Land is purchased for retired priests' home in Florida (01/05/03)

Land is purchased for retired priests' home in Florida

PARMA, Ohio - Bishop Robert Moskal of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Parma, has purchased 10 acres of land in North Port, Fla., to be used for construction of a retirement home for priests.

The property is located on North Biscayne Drive, just northeast of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church. The property is paid for in full, as are architectural plans for the home, which could house between eight and 12 retired priests.

Bishop Robert appointed a board to undertake the task of fund-raising for future construction. The Rev. Canon Dr. John A. Ropke is board chair, Deacon Donald M. Billy, co-owner of Don-Ron Construction, is vice chair. Other board members are the Revs. Robert Hnatyshyn, the Rev. Xavier Elambassery, the Rev. Joseph Tamburro, Taras Szmagala Sr. and Taras Szmagala Jr. The board members will design a fund-raising campaign and visit all the parishes in the eparchy to distribute brochures on the home and ask for the financial support of the faithful.

The home will consist of individual one-bedroom apartments. Each will have a private living room and bath. There will be a community social room, dining room, center courtyard, kitchen and laundry room. The staff will consist of a full-time cook and housekeeper, as well as a part time groundskeeper. Bishop Robert Moskal blessed the grounds for the home in December.

The board would like to construct the home with cash to allow the priests who reside in the home to pay the least amount of rent. The cost of construction is currently expected to be $795,000. A special account has been established in Parma for future construction; at present there is about $30,000 in the account.

For more information, or to help financially, please contact the Rev. Ropke, at 1601 Kenneth Ave. Arnold, PA 15068 or call (724) 339-9622. Checks may be made payable to Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio.

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