Emil John Mihalik, American bishop. member Diocesan Board Consultors, 1968, bishop of, Parma, Ohio, 1969-1984.; Member National, Ohio conferences Catholic bishops.
Background
Mihalik, Emil John was born on February 7, 1920 in Pittsburgh. Son of William and Mary (Jubic) M. Student, Catholic Institute Pittsburgh, 1938-1940, Saint Procopius Seminary, 1940-1945. Ordained priest Roman Catholic Church, 1945, bishop, 1969.
Education
He attended high school in Brentwood, Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree from Saint Procopius College. As many Eastern Catholic seminarians of his time, Mihalik attended a Roman Rite seminary, but was ordained to the Byzantine Catholic priesthood on September 21, 1945 at Saint Mary"s Church in Trenton, New Jersey by Bishop Basil Takach.
Career
Bishop Emil John Mihalik - The Carpathian Connection
His appointment occurred simultaneously with the erection of the see. At that time, his jurisdiction encompassed central and eastern Ohio, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii. He was pastor at Saint Thomas Church in Rahway, New Jersey from February 1, 1961 until June 12, 1969 and the Eparchy of Passaic"s chancellor.
On February 21, 1969, Pope Paul VI created the Eparchy of Parma.
Mihalik was consecrated as the eparch on June 12, 1969 with Archbishop Stephen Kocisko as his principal consecrator. His principal co-consecrators were Bishops Michael Dudick and Michael Rusnak.
On September 6, 1970, during the 36th annual pilgrimage that drew approximately 45,000 people to Mount Saint Macrina, Mihalik, Kocisko and Dudick blessed a cornerstone for a 50-bed nursing home. In May 1977, Bishop Alden Bell of the Diocese of Sacramento gave $20,000, which had been a World World War II relief fund for Slovaks, to Mihalik.
The eparch said the money would be used to build a church in Sacramento.
At the time, all the western United States states including Alaska and Hawaii were part of the eparchy. Mihalik died in Cleveland, Ohio on January 27, 1984, shortly before his 64th birthday, leaving the See sede vacante. His vicar general, Monsignor Andrew Vaida, was named as diocesan administrator.
During his priesthood, Mihalik is credited with the establishment of 18 parishes and conferring 23 priests.
Membership
Member Diocesan Board Consultors, 1968, bishop of, Parma, Ohio, 1969-1984. Member National, Ohio conferences Catholic bishops.