8105 North 16^th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020-3999

Phone: (602) 861-9778 Fax: (602) 861-9796

www.eparchy-of-van-nuys.org

The address for Most Rev. George M. Kuzma: Mount Macrina Manor, 520 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401

The Church of the Annunciation is celebrating 10 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy at the new Parish Center located at 995 West Street in Anaheim, (one block south of La Palma). The Parish Center phone number is: (714) 991-9782. The rectory/office phone number remains the same: (714) 533-6292.

The Reverend Stephen Greskowiak’s request to be absent for six months from his parish, St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Anchorage, in order to care for his ailing mother, Agnes, has been granted by the Eparchial Administrator, effective March 1, 2001.

The Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Wesley Izer, SDB, has been appointed Temporary Administrator of St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Anchorage, Alaska, effective March 1, 2001. This is in addition to his other eparchial responsibilities.

The Rev. Michael Durka is relieved as Administrator of St. George parish in Olympia, Washington, for personal reasons as of March 16.

The Rt. Rev. Joseph Stanichar is appointed Temporary Administrator of St. George parish as of March 17.

Annunciation Parish celebrated the unfolding of a dream, 31 years in the making, late last year. An Open House and Barbecue was held at their recently completed Parish Center at 995 West Street in Anaheim. The Center, Phase I of their building project, consists of a social hall seating 270, a commercial kitchen, restrooms for men and women, four classrooms on the second floor, basement storage, and an outdoor patio. On the same occasion the 35-foot Carillon Memorial Tower in memory of the founders, current and deceased parishioners, and benefactors of the parish was dedicated.

Phase II of the Building Project is the construction of a classical Byzantine style church with a seating capacity of 300. A gathering plaza will front the church. Inauguration of Phase II is contingent upon the sale of the Parish Mission property on Harbor Boulevard, the success of the current Pledge Campaign, and other fund-raising efforts.

Since its founding in 1969, Annunciation Parish has been using St. Catherine’s Military School Chapel, of the Dominican Sisters. This has served their worshipping needs, including Sunday Liturgies, Christmas and Easter services, weddings, and funerals.

After many years of personal sacrifices and fund-raising activities, the parish founders and their fellow parishioners look forward to having their own traditional Byzantine church in which to worship. The present pastor in Anaheim is Msgr. George N. Vida.

The four Byzantine parishes of Southern California celebrated Vespers for St. Nicholas, appropriately in the St. Nicholas Church in Fontana. Rev. Joseph Hutsko, the host pastor spoke in the sermon about the spirit of generosity among clergy and faithful. Rt. Rev. Wesley Izer, SDB, presided at the services and spoke at the end. He expressed Bishop George’s joy at the gathering of the parishes for this celebration.

Clergy present for the celebration included Rev. Joseph Ridella, Msgr. Basil Smochko, Very Rev. Michael Moran, Msgr. George Vida, Rev. Julian Gnall, Rev. Melvin Rybarczyk, and Hegumen Nicholas. Father Basil and Father Moses from Resurrection Monastery assisted in the Sanctuary. Rev. Edmund Idranyi from St. Anne parish, though unable to attend, sent a donation.

Following Vespers a dinner for the 115 guests was provided in the parish hall. Teenagers of the parish served the dinner, with the help of Brother John and Brother Mike. Following the dinner the priests were already suggesting plans for next year’s St. Nicholas celebration in the region along with other possible gatherings of the Southern California parishes.

St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral hosted two events recently to aid other areas of the Byzantine Church. The second Annual Pancake Breakfast, prepared and served by the ECF students, teachers and parents, netted over $800 for our Eastern European parishes and projects. The money channeled through the Mission Society of Our Lady of Boronyavo, was sent this year to aid the children at the Orphanage in Perechyn. Diane Rabiej is the parish representative for the Mission Society.

The Pre-Lenten Party Polka, which provided ethnic food and music for dancing, was geared to help our Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh. The $1,500 realized by this event was matched by the GCU Lodge 999, so $3,000 went to help our seminary. The Sisters of St. Basil were the recipients of this project last year.

¡ The parishes of our small Eparchy donated over $8,000 this past year for the National Fund for Retired Religious. This Fund, to which every diocese is asked to contribute, helps support the many retired religious who can no longer work.

¡ The three new Cardinals appointed by Pope John Paul from among the Eastern prelates did not accept the traditional Red Hat (red biretta) from the Pope because the headgear is a vestment of the Latin not the Eastern Church. Those not accepting were:

• Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, recently appointed head of the Congregation for Eastern Churches;
• Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church; and
• Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, Major Archbishop of L’viv and head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Listed below are the goals and update of the Bishop’s Appeal thus far. The parishes are encouraged to get completed pledges into the Chancery as soon as possible so that the donations can be acknowledged. This update is as of March 9.

The renovations of St. Stephen Pro-Cathedral are nearing completion. Within the last month the Royal and Deacon Doors have been installed as well as the Mystical Supper Icon above the Royal Doors. The electrical work has been enhanced by the installation of halogen lights above the icons on the icon screen and in the sanctuary. A dimming light system is in effect throughout the church to provide the proper atmosphere for the varied services. Additional lighting and the sound-proofing of the confession areas is in process.

The tabernacle has not yet arrived from the original company, and special hanging lamps for the icons ordered from Greece are still to come. The installation of these will complete the original part of the renovation project.