Emil John Mihalik

His Grace
Emil John Mihalik
Bishop of Parma for the Byzantines
Orders
Ordination September 21, 1945
Consecration June 12, 1969
Personal details
Born (1920-02-07)February 7, 1920
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died January 27, 1984(1984-01-27) (aged 63)
Cleveland, Ohio
Styles of
Emil John Mihalik
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Grace
Religious style His Grace

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]

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][8] Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, announced its creation and Father Mihalik's appointment effective March 22, 1969.[7][8]

Mihalik was consecrated as the eparch on June 12, 1969 with Archbishop Stephen Kocisko as his principal consecrator.[2][9] 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.[10]

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.[1][2] His vicar general, Monsignor Andrew Vaida, was named as diocesan administrator.[11]

Legacy

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

Notes

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

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Founding Eparch		 Eparch of Parma
March 24, 1969–January 24, 1984 		Succeeded by
Andrew Pataki
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