History 1992



 This article appeared in the February 9, 1992 issue of "The Way."  In this article, Pope John Paul II appointed Msgr. Walter Paska (who was currently the pastor of parishes in Cherry Hill, NJ and Williamstown, NJ) as auxiliary bishop to Metropolitan-Archbishop Stephen Sulyk of the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Msgr. Walter Paska was the pastor of  St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Williamstown, NJ, since 1984.  



Here is the text from the articles in "The Way" from February 9, 1992.

POPE APPOINTS MSGR. WALTER PASKA AUXILARY BISHOP; EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION IS SET FOR MARCH 19

Philadelphia, Pa.-Pope. John Paul II has appointed. Msgr. Walter Paska, pastor of parishes in Cherry Hill, and Williamstown, New Jersey as auxiliary bishop to Metropolitan-Archbishop Stephen Sulyk of the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The appointment was announced Tues. Feb. 4 in Washington, D.C. by Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, apostolic pro-nuncio.

In his capacity as auxiliary bishop, he will assist in ministering to the approximately 80,000 Ukrainian Catholic faithful of the 80 parishes and 1 mission of the Archdiocese located in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The Holy Father made the selection upon the recommendation of candidates submitted to him by the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Upon hearing of the announcement, Archbishop Sulyk said: "I wish to thank the Holy Father for granting to our Archdiocese a new auxiliary bishop and I am extremely pleased with the naming of Msgr. Paska to this position. He has many years of pastoral, administrative, and canonical experience in serving the needs of the faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church throughout the United States. We have been personal friends for many years and I now look forward to working with him as a brother bishop in the service of the Lord. As we now journey as brother bishops, following the path of the Apostles, may our service together be one of unity, mutual respect, and fraternal love and understanding as we give witness to Jesus Christ in our ministry. "

In May, the new auxiliary bishop will travel with Archbishop Sulyk to participate in the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, which will be held in Lviv, Ukraine.

The episcopal ordination of Bishop-designate Paska will take place in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday afternoon, March 19.

Bishop-Designate Brings Much Experience to New Position

Bishop-designate Msgr. Walter Paska, 68, was born November 29, 1923 in Elizabeth, N.J., the son.of Wasyl and Rosalia Paska, and after attending elementary schools there and in New York, New York, graduated from St. Basil's College Preparatory School, Stamford, Connecticut in 1940.  

He enrolled in St. Charles College, Catonsville, Maryland and completed his undergraduate studies at St. Basil's Seminary College, Stamford, Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1944.

That summer he was admitted to the School of Theology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1947 by the late Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky, in Philadelphia, Pa.

His first assignment was as an instructor at St. Basil's Preparatory School (1947-1951), during which time he continued his studies at Fordham University, New York, N.Y. from which he received his Master of Arts degree in Medieval Literature in 1952. From 1955 through 1958, he also served as an instructor at St. Basil's College, Stamford, Conn.

His parochial assignments included Brooklyn, N.Y. (1948-49), Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church, Chester, Pa. (1951-52), St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Elizabeth, N.J. (1953-55), St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hempstead, N. Y. (1958-1961), St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Baltimore, Md. (1976-79), and as Director of the Dioeesan Boys Camp, Stratford, Conn.

He served as Chancellor and Vicar General of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Diocese in Chicago from 1961-1971, and then was appointed Provincial Vocation Director for the years 1971-1976. During this time he completed studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, and was awarded the Degree of Doctor in Canon Law in 1975.

After serving as pastor in Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Curtis Bay, Maryland, he was appointed rector of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, Washington, D.C. from 1979-1984.

Msgr. Paska was on the faculty of the Canon Law Department, The Catholic University of America from 1974-1984, as lecturer in Oriental Canon Law.

He has been a consultor for the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Oriental Law since 1975, and continues to function as the Vicar Judicial of the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a position he has held since 1981.

In addition to his present pastoral assignments as pastor of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Cherry Hill, N.J. and Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Williamstown, N.J., which he assumed in 1984, he also serves as Dean (Protopresbyter) of the South Jersey Deanery (Protopresbytery), is an archdiocesan consultor, is a member of the St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary Advisory Board.

The  title of  Monsignor was conferred  on  him by  Pope  John XXIII in 1962, and the title of Domestic Prelate by Pope Paul VI on September 7, 1963.