OBITUARIES

Bishop Ivan Prasko, 86, former leader of Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia - Bishop Ivan Prasko, retired leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, died on January 28 at the age of 86.

Bishop Prashko was born May 1, 1914, in Ternopil, Ukraine. He studied at the Theological Academy in Lviv, then in Rome at the Pontifical College Damascenum and at the Pontifical University Urbanianum where he earned an S.T.L. in 1939.

He was ordained by Bishop Dionysij Njaradi in Rome on April 2, 1939.

He continued his studies at the Pontifical University Gregorianum and at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, where he was awarded a doctorate in 1943.

He served as pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Melbourne (1950-1958) before being ordained exarch of Australia and New Zealand on October 17, 1958. He became eparch of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, June 24, 1982, when the exarchate was raised to an eparchy.

Bishop Prashko retired as eparch January 12, 1993.

Bishop Prasko was remembered for his community-building skills in Australia, for which he was awarded the designation Member of the British Empire. He also played a vital role in keeping alive the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the catacombs.

Funeral services were held February 2 and 3 at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Melbourne.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 11, 2001, No. 10, Vol. LXIX

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