Bishop Wolodymyr Walter Paska (UGCC), Memory Eternal!

(UGCC) - With deep sadness we report that on August 16, 2008, after five months of illness, Bishop-emeritus of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia Most Rev. Walter (Paska) passed away to His Lord. Pictured at right with Patriarch Lubomyr.

Bishop Walter was born on November 29, 1923, in Elizabeth (New Jersey). In 1936 he entered the preparatory seminary of Saint Basil the Great in Stamford (Connecticut), from which he graduated in 1940. Consequently he studied at Saint Charles Seminary (1940-1941) and St. Basil College in Stamford (1941-1944), where he received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. From 1944 to 1947 he studied theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

On May 2, 1947, in the Cathedral Church of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia he was ordained to the priesthood. (The ordaining bishop was Costantine (Bohacevskyj), Metropolitan of Philadelphia).

From 1947 to 1951 he taught English language and literature at Saint Basil Seminary in Stamford. At the same time he studied in arts and sciences at Fordham University (New York), where he received a master\'s degree in medieval literature.

In 1948 he was appointed co-pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Brooklyn (New York); in 1951-1952 he was the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Chester (Pennsylvania); in 1952-1955 he was pastor of the Church of Saint Volodymyr in Elizabeth (New Jersey). At the same time (1953-1955) he was a member of the Archeparchial Council of Philadelphia.

From 1955 to 1958 he fulfilled parish obligations and taught English language and literature at Saint Basil Seminary. From 1958 to 1961 he fulfilled the obligations of steward in the newly created eparchy of Stamford and at the same time was the pastor of the Church of Saint Volodymyr in Hempstead (New York). From 1961 to 1971 he was chancellor and general vicar of the newly created eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago.

From 1971 to 1975 he studied canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington and received a doctorate. At that time he also fulfilled the obligations of vocations director of the metropolitanate.

From 1975 to 1984 he taught canon law at the Catholic University of America. In 1979 he was appointed rector of the Ukrainian Catholic Seminary of Saint Josaphat in Washington. He stayed in this position until 1984. In 1980 he was appointed judicial vicar of the Archeparchial Tribunal. From 1975 to 1977 he fulfilled the obligations of consulter of the Commission of Revision of the Code of Eastern Canon Law.

From 1984 to 1992 he was pastor of the Church of Saint Michael in Cherry Hill (New Jersey).

On March 19, 1992, he was ordained a bishop. He was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. From that same year he executed the obligations of the general and judicial vicar.

According to the Code of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches, in his 75th year of life Bishop Walter retired from his position.

A viewing will be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia (address: 830 N. Franklin St., Philadelphia., PA) beginning at 1:30 p.m., followed by a Parastas (requiem service) beginning at 7 p.m.

The funeral of the deceased will take place on Thursday, August 21, at 10.30. Hierarchs and clergy of the Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches will concelebrate together. After the completion of the prayer service, a funeral lunch will be held. After the lunch, burial is set for Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery in Langhorne.

"At this time of sadness I ask the priests of the Archeparchy as soon as possible, at a time convenient for them, to celebrate a commemorative Divine Liturgy for the repose of the soul of Bishop Walter (Paska)." So His Excellency Archbishop Stefan (Soroka), Metropolitan of Philadelphia, requested his priests.