Sunday, September 27, 2009

The Very Reverend Michael Dahulich elected Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey

Many residents in the area will remember Fr. Michael Dahulich who faithfully and devotedly served God through the Holy Ghost Church parish in Phoenixville for 16 years.

Much beloved by his parishoners and deeply respected by everyone who met him, Fr. Dahulich has been elected Bishop as reported in the OCA press release.

We share in the joy of the Christian Orthodox community!




(Click to enlarge)


OCA Holy Synod of Bishops elects Archpriest Michael Dahulich Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey


SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at its regular Fall Session at the OCA Chancery, elected Archpriest Michael Dahulich Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.

Archpriest Michael Dahulich was born in Johnson City, NY, on August 29, 1950. From the age of 10 until he graduated from college and went to seminary, he served as an altar boy under the tutelage of his pastor, Fr. Stephen Dutko, who was the inspiration for his vocation.

He graduated from Binghamton Central High School in 1967. Two years later he graduated from Broome Community College, Binghamton, NY, and began studies at Christ the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown, PA. He completed his theological studies there in December 1972.

While in seminary, Michael met Deborah Sandak. They were married in January 1973. On Feburay 3, 1973, Michael was ordained to the Diaconate, and on February 4 to the Priesthood, in the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA. Later that month Fr. Michael and Matushka Deborah assumed their first parish assignment at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Homer City, PA, a small mission community that had not previously had a full time priest. Two days after beginning this assignment, Matushka Deborah was killed in a car accident.

Following the death of his wife, Fr. Michael was encouraged to pursue further studies. He attended St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, graduating with a degree in Philosophy, and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, graduating with a Master of Arts in Theology and later a Ph.D. in Theology.

Fr. Michael continued to serve Saints Peter and Paul Church for 13 years, seeing it grow from 60 to more than 130 members, and from mission to parish status.

For 16 years he served as pastor of Holy Ghost Church in Phoenixville, PA, during which time the parish grew from 256 to nearly 450 members, including more than 100 children.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Fr. Michael served as Prefect of Student Life at Christ the Saviour Seminary, where he also taught Ethics, Scripture and Homiletics. During his Ph.D. studies at Duquesne, he was also adjunct lecturer, teaching Scripture and Eastern Orthodoxy in the Theology Department.

Fr. Michael also served in the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA as Religious Education Director for the Johnstown Deanery and the Associate Editor of "The Church Messenger," the official diocesan periodical. Additionally he was personal secretary to His Grace, Bishop John, Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese and Secretary to His Grace, Bishop [now Metropolitan] Nicholas of Amissos.

Additionally, Fr. Michael was Dean of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese's Mid-Atlantic Deanery, Vice-Chairman of the Harvest 2000 Committee on Missions, Evangelization and Diocesan Growth, and served on the Study and Planning Commission and the Ecumenical Commission of SCOBA. He was also editor of the diocesan prayerbook, "Come To Me."

In 1993, Fr. Michael was invited to teach at St. Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, PA, where he has served on the faculty to this day. In 2001, he was released from the Carpatho-Russian Diocese and received into the Orthodox Church in America, serving full-time at St. Tikhon's Seminary. He was first Administrative Dean and later Dean, as well as working as Director of Recruitment, Development and Fundraising at the school.

Fr. Michael was part of the team that earned national accreditation for St. Tikhon's Seminary from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and helped work on a revised curriculum for the Seminary's Master of Divinity program. He has served as editor of "The Tikhonaire," "The Spirit of St. Tikhon's," "By the Waters," and "St. Tikhon's Theological Journal." Fr. Michael also teaches New Testament, Old Testament, Homiletics, Pastoral Theology, and Ethics.

In other work, Fr. Michael served as a member of the Board of Theological Education of the Orthodox Church in America, OCA representative to the National Advisory Board of the American Bible Society, a member, and former National Secretary, of the Orthodox Theological Society of America, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion [OCAMPR].

The Holy Synod of Bishops has announced that the consecration of Bishop-elect Michael will take place shortly after the New Year. Further details will be announced as they become available.

http://www.nynjoca.org/news_090923_1.html

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck to you Father Michael.
Your dedication to the spirituality and growth of the NY and NJ Orthdox Church of America is a wonderful gift to the people.

Many prayers and wishes for success in this new chapter of your life as an educator, spiritual advisor and leader in the Holy Orthodox Faith.

Anonymous said...

Axios!! Axios!!! Axios!!! This has been a long awaited event by so many of us! Father Michael has been such a wonderful Spiritual Leader for Holy Ghost for years. His love and dedication to the family of parishioners at Holy Ghost resulted in an explosive growth of this parish. He demanded a lot from all of us, but never asked for more than he was willing to give himself.
It is so sad to see how this large parish has dwindeled. Perhaps Father Michael can someday return to our Diocease as Bishop Michael.

Anonymous said...

I am very sad to hear of this news by a blog as opposed to an announcement in church today.
Not even a mention on the newsletter yet apparently broadcasted in bulletins and websites in every jurisdiction from Greek, Serbian, Antioch and Byzantine.

How can this wonderful news be ignored by the very parish that was built up with shrine, van, daycare, domes, paid off mortgages and a Vacatoin School prgram that hosted many community children for a week every August. I pray that the lack of communication was a forget flaw in the newsletter and sermon as it is about time the people of Holy Ghost demand that the leadership be Christian to their flock their past priests and celebrate this wonderful achievment of a Very Reverend who worked so hard to grow our parish in the community.

Sad there is not a newspaper in town to print this article as done in many all over NY, NJ and Northern PA.

Anonymous said...

In researching, in depth announcements of this were publized on the following:

Maybe Holy Ghost can put on their site for the man who built the church up for those attending from
1986-2001 God Bless you Bishop Elect Michael Dahulich!

http://www.oca.org/news/1933

http://www.antiochianladiocese.org/news_090113_24.html

http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2009-0922-archpriest-michael-dahulich-election/

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Michael_Dahulich

http://saintnicholascohoes.org/

http://nynjoca.org/files/2009/08-17/Dahulich_bio.pdf


http://www.ocl.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ChurchGovernance.one&content_id=18141&tp_preview=true

Anonymous said...

Excellent choice - Long overdue.
God Bless Father Michael Dahulich.

Anonymous said...

Everyone whose lives have been touched by this wonderful man are so proud of him and will continue to pray for his success in strengthening spirituality into a world that desparately needs a strong foundation. God Bless him for many happy and blessed years.

Anonymous said...

Late Breaking News:


Fr Michael Dahulich Elected Bishop


On Tues, Sept 22, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at its regular Fall Session at the OCA Chancery, elected Archpriest Michael Dahulich Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.


Fr Michael is well-known to the faithful of Holy Cross through his many visits to and lectures in Williamsport. He's been responsible for the lion's share of the great progress St Tikhon's Seminary has made since his arrival there in 1993 and specially when he began serving full-time in 2001, and later as Dean and Director of Recruitment and Development for the school.


The Bishops announced that Fr Michael's consecration will take place shortly after the beginning of the New Year.


May the Lord God grant our beloved friend and Bishop-elect "Many Years!"

Anonymous said...

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at its regular FallSession at the OCA Chancery, elected Archpriest Michael Dahulich Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.
Front Page Orthodox Beacon,
Houston Texas

Archpriest Michael Dahulich was born in Johnson City, NY, on August 29, 1950.From the age of 10 until he graduated from college and went to seminary, heserved as an altar boy under the tutelage of his pastor, Fr. Stephen Dutko, who was the inspiration for his vocation.

Tickets for the installation will be available shortly and affair scheduled for Jan 2009.

Anonymous said...

St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
© 1996-2009 All Rights Reserved
+1.914.961.8313, info@svots.edu

Archpriest Michael Dahulich elected Bishop of New York and New Jersey
The St Vladimir's Seminary community rejoices with the news of the election of Archpriest Michael Dahulich, Dean of St Tikhon's Seminary, as Bishop of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (Orthodox Church in America). We proclaim AXIOS and look forward to his episcopal presence and leadership.

Anonymous said...

Let us pray that the spiritual leadership in Phoenixville & Johnstown allow the announcing and posting in their newsletter and website of a formal congratulations. Throughout this country and worlwide the Orhtodox Faith joyfully announce this message for the deserving honorable Father Michael Bishop Elect. Axios!! Axios!!