[1]

Notes
  1. "Bishop Emil Mihalik". Toledo Blade. January 29, 1984. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  2. "Bishop Emil John Mihalik". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. "Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian)". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  4. "Byzantine Catholic Rite Showing Rapid Growth". Toledo Blade. April 30, 1977. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  5. "About Us". www.parma.org. May 1, 2000. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  6. "Many Thanks to Father John!". St. Thomas the Apostle Church. saintthomastheapostle.org. February 3, 2002. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  7. "Pittsburg Eparchy Made See By Pope". Gettysburg Times. April 3, 1969. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  8. "Archbishop Stephen John Kocisko". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  9. "Pilgrimage Draws 45,000". Google News. Beaver County Times. September 9, 1970. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  10. "People in Religion". Toledo Blade. February 25, 1984. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
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