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John Stephen Pazak

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John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R.
Eparch Emeritus of Phoenix for the Ruthenians
ChurchRuthenian Greek Catholic Church
MetropolisPittsburgh
DiocesePhoenix
AppointedMay 7, 2016
InstalledJuly 20, 2016
RetiredAugust 23, 2021
PredecessorGerald Nicholas Dino
SuccessorArtur Bubnevych
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationAugust 27, 1972
by Emil John Mihalik
ConsecrationFebruary 14, 2001
by Michael Bzdel, C.Ss.R., Milan Chautur and Basil Schott
Personal details
Born (1946-08-13) August 13, 1946 (age 78)
NationalityAmerican & Canadian
ParentsStephen Pazak & Johanna Hennessy
Alma materSaint Paul University
MottoPrepare the way of the Lord
Styles of
John Stephen Pazak
Reference style
Spoken styleHis Grace
Religious styleEparch

John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R. (born August 13, 1946 in Gary, Indiana) is an American-born member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists, who served as an eparch of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. He served as the Eparch of the Eparchy of Phoenix, which is based in Phoenix, Arizona from July 2016 until his retirement in 2021.[1]

Life

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Family

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Pazak was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 13, 1946, to Stephen Pazak, an American of Ruthenian descent, and Johanna Hennessy, who was of Irish descent, both members of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.[2]

Religious life

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Pazak was admitted to the novitiate of the Canadian Province of the Redemptorists at Yorkton, Saskatchewan, on September 14, 1965. He studied at the Redemptorist seminary, St. Alphonsus College, in Suffield, Connecticut, and earned a bachelor's degree there in 1969. He made his perpetual profession of religious vows as a member of the Congregation on August 24 of that same year. After completing a baccalaureate in theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, he was ordained a priest on August 27, 1972.[2]

After serving in a Saskatoon parish for a year, Pazak was appointed Rector of Saint Vladimir's College in Manitoba, and continued in this position until 1990, except during 1978–1979, when he served as superior at the Redemptorist scholasticate in Toronto. From 1990 1996, he was pastor at Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Saskatoon, then from 1996 to 2000 he was parish priest at St. Joseph Church in Winnipeg.[2]

Pazak also served as vicar of his Redemptorist province, as a member of the provincial council, and as a consultor to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon.[2]

Eparchial appointments

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Pope John Paul II appointed Pazak eparch of the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto on December 2, 2000. The Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop of Winnipeg, Michael Bzdel, C.Ss.R., consecrated him a bishop on February 14, 2001; the co-consecrators were Milan Chautur, C.Ss.R., Apostolic Exarch of Košice and Basil Schott, O.F.M., the Ruthenian Eparch of Parma.

Pope Francis named Pazak the Eparch of the Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Protection of Mary in Phoenix on May 7, 2016.[3][4] On the same day he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto, until the appointment of a successor.[4] He was enthroned as Eparch of Phoenix for the Ruthenians on July 20, 2016.[5] On August 23, 2021, Pope Francis accepted his resignation after reaching the age of 75.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ David M. Cheney. "Bishop John Stephen Pažak, C.SS.R." catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Nomine del Vescovo di Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto degli Slovacchi (Canada)". Bollettino (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. December 2, 2000.
  3. ^ Tony Gutierrez (May 10, 2016). "Pope names new bishop for Phoenix Byzantine Eparchy, accepts Bishop Dino's resignation". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Rinuncia del Vescovo dell'Eparchia Holy Mary of Protection di Phoenix dei Ruteni (U.S.A.) e nomina del successore". Bollettino (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  5. ^ Joyce Coronel (July 22, 2016). "Bishop John Pazak enthroned as fifth bishop of Phoenix Byzantine Eparchy". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  6. ^ "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop John Pazak of the Byzantine Eparchy of Holy Protection of Mary; Appoints Bishop Thomas Olmsted as Apostolic Administrator". Retrieved August 23, 2021.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Eparchy of Phoenix
2016–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Eparch of Sts. Cyril and Methodius of Toronto for the Slovaks
2001–2016
Succeeded by