Four Priests of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia to be Honored with the Dignity of Archpriest
Metropolitan Borys with joy announces the elevation of four Priests of the Archeparchy to the rank of Archpriest in recognition of their faithful service to the Ukrainian Catholic Church, to the Philadelphia Archeparchy, and to their particular ministries. In this season of Thanksgiving, the Archeparchy expresses its gratitude for our clergy’s love of God and His People whom they have served and are serving with great dedication, generosity, zeal, and personal sacrifice.
The Priests raised to the Dignity of Archpriest are:
Reverend Roman Dubitsky, born in Lypicia Dolishna, Ukraine on November 22, 1938, ordained to the Priesthood on April 10, 1965. Father Roman served with grace in parishes in Philadelphia (Cathedral, St. Josaphat, St. Andrew), Allentown, Wilmington, Chesapeake City, Perth Amboy, and was the founding Pastor of our parish in Toms River. He retired in 2010 after 45 years of ministry. Father Roman has been a faithful priest for 58 years. The Archeparchy’s senior clergyman is ever a gentleman.
Reverend Taras Lonchyna, born in Steubenville, OH on January 21, 1951, ordained to the Priesthood by His Beatitude, Patriarch and Cardinal Josyf Slipyj in 1977. He has served as Chaplain and Instructor of the Filia of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Philadelphia, and parishes in Curtis Bay, Salisbury, Silver Spring, Washington D.C., Manassas, Richmond. Father Taras served as Protopresbyter in the Washington Protospresbyterate and is presently pastor of the Trenton parish and Protopresbyter in the New Jersey Protopresbyterate, as well as spiritual advisor to the Providence Association. In 1985, Father Taras co-edited a substantial volume on the persecution and martyrology of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the Soviet Union. He has been a faithful priest for 46 years. Father Taras and dobrodiyka Jaroslava have raised three children engaged in the life of the Church, including sister Iliana, a nun of the Christ the Bridegroom Monastery.
Reverend John Seniw was born in Erie, PA on July 9, 1956 and ordained to the Priesthood on May 16, 1982. He studied Eastern Liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome and served in Parma, Philadelphia (St. Josaphat), West Easton, Great Meadows, Frackville, Maizeville, Mahanoy City, Scranton, Simpson, Wilkes Barre, Berwick, Glen Lyon, and Northampton. He also served as Protopresbyter and Archeparchial Consultor before retiring in 2022. Father John, who as a priest faithfully has ministered for 41 years, in retirement generously has taken on substitutions throughout the Archeparchy responding to critical pastoral needs.
Reverend Robert J. Hitchens, born in Norristown, PA on February 6, 1967 and ordained to the Priesthood on May 22, 1994. He has served at parishes in Elizabeth, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, and as Chaplain to the Sisters of St. Basil the Great in Fox Chase. For nearly two decades, he has been Rector of St. Josaphat Seminary and Pastor of Holy Family Parish National Shrine in Washington since 2009. He is the founding Pastor of the SS. Joachim and Anna Church in Front Royal, a mission with great spiritual vitality and many new families who have discovered the treasure of our Ukrainian Catholic Church. Father Robert has served in the chancery as Vocations Director and Editor of The Way newspaper, and is currently a Consultor and Protopresbyter of the Washington Protopresbyterate. He has been a priest for almost 30 years.
The four presbyters being honored have a total of 175 years of priesthood among them and each one of them has served in at least eight different locations. They have accepted diverse assignments with humility and serenity and are distinguished by deep faith, humanity, peace, and harmonious cooperation with their superiors, brother clergy, religious, and the faithful.
Archpriests-Elect Roman Dubitsky and John Seniw will be elevated to the Dignity of Archpriest on November 24, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The same day the Archeparchy will recognize the three Orders of Religious Sisters in our Archeparchy for their dedicated service in education. Archpriest-Elect Taras Lonchyna will be elevated to the Dignity of Archpriest on November 26, at St. Josaphat Church in Trenton. Archpriest-Elect Robert Hitchens will be elevated to the Dignity of Archpriest on February 4, 2024, at the Ukrainian Catholic National of the Holy Family Shrine in Washington.
May our Lord bless these worthy candidates who have served Him and the People of God with dignity and honor.
Άξιοι!
Многая і благая літа!
November 14, 2023
Feast of the holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Philip
Eve of the Nativity Fast
