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Most Reverend John S. Pazak,
Bishop of the Eparchy of Phoenix

His Grace Bishop John Stephen Pazak , C.Ss.R. DD. is the fifth Bishop of the Eparchy of Phoenix.


Pazak was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 13, 1946, to Stephen Pazak, an American of Ruthenian descent, and Johanna Hennessy, who was of Irish descent, both members of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. 


Pazak was admitted to the novitiate of the Canadian Province of the Redemptorists at Yorkton, Saskatchewan, on September 14, 1965. He studied at the Redemptorist seminary, St. Alphonsus College, in Suffield, Connecticut, and earned a bachelor's degree there in 1969. He made his perpetual profession of religious vows as a member of the Congregation on August 24 of that same year. After completing a baccalaureate in theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, he was ordained a priest on August 27, 1972.


He served as a parish priest, rector of St. Vladimir’s College and superior Redemptorist scholasticate throughout Canada. After serving in a Saskatoon parish for a year, Pazak was appointed Rector of Saint Vladimir's College in Manitoba, and continued in this position until 1990, except during 1978–1979, when he served as superior at the Redemptorist scholasticate in Toronto. From 1990 to 2000 he was parish priest at St. Joseph Church in Winnipeg.


Pazak also served as vicar of his Redemptorist province, as a member of the provincial council, and as a consultor to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon.


Bishop John was appointed Bishop of the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto on December 2, 2000, and was consecrated a Bishop on February 14, 2001.


Pope Francis named Bishop John the Eparch of the Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Protection of Mary in Phoenix on May 7, 2016. As well as the Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto. He was Enthroned as Bishop on the Eparchy of Phoenix on July 20, 2016.

Most Rev. John S. Pazak
Bishop of the Eparchy of Phoenix

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