March Newsletter

Newsletter - March 2026

Bishop’s message for Mid-Lent

Follow Christ wherever He leads

In the middle of Lent, the Holy Cross shows us the way to Holy Week and Pascha

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we continue our journey through the Great Fast, one thought keeps returning to my heart: follow Christ wherever He leads. This is the heart of the Christian life and the heart of mission. But where does Christ lead us?

On the Third Sunday of Lent, the Church placed the Holy Cross before us as a sign of strength and hope. The Cross we venerate at Mid-Lent encourages us to keep going, but it also shows us where this journey is leading: to the Cross of Holy Friday, and from there to the joy of the Resurrection.

In these final weeks of the Great Fast, the Church gives us powerful guides. Saint John Climacus reminds us that the spiritual life is an ascent, taken one step at a time. Saint Mary of Egypt reminds us that no matter how deep one falls into sin, true repentance can lead to radical transformation and holiness. And the Gospel of the Fifth Sunday of Lent teaches us that true glory is not found in power, but in humility, service, and self-giving love.

I hold in a special way in my prayer our young people, who are trying to follow Christ in a world full of noise, confusion and doubt. Some are quietly asking whether faith still has a place in an age shaped by science and technology. To them, and to all who struggle, I want to say: do not be afraid of your questions, and do not be afraid of Christ. He is the Lord of Truth, and He leads us into the fullness of truth, love, and life. That reassurance is especially important now, when younger adults are more likely to be unaffiliated and many young people report uncertainty and loneliness.

Yes, Christ leads us to the Cross but never apart from hope. He leads us through the Cross to new life.

Many of you are already carrying crosses in your daily lives. Please, keep walking with Christ. Even when the road is steep, He is with us. Even when the Cross is heavy, He is with us. And where He leads us grace is already waiting.

Be assured of my prayers for you and your families.

With my blessing and love in Christ,

✠ Artur

News from the Vatican

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, titular Archbishop of Sepino and until now Holy See Permanent Observer at the UN, as the new Apostolic Nuncio in the United States of America.

He succeeds Cardinal Christophe Pierre, whose resignation was accepted upon reaching the age limit.

Read the EWTN story here

Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America.

The Holy Father has appointed Most Rev. Milan Lach, former Bishop of Parma, as the new Bishop of the Eparchy of Bratislava in Slovakia.

He has most recently been the Titular Bishop of Ostracine and Auxiliary of the same ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as well as Apostolic Visitor for Byzantine Catholic faithful residing in Western Europe.

Read an interview with Bishop Milan here (your browser will need to translate to English).

Bishop Milan Lach, S.I.

A commission to develop proposals for updating the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO) has been recently formed, in light of the ongoing synodal process and requests from Eastern Churches.

Composed of experts in Eastern canon law, the Commission met for the first time on February 20, 2026.

Read the full story here.

Members of the new Eastern
Canonical Commission

Metropolitan William Visits Saint Stephen Cathedral

On Sunday, February 22, our Archbishop Metropolitan William of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh made a fraternal visit to Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Phoenix, AZ.

A Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated with Bishop Artur and clergy, followed by fellowship and brunch in the hall.

Metropolitan William holds the chalice, and Father Michael Mandelas gives the homily.

Clergy and altar servers with Metropolitan William.

Hierarchical Divine Liturgies create big appetites!

Bishop Artur Visits Saint Gabriel in Las Vegas, NV

On Sunday, January 25th Bishop Artur visited Saint Gabriel the Archangel in Las Vegas, NV. At his visit, Father Markus Gomori, Pastor of Saint Gabriel, was honored with the dignity of the Golden Jeweled Cross and Epigonation and granted the honorific of Very Reverend. This is a special honor bestowed upon a priest by the bishop in recognition of long and exemplary service in the Church.

The following clergy were similarly honored by Bishop Artur in 2025 / 2026:

Father Vasyl Mutka was honored with the dignity of the Jeweled Pectoral Cross and Epigonation, and granted the honorific of Very Reverend.

Father Robert Rankin was honored with the dignity of the Jeweled Pectoral Cross and Epigonation, and granted the honorific of Very Reverend.

Father Christopher Zugger was honored with the dignity of the Jeweled Pectoral Cross and Epigonation, and granted the honorific of Very Reverend.

Father William O'Brien was honored with the dignity of the Jeweled Pectoral Cross and Epigonation, and granted the honorific of Very Reverend.

Father Anthony Hernandez was honored with the dignity of the Gold Pectoral Cross and Epigonation, and granted the honorific of Very Reverend.

Holy Week Schedules Across the Eparchy

For those travelling by sea, land or air during Holy Week, we have put together a schedule of every service from Great and Holy Monday to Pascha that will be available at our parishes, missions, and outreaches across the eparchy. Even if you are away from your own community during Holy Week there is still an opportunity to maintain the wonderful liturgical life of our Byzantine Catholic faith. Please check for nearby liturgies and share this schedule with anyone who may benefit from it!

Click to see the Holy Week schedules across our eparchy.

Pascha Cards Available From Mission Society

2026 Easter Cards from the Mission Society of Our Lady of Boronyavo are now available in all of our parishes, just in time to spread love and cheer for Pascha. The cards feature the beautiful Byzantine icon of Christ trampling death by death and granting life to those in the tombs, and are made by the same iconographer who wrote the icon for the Nativity cards sent last Christmas by Bishop Artur.

If you provide a list of names when purchasing or donating, they will be remembered in prayer by Bishop Teodor Matsapula in his Paschal liturgy at Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhhorod, the spiritual home of our Ruthenian Church.

Purchase cards in your parish, and learn more here (if you are not local to a parish in our eparchy, you can order online).

Look for a display like this in your parish narthex and/or gift shop.

Bishop's Appeal Update

As of March 14, 2026 we are 43% to reaching our goal of $300,000.

Your generosity directly supports the essential work of our eparchy, including:

• Youth and young adult ministry

• Eastern Christian formation and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

• Communication and evangelization

• Retreats and spiritual renewal

• Seminarian education and fostering new vocations

• Strengthening parishes and supporting the eparchial services that serve them

Read more about the Bishop's Appeal.

DONATE TO THE APPEAL HERE

The Appeal In Action: Subdeacon David Vonderohe

Among the impacts from generous donations to the Bishop's Appeal is the ability to help support the growth and education of our seminarians. This month we are highlighting Subdeacon Davide Vonderohe:

“Glorify the Lord with me; together let us praise his name” (Ps. 33). These words of invitation of the psalmist have held a special place in my heart during my vocational journey. Indeed, each vocation begins by way of an invitation, whether it be to religious life, to marriage, to holy orders, etc. Both my life as a Christian and my vocation to holy orders had their beginnings as invitations, the former simply as an invitation to the Divine Liturgy, the latter as an invitation to discern God’s calling to the priesthood.

My vocational journey now finds me in my final months at the Pontifical Greek College in Rome. It began, however, in 2017 with a spirituality year where I spent my first semester at Our Lady of Perpetual Help under the direction of, as he was known back then, Father Artur Bubnevych, as well as Father Chris Zugger. After another semester at Saint Stephen Cathedral in Phoenix and two years at our Seminary in Pittsburgh, I was asked to go to Rome to complete my formation and study Oriental Canon Law. I arrived in Rome in 2020 and have since earned an S.T.B. magna cum laude from the Pontifical Gregorian University and am currently completing my final year of studies for a licentiate in Oriental Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

For 2025 and 2026 I was elected the student representative for the mission of the Pontifical Oriental Institute at the academic senate of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the student representative for the general counsel of the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

I look forward to coming back to the United States to serve our Eparchy. I am grateful for the constant prayers and support of the great people of our Eparchy – thank you! I am also grateful for the opportunity I have had to study in Rome, a place that will always have special meaning for me, especially because it is the home city of my fiancée Letizia. We plan to marry this summer at the conclusion of my studies; please keep us in your prayers!

Christ the Catechist Retreat July 31 - Aug 2

If you are an ECF coordinator or teacher at your parish, save the date for our Christ the Catechist retreat at Saint Stephen Cathedral in Phoenix, AZ.

A weekend of renewal will be offered for all ECF coordinators and teachers in the eparchy, including:

Fellowship and time for prayer
Conversations of strengths and challenges
How to present Bible Study programs
Catechist Certification Program
more!

The weekend begins at 5 pm on Friday, July 31 with dinner and concludes with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Bishop Artur on Sunday at 10 am at the Cathedral.

More information (travel, accommodations, updates) will follow.

Across the Eparchy: Social Hour After Liturgy

Days that your parish community offers a social hour (or hours) after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday are one of the most important ways that you can become a part of the life of the Church. After receiving Communion of the Holy Eucharist, instead of driving home we continue that communion in our church halls for the breaking of bread and fellowship with each other. Get to know your fellow parishioners, spend time learning about them and become a true family of bothers and sisters in Christ!

Social gathering in the hall after Divine Liturgy at Saint Stephen Cathedral in Phoenix, AZ.

Social potluck in the hall after Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas of Myra in Fontana, CA.

Bishop Artur and Kathy Slonka, retired communication director for the Eparchy of Phoenix, enjoying time catching up.

Young adults staying for social time after the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts at Saint Basil the Great in Los Gatos, CA.

Friendship and fellowship after liturgy at Holy Angels in San Diego, CA.

Father Anthony Hernandez Speaks at Santa Clara University

For the second year in a row, the Catholic Club at the University of Santa Clara invited Father Anthony Hernandez of Saint Basil the Great in Los Gatos, CA to give a talk on the Resurrection of Christ in the light of the Eastern Christian tradition. The talk was coordinated by Raquel Arévalo and Emmanuel Valencia from St. Basil and took place on Feb. 23, followed by a period of questions and answers.

Father Anthony and members of the Santa Clara Catholic Club.

AZ Parishioners Join March for Life in Phoenix

Deacon James Danovich, the Pro-Life Advocate for the Eparchy of Phoenix, led parishioners from Saint Stephen Cathedral in Phoenix and Saint Thomas the Apostle in Gilbert in joining thousands other Catholics and pro-life advocates at the 2026 Arizona March For Life on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Deacon James, his wife Josefina, and Byzantine Catholics at the March For Life.

The crosses were over 8' tall!

The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual help with the Christ child remind us of the holy and precious life of every unborn soul.

Special Guests at Annunciation in Anaheim, CA

Mister "C" and the children, parents and teachers from St Patrick’s Catholic School, a Spanish immersion Catholic school in North Hollywood, CA, joined our 10:00 am Sunday Divine Liturgy on Cheesefare Sunday. Not only did they experience the Sunday Divine Liturgy but they also experienced the Forgiveness Service that traditionally begins the Great Fast.

Visitors from Saint Patrick's Catholic School at Annunciation in Anaheim, CA.

ByzanTEEN Rally 2026 Registration Is Open

The next Byzantine Youth Rally will take place July 9-12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio, and all registration is now open.

The Byzantine Youth Rally provides Eastern Catholic faith formation and fraternity for all teens (ages 13-18) growing up in the Byzantine Catholic tradition. Together with their peers, youth actively engage in living, growing in, and promoting the Byzantine Catholic tradition.

All the details are here - be sure to let your parish priest know if you have teens interested in attending!

Parishioner Debuts Documentary About Ukraine

Luke Padilla, a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Albuquerque, NM is part of a three-member documentary team that traveled across Europe visiting Ukrainian refugee sites. The 24-minute documentary was just released on YouTube. They eventually made their way into Ukraine and our historic Ruthenian homeland of the Transcapathian Mountain region and all the way to Mukachevo, home of our Mother Church and Blessed Theodore Romzha.

Seeing people in need of hope, Patrick Gozur, head of digital bible engagement at the non profit Audio Bible ministry Faith Comes By Hearing, set about making a free Ukrainian Bible app and sent advertisements across Europe, to common Ukrainian refugee sites. Patrick and the documentary team traveled across Europe and eventually into Ukraine itself to discover just that. Watch the documentary to learn how God’s Word is giving hope to the courageous Ukrainian people and hear an interview from the inspiring dean emeritus of Mukachevo Father Vasyl Kopyn who is now pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in the Eparchy of Passaic.

Watch the video here.

Traditional Baskets For Pascha

A Ruthenian and Slavic tradition at Pascha is bringing a basket of food to church on Pascha (Easter) to be blessed after the Divine Liturgy. It normally contains the food and items that are either associated with Pascha or are traditionally not consumed during the Great Fast.

Fill a basket with your favorite foods, especially any that you have abstained from, to be blessed as we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ!

Voices of the Saints - Saint Mary of Egypt

The dramatic story attributed to Saint Zosimus about Saint Mary of Egypt's life and conversion is one of the most famous in Christian literature, and has been so enormously popular among Eastern Christians that the last Sunday of Lent (Sunday, March 22 this year) is given over to her commemoration, both as an example and a warning. Her life is also read as the conclusion to the Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete.

Born around 344 AD in Alexandria, the early part of her life was one of sin and worldly pleasure, until she experienced a dramatic conversion during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Stirred to repentance by the grace of God before the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, she withdrew into the desert for nearly fifty years, dedicating herself to prayer, fasting, and the struggle for holiness.

Her life of profound repentance and spiritual transformation stands as a luminous example for the faithful during the Great Fast, encouraging us in humility and repentance and reminding us that no soul is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.