The First Eparch of the Slovakian Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto, Monsignor Michael Rusnak C.SS.R., was born on August 21, 1921 in Beaverdale, Pennsylvania, to Slovak immigrants, Andrej Rusnak and Maria Sotak.
During the 1920's economic depression in the US, his family returned to Slovakia. After attending high school, Michael Rusnak was accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate and made his religious profession in August of 1942. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Ss. Cyril & Methodius at the Slovak University of Bratislava and in Oboriste, Bohemia. On July 4, 1949, Michael Rusnak was ordained to the priesthood in Presov, by Blessed Paul Gojdic OSBM.,
Soon after his ordination, Fr. Rusnak was arrested and put into a concentration camp along with other Slovak Byzantine and Latin Rite Catholic Priests who refused to collaborate with the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia. Fourteen months later, he was able to escape. Being an American citizen by birth, he obtained a passport from the US Embassy in Prague, and fled his homeland. After a short time recuperating in the US, he moved to Canada in 1951. Fr. Michael Rusnak was one of the first priests who left Slovakia due to religious persecution by Communists, and laid a new foundation for the Slovak Byzantine Catholic Church in Canada.
Together with Fr. Ludovit Minya, C.Ss.R., he established parishes in Toronto, Hamilton, Oshawa and Welland. In 1953, Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., founded the Canadian Slovak Byzantine Catholic publication, "Maria". He also published a collection of religious songs, "Chvalite Hospoda" - "Praise the Lord".
In 1957, Rusnak was named dean of Slovak parishes of the Byzantine Rite in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto. On October 7, 1964, Pope Paul VI appointed Fr. Michael Rusnak, C.Ss.R., Titular Bishop of the See of Cernik, Auxiliary to the Ukrainian Eparch of Toronto, and Apostolic Visitator for the Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada. Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., was consecrated on January 2, 1965, in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, by Bishop Isidore Borecky, assisted by Archbishops Nicholas Thomas Elko and Joakim Segedi.
With the establishment of the first Slovak Byzantine Catholic Eparchy in North America by Pope John Paul II, the Eparchy of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Rusnak was enthroned as the First Eparch on February 28, 1981.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Canada, Bishop Michael was privileged to have the Holy Father visit the Slovak Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Markham and bless its cornerstone and plaques.
As member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Rusnak served on the CCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Inter-ritual Discipline from 1968 until 1970, and was a member of CCCB Episcopal Commission for Christian Education from 1973 until 1983. At the Vatican, he was a member of the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1968 until 1975, and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Reform of the Oriental Code of Canon Law from 1973 until 1978.
Bishop Rusnak kept close ties with his people. He served as a spiritual leader and advisor to various congregations and groups. Giving religious instructions to children, youth and adults, he always stressed the importance of understanding the meaning of Christ's Church and one's relationship with God, encouraging the fullness of Eastern Catholic spirituality.
Throughout his life, Bishop Rusnak did not forget the church in Slovakia. In 1990, he was able to return to Slovakia for the first time in forty years. Rusnak passed away on January 16, 2003, aged 83, after a long illness.
During the 1920's economic depression in the US, his family returned to Slovakia. After attending high school, Michael Rusnak was accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate and made his religious profession in August of 1942. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Ss. Cyril & Methodius at the Slovak University of Bratislava and in Oboriste, Bohemia. On July 4, 1949, Michael Rusnak was ordained to the priesthood in Presov, by Blessed Paul Gojdic OSBM.,
Soon after his ordination, Fr. Rusnak was arrested and put into a concentration camp along with other Slovak Byzantine and Latin Rite Catholic Priests who refused to collaborate with the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia. Fourteen months later, he was able to escape. Being an American citizen by birth, he obtained a passport from the US Embassy in Prague, and fled his homeland. After a short time recuperating in the US, he moved to Canada in 1951. Fr. Michael Rusnak was one of the first priests who left Slovakia due to religious persecution by Communists, and laid a new foundation for the Slovak Byzantine Catholic Church in Canada.
Together with Fr. Ludovit Minya, C.Ss.R., he established parishes in Toronto, Hamilton, Oshawa and Welland. In 1953, Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., founded the Canadian Slovak Byzantine Catholic publication, "Maria". He also published a collection of religious songs, "Chvalite Hospoda" - "Praise the Lord".
In 1957, Rusnak was named dean of Slovak parishes of the Byzantine Rite in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto. On October 7, 1964, Pope Paul VI appointed Fr. Michael Rusnak, C.Ss.R., Titular Bishop of the See of Cernik, Auxiliary to the Ukrainian Eparch of Toronto, and Apostolic Visitator for the Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada. Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., was consecrated on January 2, 1965, in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, by Bishop Isidore Borecky, assisted by Archbishops Nicholas Thomas Elko and Joakim Segedi.
With the establishment of the first Slovak Byzantine Catholic Eparchy in North America by Pope John Paul II, the Eparchy of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Rusnak was enthroned as the First Eparch on February 28, 1981.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Canada, Bishop Michael was privileged to have the Holy Father visit the Slovak Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Markham and bless its cornerstone and plaques.
As member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Rusnak served on the CCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Inter-ritual Discipline from 1968 until 1970, and was a member of CCCB Episcopal Commission for Christian Education from 1973 until 1983. At the Vatican, he was a member of the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1968 until 1975, and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Reform of the Oriental Code of Canon Law from 1973 until 1978.
Bishop Rusnak kept close ties with his people. He served as a spiritual leader and advisor to various congregations and groups. Giving religious instructions to children, youth and adults, he always stressed the importance of understanding the meaning of Christ's Church and one's relationship with God, encouraging the fullness of Eastern Catholic spirituality.
Throughout his life, Bishop Rusnak did not forget the church in Slovakia. In 1990, he was able to return to Slovakia for the first time in forty years. Rusnak passed away on January 16, 2003, aged 83, after a long illness.
The First Eparch of the Slovakian Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto, Monsignor Michael Rusnak C.SS.R., was born on August 21, 1921 in Beaverdale, Pennsylvania, to Slovak immigrants, Andrej Rusnak and Maria Sotak.
During the 1920's economic depression in the US, his family returned to Slovakia. After attending high school, Michael Rusnak was accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate and made his religious profession in August of 1942. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Ss. Cyril & Methodius at the Slovak University of Bratislava and in Oboriste, Bohemia. On July 4, 1949, Michael Rusnak was ordained to the priesthood in Presov, by Blessed Paul Gojdic OSBM.,
Soon after his ordination, Fr. Rusnak was arrested and put into a concentration camp along with other Slovak Byzantine and Latin Rite Catholic Priests who refused to collaborate with the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia. Fourteen months later, he was able to escape. Being an American citizen by birth, he obtained a passport from the US Embassy in Prague, and fled his homeland. After a short time recuperating in the US, he moved to Canada in 1951. Fr. Michael Rusnak was one of the first priests who left Slovakia due to religious persecution by Communists, and laid a new foundation for the Slovak Byzantine Catholic Church in Canada.
Together with Fr. Ludovit Minya, C.Ss.R., he established parishes in Toronto, Hamilton, Oshawa and Welland. In 1953, Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., founded the Canadian Slovak Byzantine Catholic publication, "Maria". He also published a collection of religious songs, "Chvalite Hospoda" - "Praise the Lord".
In 1957, Rusnak was named dean of Slovak parishes of the Byzantine Rite in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto. On October 7, 1964, Pope Paul VI appointed Fr. Michael Rusnak, C.Ss.R., Titular Bishop of the See of Cernik, Auxiliary to the Ukrainian Eparch of Toronto, and Apostolic Visitator for the Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada. Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., was consecrated on January 2, 1965, in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, by Bishop Isidore Borecky, assisted by Archbishops Nicholas Thomas Elko and Joakim Segedi.
With the establishment of the first Slovak Byzantine Catholic Eparchy in North America by Pope John Paul II, the Eparchy of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Rusnak was enthroned as the First Eparch on February 28, 1981.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Canada, Bishop Michael was privileged to have the Holy Father visit the Slovak Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Markham and bless its cornerstone and plaques.
As member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Rusnak served on the CCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Inter-ritual Discipline from 1968 until 1970, and was a member of CCCB Episcopal Commission for Christian Education from 1973 until 1983. At the Vatican, he was a member of the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1968 until 1975, and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Reform of the Oriental Code of Canon Law from 1973 until 1978.
Bishop Rusnak kept close ties with his people. He served as a spiritual leader and advisor to various congregations and groups. Giving religious instructions to children, youth and adults, he always stressed the importance of understanding the meaning of Christ's Church and one's relationship with God, encouraging the fullness of Eastern Catholic spirituality.
Throughout his life, Bishop Rusnak did not forget the church in Slovakia. In 1990, he was able to return to Slovakia for the first time in forty years. Rusnak passed away on January 16, 2003, aged 83, after a long illness.
During the 1920's economic depression in the US, his family returned to Slovakia. After attending high school, Michael Rusnak was accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate and made his religious profession in August of 1942. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Ss. Cyril & Methodius at the Slovak University of Bratislava and in Oboriste, Bohemia. On July 4, 1949, Michael Rusnak was ordained to the priesthood in Presov, by Blessed Paul Gojdic OSBM.,
Soon after his ordination, Fr. Rusnak was arrested and put into a concentration camp along with other Slovak Byzantine and Latin Rite Catholic Priests who refused to collaborate with the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia. Fourteen months later, he was able to escape. Being an American citizen by birth, he obtained a passport from the US Embassy in Prague, and fled his homeland. After a short time recuperating in the US, he moved to Canada in 1951. Fr. Michael Rusnak was one of the first priests who left Slovakia due to religious persecution by Communists, and laid a new foundation for the Slovak Byzantine Catholic Church in Canada.
Together with Fr. Ludovit Minya, C.Ss.R., he established parishes in Toronto, Hamilton, Oshawa and Welland. In 1953, Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., founded the Canadian Slovak Byzantine Catholic publication, "Maria". He also published a collection of religious songs, "Chvalite Hospoda" - "Praise the Lord".
In 1957, Rusnak was named dean of Slovak parishes of the Byzantine Rite in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto. On October 7, 1964, Pope Paul VI appointed Fr. Michael Rusnak, C.Ss.R., Titular Bishop of the See of Cernik, Auxiliary to the Ukrainian Eparch of Toronto, and Apostolic Visitator for the Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada. Fr. Rusnak, C.Ss.R., was consecrated on January 2, 1965, in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, by Bishop Isidore Borecky, assisted by Archbishops Nicholas Thomas Elko and Joakim Segedi.
With the establishment of the first Slovak Byzantine Catholic Eparchy in North America by Pope John Paul II, the Eparchy of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Rusnak was enthroned as the First Eparch on February 28, 1981.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Canada, Bishop Michael was privileged to have the Holy Father visit the Slovak Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Markham and bless its cornerstone and plaques.
As member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Rusnak served on the CCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Inter-ritual Discipline from 1968 until 1970, and was a member of CCCB Episcopal Commission for Christian Education from 1973 until 1983. At the Vatican, he was a member of the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1968 until 1975, and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Reform of the Oriental Code of Canon Law from 1973 until 1978.
Bishop Rusnak kept close ties with his people. He served as a spiritual leader and advisor to various congregations and groups. Giving religious instructions to children, youth and adults, he always stressed the importance of understanding the meaning of Christ's Church and one's relationship with God, encouraging the fullness of Eastern Catholic spirituality.
Throughout his life, Bishop Rusnak did not forget the church in Slovakia. In 1990, he was able to return to Slovakia for the first time in forty years. Rusnak passed away on January 16, 2003, aged 83, after a long illness.
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