|
Biography of Metropolitan Archbishop-elect William
Metropolitan Archbishop-elect William Charles Skurla, D.D. was born in Duluth, Minn. June 1, 1956, son of the late John and Mavis Skurla. He attended Catholic and public elementary schools and graduated in 1974 from Chisholm High School, Chisholm, Minn.
Bishop William attended Deerfield Academy Post-Graduate program in Deerfield, Mass.1974-75 and then attended Columbia University in New York City, graduating with a concentration in Philosophy in 1981. Following this, he then studied at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, Pa., receiving Master of Divinity (1986) and Master of Theology (1987) degrees.
Discerning a call to serve the Lord in a special way, William Skurla entered the Byzantine Franciscan community in Sybertsville, Pa. in 1981 and was solemnly professed in 1985. Bishop Michael Dudick ordained him to the diaconate in 1986 and to the priesthood in 1987 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Freeland , Pa. In 1996, having received and accepted his dispensation from solemn vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), he was incardinated into the Eparchy of Van Nuys, where he served as Pastoral Administrator at St. Melany Byzantine Catholic Church in Tucson, Ariz. from 1993 until 2002.
Archbishop-elect William was ordained to the Episcopacy and enthroned as the Third Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys (now the Eparchy of Phoenix) on April 23, 2002 in Phoenix, Ariz. In December 2007 he was appointed Fourth Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic (N.J.) and was enthroned at St. Michael Cathedral in Passaic on Jan. 29, 2008.
The Episcopal chairperson of the Intereparchial Vocations Commission (IEVC) and Intereparchial Youth Commission for the Metropolitan Church , Bishop William was a member of the Committee on the Laity with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He currently serves as a member of the USCCB Administrative Committee, Priority and Plans Committee, and National Advisory Committee.
Metropolitan Archbishop-elect William was appointed fifth Metropolitan of the Byzantine Catholic Ruthenian Church in America by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 19, 2012. His enthronement will take place on April 18.
Metropolitan
Archbishop-elect William Brief Chronology
June
1, 1956 – Born in Duluth, Minn.
August
4, 1987– Ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Michael J. Dudick
April 23, 2002 – Enthroned as Bishop of Van Nuys
January 29, 2008 – Enthroned as Bishop of Passaic
April 18, 2012 – anticipated enthronement as the fifth Metropolitan
of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of America and Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of
Pittsburgh |
