Basil Schott
Encyclopedia
Basil Myron Schott, O.F.M. (September 21, 1939 – June 10, 2010) was the Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
from 2002 until his death.
The youngest son of Michael Schott and Mary Schott (née Krusko), Basil Schott was born in Freeland, Pennsylvania
and attended St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School as a child. He graduated from St. Gabriel High School in Hazleton, Pennsylvania
and entered the Byzantine Franciscan
novitiate at Holy Dormition Monastery in Sybertsville
on August 3, 1958. He was professed as a Franciscan friar
on August 4, 1959. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1965 by Bishop Stephen J. Kocisko
at the Franciscan Monastery in New Canaan, Connecticut
. Schott earned bachelor's degrees in philosophy and theology from Immaculate Conception College in Troy, New York
, master's degrees in theology and pastoral counseling from St. Mary Seminary in Norwalk, Connecticut
, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary
in 1969.
As a Franciscan, his talks on spiritual renewal made him a popular retreat leader. On February 3, 1996, he was appointed bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
, and was ordained on July 11, 1996. On May 3, 2002, he was appointed as the fourth Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and installed on July 9 of the same year. As his episcopal motto, he chose "In the name of the Lord." He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
as a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
.
Schott died at Passavant Hospital
in the North Hills
of Pittsburgh on June 10, 2010, at age 70, following a seven-month battle with lymphoma
. His final pastoral initiative was the first national gathering of all Byzantine Catholic priests from throughout the United States, June 8–9, 2010, which Schott was unable to attend due to his hospitalization. A funeral liturgy was said on June 18, 2011, and Schott was buried in Mount St. Macrina Cemetery, Uniontown
.
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is the Catholic archeparchy governing all of the Byzantine Catholic Church in the Western portion of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and in the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia...
from 2002 until his death.
The youngest son of Michael Schott and Mary Schott (née Krusko), Basil Schott was born in Freeland, Pennsylvania
Freeland, Pennsylvania
Freeland, originally called Birbeckville after founder Joseph Birkbeck, then South Heberton, is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, south of Wilkes-Barre, and 10 miles northeast of Hazleton in an agricultural region. Freeland was officially incorporated as a borough on September 11, 1876....
and attended St. Mary Byzantine Catholic School as a child. He graduated from St. Gabriel High School in Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:...
and entered the Byzantine Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
novitiate at Holy Dormition Monastery in Sybertsville
Sybertsville, Pennsylvania
Sybertsville is a community in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It is one mile northwest of Conyngham and six miles west-northwest of Hazelton....
on August 3, 1958. He was professed as a Franciscan friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
on August 4, 1959. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1965 by Bishop Stephen J. Kocisko
Stephen Kocisko
Stephen John Kocisko was the first Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church-Early life:...
at the Franciscan Monastery in New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
. Schott earned bachelor's degrees in philosophy and theology from Immaculate Conception College in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, master's degrees in theology and pastoral counseling from St. Mary Seminary in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary
New York Theological Seminary
The New York Theological Seminary was established as a non-denominational institution in 1900 with the founding of the Bible Teachers’ College in Montclair, New Jersey by Wilbert Webster White. President White moved the school to New York City in 1902, when it was renamed the Bible Teachers’...
in 1969.
As a Franciscan, his talks on spiritual renewal made him a popular retreat leader. On February 3, 1996, he was appointed bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma
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 was ordained on July 11, 1996. On May 3, 2002, he was appointed as the fourth Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and installed on July 9 of the same year. As his episcopal motto, he chose "In the name of the Lord." He was appointed 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...
as a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
.
Schott died at Passavant Hospital
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
in the North Hills
North Hills (Pennsylvania)
The North Hills is a term generally used to collectively describe the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The independent suburban municipalities that are always included in the North Hills are Ross Township, Borough of West View, Shaler Township, West Deer Township, Frazer Township,...
of Pittsburgh on June 10, 2010, at age 70, following a seven-month battle with lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
. His final pastoral initiative was the first national gathering of all Byzantine Catholic priests from throughout the United States, June 8–9, 2010, which Schott was unable to attend due to his hospitalization. A funeral liturgy was said on June 18, 2011, and Schott was buried in Mount St. Macrina Cemetery, Uniontown
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Population in 1900, 7,344; in 1910, 13,344; in 1920, 15,692; and in 1940, 21,819. The population was 10,372 at the 2010 census...
.