Sunday, August 13, 2006

Bishop John's 60th birthday

His Excellency, Bishop John Stephen Pazak was born on August 13th 1946 in Gary, Indiana as the oldest child of late Johanna (nee Henessy) and late Stephen Pazak. He was baptized and chrismated on September 8th 1946 at St. Michael's Church in Gary, Ind.

He made his first vows as a Redemptorist on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14th 1965. He attended St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, Conn. and St. Pauls University in Ottawa, Ont.

Our beloved Bishop Michael Rusnak, CSsR ordained him a deacon on May 21st 1972. Later that year, on August 27th, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Emil Mihalik in his home parish in Gary, Ind.

His ministry included parish of Ss. Peter and Paul in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, St. Vladimir’s College in Roblin, Manitoba, parish of St. Mary’s in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and also St. Joseph's parish in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

His episcopal motto is the quotation from Prophet Isaiah, 40:3, "Prepare the way to the Lord."We congratulate Bishop John on his jubilee and wish him many more happy and blessed years!Eis polla eti, Despota! Na mnohaja ľita Vladyko!


Photo credits: Mary Snell - Siroky.