Bishop Dudick names mission pastor

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bishop Michael J. Dudick of the Byzantine Catholic Diocese of Passaic, N.J., appointed the Rev. Michael J. Sopoliga as the first administrator of the Daytona Beach Mission.

The appointment came in response to the rapid growth of Byzantine Catholics in the area mostly because of migration from northern cities because of employment opportunities or for retirement.

For the past three years the mission has been served by the Rev. James Fiori, pastor of Transfiguration of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in Orlando. It has been using the facilities of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Daytona Beach, where the Rev. Sean Heslin is pastor.

Since the appointment of the Rev. Sopoliga, who is an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, the mission has the use of the Knights of Columbus Hall located in Holly Hill. Divine liturgy is at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

The Rev. Sopoliga resides at 706-3 Butler Blvd., Daytona Beach, Fla. 32018. About his appointment, he said: "I am most grateful to my bishop for his vote of confidence in me to build up this mission. I am also most grateful to Richard Osterndorf, grand knight of the Knights of Columbus for his fraternal support and assistance to our small mission. I know we will succeed."

The Daytona Beach mission is the sixth parish for Byzantine Catholics in Florida.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 23, 1983, No. 43, Vol. LI

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