Bishop Michael J. Dudick

Bishop Michael J. Dudick, 91, retired Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday at Rest Haven nursing home, Schuylkill Haven. He had previously been in residence at Holy Annunciation Monastery, Sugarloaf. Prior to his retirement in 1995, he had been the Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic for 27 years.

Born in Saint Clair, Feb. 24, 1916, he was a son of the late John and Mary Jurick Dudick. He completed his elementary and secondary education in local schools. In 1939, he entered St. Procpius College, Lisle, Ill., to begin his studies for the priesthood. After successfully completing these studies, he was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ on Nov. 13, 1945, by Bishop Basil Takach of the Byzantine Catholic Exarchate of Munhall.

After only six weeks as pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Struthers, Ohio, he was appointed Vice Chancellor of the Exarchate of Munhall, a position he held from March 1, 1946 to Jan. 15, 1955. During his tenure as vice-chancellor, he also served various parishes in western Pennsylvania and Ohio including parishes in Wall, Herminia, Tarentum, Pittsburg, Avella and Toronto.

From 1955 to 1963, he served in parishes in Old Forge and Freeland. Then with the establishment of the Eparchy of Passaic in July 1963, he was named Chancellor of the new Eparchy and appointed pastor of St. George Church, Newark, N.J. During this time, he also served as an Eparchial Consultor and secretary to the Board of Trustees.

He held these positions until Aug. 21, 1965, when Pope Paul VI appointed him to be second Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic. The ordination to the episcopacy took place on Oct. 24, 1968, at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, Passaic. Bishop Dudick held this position until his retirement on Nov. 21, 1995.

During the twenty-seven years that he had been Bishop of Passaic, 32 new parish missions had been established and numerous men had been ordained to the priesthood and diaconate. New Monasteries had been established, including the Monastery of the Basilian Fathers of Mariapoch in Matawan, N.J., and a monastery for Carmelite nuns in Sugarloaf. He was also the moving force behind the establishment of the renewal and retreat center, the Capathian Village, and St. Nicholas Shrine in the Poconos.

A prolific writer, Bishop Dudick wrote a weekly reflection for a Sunday bulletin series as well as a column entitled, "Thoughts for Our Times," published regularly in the eparchial newspaper the "Eastern Catholic Life."

His interest in the origins and history of the Carpatho-Rusyn people led him to found the Heritage Institute, which houses a collection of religious and secular paintings, ecclesiastical art, vestments, national dress, embroideries, folk art and other memorabilia. The Institute also houses a large library, which holds books on a variety of subjects as well as a collection of rare Slovanic books and manuscripts.

In addition to his other accomplishments, Bishop Dudick relocated the eparchial offices from downtown Passaic to a new facility in suburban West Paterson, N.J. The new Eparchial Center, dedicated in 1987, provides office space and meeting rooms for the various departments of the eparchy, as well as a residence for the Bishop, the Heritage Institute and library and a chapel.

Bishop Dudick has also contributed to the good of the church by his work on the following commissions or committees: two five year terms as member of the Sacred Congregation for the Eastern Catholic Churchs, Rome; Consultor of the codification for Canon Law of the Eastern Catholic Churchs; three two-year terms on a visiting cCommittee for the Board of Overseers of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

He served as a member of the Inter-Rite Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, a Consultor for the Ecumenical and Inter-Faith committee of the NCCB, a member of the seven-bishop committee of the NCCB in dialogue with the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops; a member of the Board of Regents of Seton Hall University, former secretary, treasurer and vice president of the Coalition of Religious Leaders of New Jersey; president of the Eastern Catholic Bishops Associations, two year terms as chairman of NCCB Region III (PA and NJ); member of the Committee for the Revision of Eastern Canon Law and a member of the policy committee of the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey.

In recognition for his exemplary work, several honorary degrees were conferred upon Bishop Dudick including a Doctorate of Humanities, honoris causa, from Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, and a doctorate of divinity degree from Scranton University, Scranton, as well as a master's degree from Maryknoll Univeristy.

Bishop Dudick was preceded in death by two brothers, George and Joseph; two sisters, Irene Giemza and Anna Tizekker.

Surviving are a brother, John Jr., Saint Clair; three sisters, Mary O'Brien and her husband, Vincent, Saint Clair, Elizabeth Gursky, Saint Clair, and Dorothy Keffer, Harrisburg; nieces and nephews.

Friends and relatives may pay their respects from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday at Holy Annunciation Monastery, West County Road, Sugarloaf. Viewing will also be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday at St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral, 96 First St., Passaic. Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial for a priest will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the cathedral. Interment will be at 1 p.m. in Mount Macrine Cemetery, Uniontown. Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc., 542-544 N. Wyoming St., Hazleton, is in charge of arrangements.

May his memory be eternal.