Andrew Pataki
Encyclopedia
Andrew Pataki is an Eastern Catholic prelate
, the second bishop of Parma for the Byzantines
, and the third bishop of Passaic for the Byzantines
. He is currently retired.
in 1927. He attended elementary school in Palmerton Public Schools, and went to Central Catholic High School
in Allentown
. Afterwards, he continued his education at St. Vincent's College
in Latrobe
. He began studying for the priesthood
in 1944, earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Procopius College-Seminary
in Lisle, Illinois
in 1948. He completed his studies at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
in Pittsburgh and on February 24, 1952, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Daniel Ivancho
for the eparchy of Passaic in the seminary chapel.
The newly-ordained Father Pataki earned his license in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Oriental Institute
in Rome
, after which he was appointed the rector of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. From 1973 until 1978, Pataki served on the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Eastern Code of Canon Law; he was also elevated to the rank of a Prelate of Honor by Pope Paul VI
.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop
of Passaic on June 14, 1983, with the titular see of Telmissus. He was consecrated a bishop on August 23 of the same year. On June 19, 1984 he was appointed the bishop of Parma for the Byzantines, and was installed on August 16, 1985. On November 6, 1995, he would be moved back to the Eparchy of Passaic, this time as its bishop—a post for which he was installed on February 8, 1996.
On December 6, 2007, when he was 80 years of age, Bishop Pataki's request for retirement was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI
on account of his having passed the customary retirement age of 75 for Catholic bishops.
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, the second bishop of Parma for the Byzantines
Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is the Catholic eparchy governing most Byzantine Catholics in the midwestern United States. Its headquarters are at 1900 Carlton Road, Parma, Ohio. The current bishop is the Most Reverend John Kudrick....
, and the third bishop of Passaic for the Byzantines
Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic is the Catholic eparchy governing most Byzantine Catholics in the eastern United States. Its headquarters are at 445 Lackawanna Avenue, Woodland Park . The current bishop is the Most Reverend William C. Skurla.The Eparchy was erected July 6, 1963 and its...
. He is currently retired.
Life
Andrew Pataki was born in Palmerton, PennsylvaniaPalmerton, Pennsylvania
Palmerton is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the coal region of the state. It is a part of lower Carbon County, which is considered part of the Lehigh Valley and the greater Allentown Metropolitan Area....
in 1927. He attended elementary school in Palmerton Public Schools, and went to Central Catholic High School
Allentown Central Catholic High School
Allentown Central Catholic High School is a private, parochial school located at 301 North Fourth Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. Afterwards, he continued his education at St. Vincent's College
St. Vincent's College
St. Vincent's College may refer to:* St Vincent's College, Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia* St. Vincent's College, Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States* DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois; founded as St...
in Latrobe
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
. He began studying for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in 1944, earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Procopius College-Seminary
Benedictine University
Benedictine University is a private Catholic university located in Lisle, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The institution has retained close relations with the Benedictine Order. Originally named St. Procopius College and located in the Pilsen community of Chicago, the school was founded in 1887 by...
in Lisle, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
in 1948. He completed his studies at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius is a degree-granting school of theology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States which prepares candidates for priestly ministry to the Byzantine Catholic churches of North America....
in Pittsburgh and on February 24, 1952, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Daniel Ivancho
Daniel Ivancho
Daniel Ivancho was the third bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church.-Early life:...
for the eparchy of Passaic in the seminary chapel.
The newly-ordained Father Pataki earned his license in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Oriental Institute
Pontifical Oriental Institute
The Pontifical Oriental Institute is the premier center for the study of Eastern Christianity in Rome, Italy....
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, after which he was appointed the rector of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. From 1973 until 1978, Pataki served on the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Eastern Code of Canon Law; he was also elevated to the rank of a Prelate of Honor by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Passaic on June 14, 1983, with the titular see of Telmissus. He was consecrated a bishop on August 23 of the same year. On June 19, 1984 he was appointed the bishop of Parma for the Byzantines, and was installed on August 16, 1985. On November 6, 1995, he would be moved back to the Eparchy of Passaic, this time as its bishop—a post for which he was installed on February 8, 1996.
On December 6, 2007, when he was 80 years of age, Bishop Pataki's request for retirement was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on account of his having passed the customary retirement age of 75 for Catholic bishops.