Vocations and the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh

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Byzantine Catholic
Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh

Office of Vocations
66 Riverview Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214
Phone: 412-231-4000 | Fax: 412-231-1697
E-mail: vocations@archeparchy.org

WELCOME to the OFFICIAL page of the Office of Vocations.
We're glad that you're here . . . and we are here for you.

We will help you to find as much information as you need to answer your questions about vocations in the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
Want to know more? Request a brochure.

We're hiring for a higher way

Pilgrim Vocation Icon and Prayer for Vocations

Lift your voice with thousands of Byzantine Catholics across the U.S. and offer this daily prayer in petition for an abundant increase of vocations in our church.

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC FAMILY LIFE During the months of July and August, our bishops called us to a special time of increased understanding of vocations to the Byzantine Catholic Family Life.
Creating a Family Culture - Vision and Plan
	Any “union and communion of persons” works best when there is a common vision. If the mission of the family is to image the Holy Trinity then each household should ask itself, “What should this household therefore look like? What should it sound like? What should be the overall atmosphere and character of the household?” This essentially means establishing plan or a family “culture.” What daily routines, traditions, habits, prayer time, activities, music, art, friends, etc. will best allow each family member to become the best versions of themselves — to grow in holiness? A particularly powerful practice in this regard is to have at least one meal together which would include prayer and brief reading of Scripture. During the meal have each person talk about what was significant to them that day. Reflect together on these experiences in the context of Faith. Consistency is vital to the effectiveness of any aspect of the family culture. The word “Gift” should be the guiding word of a family. The greatest gift that parents can give a child is the love between husband and wife. Parents should not ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Rather, ask them, “How do you think you can make a gift of yourself for others?” The greatest lesson learned in a family is that we are all made in God’s image and likeness and we only find our fulfillment in life by making a full, free, faithful and fruitful gift of ourselves to others. The family is a structure in which we first learn that real love is ultimately reflexive: We get what we need by tending first to the needs of others.
CLICK HERE for Vocations Awareness leaflet #3 - Byzantine Family Life
CLICK HERE for Vocations Awareness leaflet #2 - Byzantine Catholic Priesthood
CLICK HERE for Vocations Awareness leaflet #1 - Byzantine Catholic Consecrated Life

OFFICE OF VOCATIONS STAFF

Overseeing day-to-day business and communications, the Office of Vocations Staff will gladly answer your questions concerning vocations and discernment in the Byzantine Catholic Church. The Vocations Staff also assures the implementation of vocation-seeking protocols as recommended by the Vocations Committee.

ARCHPRIEST DENNIS M. BOGDA

Director

REV. KEVIN E. MARKS

Associate Director

DARLENE FEJKA

Administrative Coordinator

VOCATIONS COMMITTEE

The mission of the Archeparchial Vocations Program is to invite and assist men and women in discerning their call to discipleship in the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh as priests, religious women, monastics, and deacons. The purpose of the Vocations Committee is to ensure the viability and success of the Vocations Program through sound recommendations for outreach and renewal practices which will lead to the identification of future church leadership.

Very Reverend Archpriest Dennis M. Bogda, Chair

Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich

Sister Agnes Knapik, OSB

Reverend Kevin E. Marks

Dorothy Mayernik

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM

Very Reverend Archpriest John G. Petro

Reverend Thomas Schaefer

Deacon Paul Simko

Amanda Trapp

VOCATIONS INTERVIEW BOARD

The purpose of the Vocations Interview Board is to interview prospective candidates within the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh who have made application to the SS. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary or to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great.

Reverend Thomas J. Wesdock, Chair

Very Reverend Archpriest Dennis M. Bogda

Sister Jean Marie Cihota, OSBM

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM

Very Reverend Archpriest John G. Petro

Dr. Betty R. Shovlin

ARCHEPARCHIAL VOCATIONS NEWS ARCHIVES

"WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?"
The Intereparchial Vocations Commission (IEVC) and Archieparchial Vocations Committee (AVC) had their meetings during the month of September 2008. READ THE STORY from the September 28, 2008 issue of the Byzantine Catholic World.

"FAITH AND FUN DAY" 2008
A day filled with spirit! Archieparchial Altar Servers were invited to this all-day FREE event on August 21, 2008 at Gilmary Center in Moon Township, Pa.
CLICK HERE to read the Faith & Fun Day story from the September 7 issue of the Byzantine Catholic World.

ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH OFFICE OF VOCATIONS IN NATIONAL PUBLICATION
VISIONGUIDE 2007 Religious Discernment Guide includes the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh on page 123. A listing in the "Men's Communities Search" section also appears on page 150, under the "Diocese" heading. Visit the Visionguide site for information about the Guide, as well as other interesting links and services for those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

VOCATIONS AWARENESS SUNDAY 2007
On April 22, 2007, the Sunday of the Ointment-Bearers, a special day of vocations awareness took place in every church of the Metropolia. View the 2007 Vocations Awareness poster.

The Byzantine Catholic World also dedicated an entire issue (April 15, 2007) to vocations. CLICK HERE to view a PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) file of the issue, which contains features about vocations in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

ARCHEPARCHY IN VOCATIONS FAIR
Read a feature story from the November 11, 2007 issue of the BCW about the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh's participation in the October 2007 Vocations Awareness Day at FUS.

Read a feature story about the Office of Vocations' participation in Franciscan University of Steubenville's Priestly and Religious Vocations Fair in October 2006.

CHOSEN FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE
The Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh officially Launched its Five-Year Plan for Vocations with a Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Basil in August 2005. View Archbishop Basil's letter and excerpts from the "Chosen from Among the People: A Five-Year Plan for Vocations" brochure.

VOCATIONS EVENTS
CHURCHES and ORGANIZATIONS of the ARCHEPARCHY! SUBMIT your VOCATIONS EVENTS

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Vocations Links

Byzantine Catholic Seminary

Franciscan Friars of the Assumption Province
(Byzantine Catholic Franciscans)

National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors

National Association of Diaconate Directors

Queen of Heaven Monastery
(Byzantine Catholic Benedictine Sisters)

Serra International

Sisters of St. Basil the Great

USCCB - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Department of Vocations and Priestly Formation

VISIONGUIDE Magazine - the Catholic vocations guide

USCCB Committee on Vocations "Fishers of Men" Program

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The Official Website of the
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
66 Riverview Avenue • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15214
Telephone: 412-231-4000 | Fax: 412-231-1697

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Website is an Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. © 2003, Office of Communications. Neither any part of this site nor its content may be reproduced, transmitted, copied, or used in any way without the expressed permission of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Office of Communications. This site may be linked freely.