Roman Danylak
Encyclopedia
Roman Danylak, S.T.L.
, J.U.D. (born December 29, 1930, Toronto
, Canada
) is a Canadian
Ukrainian Catholic bishop
. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1957 and ministered to Ukrainian Catholics in Canada. He received a licentiate of sacred theology
from the Pontifical Urbaniana University
and a doctorate of canon and civil law from the Pontifical Lateran University
. From 1973–1990, Father Danylak served as a consultor
to the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches.
In 1992, while serving as the rector
of St. Josaphat Cathedral
and chancellor
of the eparchal chancery, he was appointed Apostolic administrator
sede plena of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto
and titular bishop
of Nyssa
by Pope John Paul II
. His appointment proved controversial, as the incumbent bishop, 81 year-old Isidore Borecky, refused to retire even though he had passed the mandatory retirement age of 75 established by canon law
. It was also rumored that Bishop Borecky had requested a coadjutor
or auxiliary bishop
, not an administrator, and that Father Danylak had not been nominated for the position by the Ukrainian Synod
. After six years of conflict between the two bishops, Bishop Lubomyr Husar, Apostolic administrator of Lviv
, negotiated a resolution whereby Bishop Borecky retired and Bishop Danylak was reassigned to special duties in Rome
, resulting in the vacancy
of the Toronto eparchy effective June 24, 1998. Bishop Cornelius Pasichny of Saskatoon
was appointed the new bishop on July 1 of that year.
Bishop Danylak is currently serving as a canon
of Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
in Rome.
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
, J.U.D. (born December 29, 1930, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Ukrainian Catholic bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1957 and ministered to Ukrainian Catholics in Canada. He received a licentiate of sacred theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
from the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
and a doctorate of canon and civil law from the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
. From 1973–1990, Father Danylak served as a consultor
Consultor
A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e. a counselor.In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions:*in the Roman Curia, a consultor is a specially appointed expert who may be called upon for advice desired by a department...
to the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches.
In 1992, while serving as the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Josaphat Cathedral
St. Josaphat Cathedral
St. Josaphat Cathedral is a Ukrainian Catholic cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, one of the best examples of Byzantine Rite church architecture in Canada. It is the seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, and has been a cathedral since 1948...
and chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the eparchal chancery, he was appointed Apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
sede plena of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada is a Ukrainian Catholic eparchy that includes part of Canada. The current bishop is Stephen Victor Chmilar....
and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Nyssa
Nyssa (Cappadocia)
Nyssa was a Roman/late-Roman town of Cappadocia. It is located near to the modern town of Harmandalı, Ortaköy district, Aksaray province, in south-central Turkey....
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. His appointment proved controversial, as the incumbent bishop, 81 year-old Isidore Borecky, refused to retire even though he had passed the mandatory retirement age of 75 established by canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. It was also rumored that Bishop Borecky had requested a coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
or auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
, not an administrator, and that Father Danylak had not been nominated for the position by the Ukrainian Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
. After six years of conflict between the two bishops, Bishop Lubomyr Husar, Apostolic administrator of Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, negotiated a resolution whereby Bishop Borecky retired and Bishop Danylak was reassigned to special duties in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, resulting in the vacancy
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
of the Toronto eparchy effective June 24, 1998. Bishop Cornelius Pasichny of Saskatoon
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon is the Ukrainian Greek Catholic eparchy for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is one of the suffragan eparchies of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg...
was appointed the new bishop on July 1 of that year.
Bishop Danylak is currently serving as a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major , known also by other names, is the largest Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.There are other churches in Rome dedicated to Mary, such as Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, but the greater size of the...
in Rome.