Pope creates Ruthenian diocese (12/27/81)

Pope creates Ruthenian diocese

NEWARK, N.J. - Auxiliary Bishop Thomas V. Dolinay of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Diocese of Passaic was named on December 15 by Pope John Paul II to head the newly created Byzantine Catholic Diocese of Van Nuys, Calif., reported The Star-Ledger.

The new diocese was created by the Vatican from the Diocese of Parma, Ohio, and marks the fourth U.S. diocese created since 1924 for Eastern Rite Catholics with roots in Ruthenia.

Bishop Dolinay, 58, is the first bishop of a diocese encompassing 16,000 Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics, 23 priests and 15 parishes in 13 western states.

"The presence of a bishop" for Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska "is meant to give new impetus to the apostolic efforts of our priests and laity," the new bishop said.

Since 1969, under Bishop Emil J. Mihalik of the Parma Diocese, seven parishes were established in what is now the Diocese of Van Nuys. In addition, 11 other sites are under consideration for parishes in the new diocese, he said.

Bishop Dolinay, a native of Uniontown, Pa., was born in 1923. His father was also a Byzantine-rite priest.

After studying at St. Procopius College and Seminary in Lisle, Ill., he was ordained in Uniontown in 1948. His first assignments as assistant pastor were at churches in Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Pottstown, Pa. From 1964 to 1976, he was pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Conn.

In 1966 he was elevated to the rank of monsignor and 10 years later was named by Pope Paul VI an auxiliary bishop in the Passaic Diocese headed by Bishop Michael J. Dudick.

Since being named bishop, he has been in residence in Mountaintop, Pa., serving as vicar general of the diocese, episcopal vicar for Pennsylvania priests, vicar for Hungarians, a member of the diocesan building commission and editor of Eastern Catholic Life, the weekly diocesan newspaper established in 1965.

Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics were given their first diocese in the United States in Pittsburgh in 1924, when the Vatican also created a Byzantine diocese for Ukrainian Americans.

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