FACES AND PLACES: Happy bishop, happy people (11/12/00)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

Happy bishop, happy people

Ukrainian American Catholics are fortunate to have many bishops, most of whom appear happy enough in their positions. One, however, seems happiest of all.

Question! Who do you think is the happiest of all of our bishops? Not just happy-face happy, but really, truly, honestly, spiritually happy to the core of his being.

I'll give you a clue. This bishop loves to tell jokes, especially about the clergy. Here's one he told recently: A pastor had to leave his parish for a weekend and asked the assistant pastor to fill in. Upon his return, he called one of his parishioners and asked about the assistant pastor's Sunday homily. "It was awful," the parishioner reported, "one of the worst I've ever heard."

Concerned, the pastor called in his assistant and asked the same question. "I gave a great sermon," the assistant declared. Then, bowing his head, he said, ever so sheepishly, "I didn't have time to prepare one of my own, so I pulled out one of your old sermons, Father, and gave that one."

I'll give you another clue. This bishop often lovingly refers to some of his priests as "Frito Banditos."

This happy bishop is the Most Rev. Innocent Lotocky, OSBM, who, on November 24, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the holy priesthood. He was honored at St. Nicholas Cathedral on October 22 with a divine liturgy that included such distinguished attendees as Cardinal Francis George, who gave a homily in English, Bishop Stephen Wiwchar, who spoke in Ukrainian, and Archbishop Vsevolod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. Bishop Lotocky also spoke during the liturgy, recalling how he had received his calling and the joy of being a priest. Afterwards 300 happy people attended the luncheon.

Bishop Lotocky was born on November 3, 1915, in Petlykivtsi Stari, Buchach, Ukraine, the youngest among two brothers and two sisters. He was enrolled in the Buchach Gymnasium of the Basilian Fathers in 1928; four years later he entered the novitiate of the Order of St. Basil in Krekhiv and in 1940 was ordained to the holy priesthood.

Father Lotocky began his pastoral work in Vienna, where he served from 1941 to 1944. It was during this period that he successfully completed, at the University of Vienna, a doctoral dissertation on the Holy Spirit in the liturgy.

In 1946 Father Lotocky came to the United States to serve as master of Basilian novices in Dawson, Pa. In 1953 he became pastor of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City. Five years later he was appointed Basilian novice master in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York.

Father Lotocky first came to Chicago in 1961, when he was appointed pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church. A year later he was transferred to Hamtramck, Mich., as pastor of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, where he served for 20 years. During his tenure he taught at Immaculate Conception High School, rated today as one of the top high schools in America by U.S. News & World Report, and continued a radio ministry he had begun while in New York.

In 1981 Father Lotocky was raised to episcopal rank in Rome by Patriarch Josyf Slipyj and Bishops Neil Savaryn and Basil Losten. He became the Chicago eparchy's second bishop that same year.

Bishop Innocent came to Chicago during a very difficult period in the history of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in America. The community was deeply divided between "old calenderites" (those who followed the Julian calendar) and the "new calendarites" (those who followed the Gregorian calendar). This issue had divided families, relatives and friends. People with opposite views on the matter wouldn't talk to each other. Organizations split or lost members over the calendar.

It wasn't always that way. When I was growing up in Chicago, I was the only kid in my public school class who had "two Christmases." The first was on December 24, when I received gifts. The second was on January 7, when our family observed a more spiritual celebration, a 12-course Sviat Vechir. St. Nicholas Church had services on both Christmases.

All this changed soon after the arrival of Chicago's first Ukrainian Catholic bishop, the Most Rev. Jaroslav Gabro. A native Chicagoan, he grew up across the street from St. Nicholas Cathedral and was familiar with the "two Christmas" situation. Someone (some people believe it was his chancellor) convinced Bishop Gabro to officially adopt the Gregorian calendar for St. Nicholas Cathedral. Big mistake. The cathedral remained closed on January 14 when parishioners traditionally came to have their water blessed.

Tempers flared, the rectory was stormed and by the time police arrived, a priest had been struck and a nun had been thrown to the ground. It was not a pretty sight. The morning newspapers reported it on the front page - only the second time in the history of our community that Ukrainians had enjoyed such coverage. Approximately half of the St. Nicholas parishioners left and established a new parish, Ss. Volodymyr and Olha. In time, a new church was erected two blocks from the cathedral. The calendar was now a symbol for maintaining Ukrainian Catholic tradition, as well as a bond with the underground Catholic Church in Ukraine.

At the time of Bishop Innocent's arrival, the community remained divided and feelings were still raw. The historian who writes the comprehensive history of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in America will undoubtedly devote more than one chapter to Bishop Innocent's episcopacy, especially his role in humbly and ever so gently persuading the two sides to come together in the name of Christian love and unity. Given the innately obstinate nature of Ukrainians, some believe his accomplishment was a miracle.

Thanks to Bishop Innocent, most of the wounds associated with that difficult time in Chicago history appear healed. The two sides are reconciled to each other's presence and tend to respect each other's views - another rarity among Ukrainians.

Even though Bishop Lotocky retired in 1993, this gifted spiritual shepherd still hears confessions, celebrates liturgy, runs retreats and has continued his radio ministry in Chicago. His gentle, well-prepared and thought-provoking sermons, some of which have been published, are a joy to hear. (A Ukrainian-language compilation of his sermons is available for $15 by calling 773-276-5080.)

Thank you, Bishop Innocent, for your 60 years of dedicated and enlightened Christian service to the Ukrainian people. "Mnohaya Lita" to a living saint.

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is: [email protected]

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