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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Appoints Bishop John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R. of Toronto new Bishop of Phoenix
Vatican City, 7 May 2016 – The Holy Father has:
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John Kudrick in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches, and appointed Archbishop William Charles Skurla of Pittsburgh of the Byzantines as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same eparchy.
- appointed Bishop John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R., formerly of the eparchy of "Sts. Cyril and Methodius of Toronto" of the Slovakians of Byzantine Rite, Canada, as bishop of the eparchy of "Holy Mary of Protection" of Phoenix of the Ruthenians (Catholics 2,706, priests 29, permanent deacons 11, religious 8) U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Gerald Nicholas Dino, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same eparchy in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches was accepted by the Holy Father.
- appointed Bishop John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R., of the eparchy of "Holy Mary of Protection" of Phoenix of the Ruthenians, U.S.A., as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the eparchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius of the Slovakians of Byzantine rite in Canada.
- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of "St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego" of the Chaldeans, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jamma, in accordance with canon 210, para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches, and appointed Bishop Shlemon Warduni, auxiliary of Baghdad of the Chaldeans, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same eparchy.
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PARMA, Ohio (parma.org) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop John M. Kudrick of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma and has named Archbishop William C. Skurla of Pittsburgh as apostolic administrator.
Further, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald N. Dino of the Byzantine Catholic Holy Protection of Mary Eparchy of Phoenix and appointed Bishop John S. Pazak C.S.s.R., of the Eparchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, based in Toronto, Canada as Bishop of the Eparchy of Phoenix, while remaining apostolic administrator of the Toronto eparchy.
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CWN - In a joint statement, Aleppo’s Eastern-rite and Latin-rite ordinaries deplored renewed violence in Syria’s city.
Citing the “cry of blood of children and martyrs” and “the tears of the bereaved mothers,” the bishops appealed to the “consciences of those who project and carry out this war” to stop the fighting, according to a Fides report.
“We are children of the Resurrection, of hope, and we firmly believe that this suffering will not be in vain,” they added, as called upon the faithful to unite their suffering to Christ’s Passion.”
Recalling the message of Our Lady of Fatima, the bishops also recommended consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the recitation of the Rosary.
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CWN - During a visit to Connecticut to thank the Knights of Columbus for their support of persecuted Syrian Christians, the Melkite Greek Catholic archbishop of Aleppo spoke about the destruction of his city and a resurgence of public expression of the faith around Easter.
“They destroyed the old city, many ancient houses,” Archbishop Jean-Clément Jeanbart said of Syrian rebel forces. “My archbishopric, which dates to the 18th century, was partially destroyed; my cathedral too, and other structures.”
Around Holy Week, he said that a temporary cease-fire “allowed us to have very beautiful celebrations for Easter, and we were surprised to see the huge number of faithful coming to church,” according to an Aleteia report.
Archbishop Jeanbart added:
I celebrated Palm Sunday, and there were about 3,000 people, and we were able to make a procession with a band. During Holy Week, thousands of people came. I celebrated in the largest church in Aleppo. We had several celebrations around the city, which means there are still a lot of people present. We didn’t expect that.
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CWN - President Barack Obama wished members of the Eastern Orthodox churches a happy Easter and referred to the plight of those who suffer persecution for their faith.
“For Orthodox Christians, this is a time to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to rejoice in the victory of the Resurrection and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in accordance with God's will,” he said in a statement, adding:
We lift up in prayer the members of the Orthodox community who have been persecuted for their faith and subjected to unspeakable acts of violence, and we seek the release of those who have been kidnapped. We remember those who have been driven from their homelands and who have seen their religious institutions desecrated or destroyed.
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