Bishop Pataki retires; two other Eastern Catholics named to new posts

Published: 2007-12-06

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Ruthenian Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic, N.J., and named Ruthenian Bishop William C. Skurla of Van Nuys, Calif., to succeed him. Msgr. Gerald N. Dino, an official of the Passaic Diocese and pastor of St. George Parish in Linden, N.J., was appointed bishop of Van Nuys. The changes were announced Dec. 6 in Washington by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Skurla is to be installed as head of the Passaic Diocese Jan. 29 at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Passaic. Bishop-designate Dino's episcopal ordination will take place March 27 at St. Helen Catholic Church in Phoenix. The Ruthenian church is one of 22 Eastern Catholic churches. They have their origins in Eastern Europe, Asia or Africa and have their own distinctive liturgical and legal systems; they are identified by the national or ethnic character of their region of origin.

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