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Wednesday, July 10, 2002

By Ann Rodgers-Melnick, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Despite the solemnity of the occasion, Archbishop Basil Schott lived up to his reputation for humor by joking about the heat inside St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall where he was enthroned yesterday as metropolitan archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

Bishop Anthony Pilla, of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, greets Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, right, apostolic nuncio to the United States, during a procession before the start of the installation of Archbishop Basil M. Schott, left, as metropolitan archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Schott succeeds Metropolitan Archbishop Judson Procyk, who died in April 2001. (Martha Rial, Post-Gazette)

Schott drew laughter from the 1,200 priests and dignitaries when he paused mid-homily to say that "I have been reading rather quickly because, like you, I'm hot."

But he also used the stifling temperature to make a point about being consumed by a burning love for Jesus Christ and to challenge his listeners "to allow the Holy Spirit to set us afire."

Schott, 62, is a Byzantine Franciscan who succeeds Metropolitan Archbishop Judson Procyk, a beloved leader who died unexpectedly in April 2001. The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is the only self-governing Eastern Catholic church in the United States, meaning it is directly under the authority of the pope rather than a Catholic patriarch in Eastern Europe or the Middle East. It stretches from Erie to Texas and has 65,000 parishioners and 72 priests in 86 parishes.

Eastern Catholics are loyal to the pope but follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. Procyk worked to renew the Eastern traditions and had tried, with limited success, to restore the right of Eastern Catholics in the United States to ordain married priests. Schott's homily gave subtle hints that he intends to continue that work.

The two-hour sung Liturgy began with a procession that included hundreds of priests, 28 Catholic bishops, the pope's representative to the United States, and an official of the Vatican office for Eastern Catholics. Among the Catholic bishops were all of the other Byzantine Catholic bishops of the United States, as well as some from Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Canada and the Byzantine mother diocese in Uzhorod, Ukraine. Latin bishops included Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia, Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh, Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis, Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and Bishop Anthony Pilla of Cleveland, a neighbor from Schott's former diocese in Parma, Ohio.

Although historically there has been severe tension and even bloodshed between Eastern Catholics and Orthodox in Eastern Europe, three Orthodox bishops walked in procession, had seats of honor and gave Schott a formal kiss of respect along with their Catholic counterparts. They included Ukrainian Orthodox Archbishop Vsevolod of Chicago, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh and American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Nicholas of Johnstown.

The procession paused at the cathedral entrance, where two young people formally welcomed the archbishop to his new home and presented him with the traditional gifts of bread and salt. Garbed in heavily brocaded white robes and wearing the Eastern Catholic headdress that resembles a crown, Schott carried a double candleholder in one hand and a triple candleholder in his other, representing the two natures of Christ and the three persons of the Trinity.

His homily invoked the commitment of his predecessor to restoring authentic Eastern traditions. He urged Eastern Catholics to be involved in evangelization and in working with other Christians, especially the Orthodox.

"The liturgy and theology and disciplines of the East are necessary for the health of the whole church," Schott said.

After Communion, the archbishop's throne was carried to the altar, and Schott was led to it by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

"You are to shepherd this flock in the manner of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who gave his life for His sheep so that on the day of judgment you may give a worthy account of your stewardship to Christ, our God," Montalvo charged him before Schott took his seat on the throne.

The first priest to give him a kiss of respect and obedience was the Rev. John Kudrick, who had led the archdiocese since Procyk's death and who will be ordained today as Schott's successor in Parma.

The Rev. John Petro, rector of Ss. Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary, said he believed that Schott would "continue what Metropolitan Judson began without missing a step."

The Rev. Michael Derbish, a Byzantine Franciscan from Aliquippa, called this a difficult time to become a Catholic archbishop because of the sex scandals that have recently rocked the church.

Schott had the last word, as he gave thanks to all who had come to his enthronement.

"I was going to thank each of the wonderful Latin bishops, but I think they will get angry because they are really sweating," he said, closing the service with the same sense of humor that his friends hope will carry him through his new responsibilities.