THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH
pilgrims’ pride
Inside
Archbishop William Skurla leads a September pilgrimage to the Holy Land Pages 8 to 9
VOL. 64 NO. 12
a celebration of marriage
More than 50 couples honored at St. Elias in Munhall, Pa. Pages 10 to 11
A sweet anniversary church of the resurrection in monroeville, pa. celebrates 50 years
Sept. 29 saw the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Church of the Resurrection in Monroeville, Pa. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan William Skurla, Very Rev. Robert Pipta served as Master of Ceremonies and seminarians assisted. Clergy guests included Fathers Bob Karl and Joel Barstad, as well as Fathers Ron Larkin and Joseph Raptosh, who spoke at the luncheon about the church's past. The luncheon itself was held in the church social hall and included picture displays and items of historical interest, a buffet dinner including the ladies' delicious homemade
cookies, a slide carousel of photos old and new, and ethnic music by the band Zajedno. The approximately 150 people in attendance seemed to thoroughly enjoy everything and appreciative comments were the order of the day. Lastly, Father Dennis Bogda, beloved founding pastor of the church, who went to rest in the Lord only a few days before the event, was lifted up and remembered for his energy, imagination, and love for this and all the churches he served. Many thanks to all who made this celebration possible. Church of the Resurrection’s first Divine Liturgy was Sept. 7, 1969, as 120 people attended inside the Number 4 Fire Hall in Monroeville. It would become the parish’s home for the next two-and-a-half years.
70 years strong
The Ladies Guild at St. Mary in Monessen, Pa. celebrates anniversary Page 13
eternal memory
very rev. archpriest dennis m. bogda
The parish was named for the central mystery of Eastern theology. In Feb. 1970, 4.66 acres of land were purchased on Center Road to build a permanent structure to house the growing congregation. Groundbreaking was March 7, and construction began shortly thereafter. The complex — church, social hall, and apartment for the pastor — was completed in Dec. 1971. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Christmas Eve. On Sept. 9, 1979 the parish observed its 10th anniversary. The celebration included a dedication of the church and the laying of the cornerstone. The 1980s brought a more intensified debt reduction plan
Very Rev. Archpriest Dennis Michael Bogda, a retired priest of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, Sept. 21 at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Gibsonia, Pa. where he had been a resident. Archpriest Dennis was born the only son to Michael and Mary Kushner Bogda in Homestead, Pa. on June 7, 1941. For his early education he was taught by the Sisters of Saint Basil at St. John Cathedral School in Munhall, Pa. A graduate of St. Michael High School on the South Side of Pittsburgh, he went on to earn the Master of Arts degree in Theology from Duquesne University during his Seminary years at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh. Later, as a pastor, he attained the Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling from Youngstown, Ohio State University. He was ordained to the Diaconate by Archbishop Nicholas T. Elko on December 4, 1966, and to the priesthood by Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko on April 3, 1967. Archbishop Basil M. Schott elevated him as Archpriest on Sept. 9, 2007. In Ohio, Archpriest Dennis served the following parishes: St. Stephen, Euclid; and St. Nicholas, St. George and St. John, Youngstown. In Pennsylvania his assignments included: St. Nicholas, Brownsville; SS. Peter and Paul, Duquesne; as the first pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, Monroeville; St. John, Lyndora; Nativity, Pittsburgh; and finally as rector of his home parish, St. John Cathedral, Munhall from where he retired on April 8, 2018.
Story continued on page 6
Story continued on page 2
Father Don Bolls and his parishioners celebrated the 50th anniversary of Church of the Resurrection in Monroeville, Pa. Sept. 29 with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop William Skurla. Its first Divine Liturgy was celebrated Sept. 7, 1969 at the Number 4 Fire Hall in Monroeville. For more photos, see page 6. by Father Don Bolls Church of the Resurrection, Monroeville, Pa.
NOVEMBER 2019