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Archbishop mourned; 1,000 fill Munhall cathedral for Metropolitan Judson Procyk's funeral
Tuesday, May 01, 2001 By Ann Rodgers-Melnick, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
For 1,000 mourners who overflowed the Byzantine Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Munhall, it was impossible not to recall the last time the setting had been standing-room-only in honor of Metropolitan Judson Procyk.
That was six years ago, at his installation as archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archdiocese of Pittsburgh. Byzantine Catholics, who welcomed him as a reformer, had sung the traditional words of prayer and blessing over and over: "God grant you many years."
It was not to be. One week ago, Procyk was found dead in his bed. His doctor told authorities that the cause was probably related to hypertension, for which he was under treatment. But he had shown no signs of illness, was physically fit and didn't have a gray hair on his head, despite having just turned 70.
Yesterday, the last seat in the cathedral was taken two hours before the 10:30 a.m. service, although many extra chairs had been brought in to enlarge the seating capacity of 650. About 300 people observed via closed-circuit television in a downstairs hall. There are about 71,000 Catholics in the archdiocese, which stretches from Erie to Texas.
In his homily, Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic, N.J., repeatedly recalled Procyk's ordination as archbishop. He read the vows which Procyk had been asked to fulfill: to remain faithful to Christ, to shepherd his flock and to preserve the unity of the church.
On Tuesday, Pataki said, Procyk stood before Christ and heard the accolade, "Well-done, good and faithful servant."
"The church is better because he was here," Pataki said.
During his time as metropolitan, Procyk straightened out the ailing finances of the archdiocese, gave his priests a voice in its governance and became a significant figure in the ecumenical landscape of Pittsburgh.
Above all, he had worked to restore the traditions of the Eastern Catholic churches, which are loyal to the pope but follow the liturgy and practices of Eastern Orthodoxy. He had tried, with limited success, to allow Byzantine Catholic bishops in the United States to ordain married men to the priesthood, which has always been done in the Eastern Catholic churches of Europe and the Middle East.
Thousands of the faithful were estimated to have visited the cathedral during the weekend, to pay their respects to Procyk. A prayer service Sunday evening had filled the cathedral.
Following the tradition of the Eastern churches, his body remained in state throughout the funeral. He lay beneath the cathedral dome, from which a huge icon of Christ gazed down on him. Procyk had commissioned the icon and the church itself during the 20 years he served as cathedral rector.
Pataki concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Byzantine Bishop Basil Schott of Parma, Ohio, and retired Bishop Michael Dudick of Passaic, N.J. Retired Byzantine Bishop George Kuzma of the Diocese of Van Nuys, Calif., attended in a wheelchair. Judging from the crowded clergy pews, most or all of Procyk's 64 diocesan priests were present.
The opening procession began in silence, and continued as the Archdiocesan Choir hummed solemnly. The service was sung and lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours.
The procession included dozens of clergy from traditions other than Eastern Catholic. Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia was the highest-ranking Catholic dignitary. Nearly all of the Roman Catholic bishops of Western Pennsylvania were present, including Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh, his auxiliaries, Bishop David Zubik and Bishop William Winter; Bishop Anthony Bosco of Greensburg, Bishop Joseph Adamec of Altoona-Johnstown and Archabbot Douglas Nowicki of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe.
Two Orthodox bishops, Metropolitan Nicholas of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese of Johnstown and Metropolitan Maximos of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh, had seats of honor directly opposite Bevilacqua. Although relations between the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics are severely strained on the international level, Procyk had been a voice for reconciliation and healing locally and nationally. Some Orthodox priests came from out-of-state to pay their respects.
A letter was read from Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Oriental Churches.
The metropolitan's loss was felt throughout the Eastern Catholic world, in the United States and overseas, Daoud wrote. He praised Procyk's "ready spirit of self-sacrifice" and "warmth of character."
Daoud made a point of mentioning his gratitude for the condolences expressed by the Orthodox bishops, Nicholas and Maximos.
He was buried on the grounds of the Mount St. Macrina convent and retreat house in Uniontown, where he had played as a child while his mother helped the sisters.
As a lunch for hundreds was prepared in the cathedral hall, the clergy and laity were still expressing shock at Procyk's sudden death.
Teresa Sekel, who served on the archdiocesan staff, said that Procyk had a knack for making those who met him feel they knew him.
"Everyone loved him," she said. "Everyone was proud to say, 'That's my bishop.' He made us proud to be Byzantine Catholics."
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