The retired bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Diocese of Passaic, N.J., and a native of Palmerton, was killed in an automobile accident Dec. 8.
Bishop Andrew Pataki, J.C.L., D.D., Bishop Emeritus of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, passed away at the Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, N.J., from his injuries
Monsignor Nicholas Puhak of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Freeland, remembered the former bishop.
"His forte was liturgical matters," Puhak said. "He worked on trying to revise the liturgy."
After several years of ministry in Pennsylvania and New York, he was sent to Rome, Italy, to pursue graduate studies in canon law at Pontifical Oriental Institute. Upon returning home, he was appointed rector of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, where he taught courses in theology, canon law, chant and language.
He was ordained to the episcopacy on Aug. 23, 1983, at St. Peter Cathedral, Scranton, and was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic. The following year, he was appointed the second Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma, Ohio. On Nov. 21, 1995, he was appointed the Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic, N.J., and was enthroned on Feb. 8, 1996, at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, Passaic, N.J. He served as Bishop of Passaic until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 80. After retirement, he continued to remain active in pastoral ministry.
Pataki was born in Palmerton on Aug. 30, 1927. He was formally educated in Palmerton area schools and attended Central Catholic High School, Allentown before enrolling in St. Vincent College, Latrobe.
Soon after, he began his studies for the priesthood in 1944 at St. Procopius College-Seminary in Lisle, Ill. He completed his studies at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Pittsburgh, and was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on Feb. 24, 1952, by Bishop Daniel Evancho.
Bishop Pataki was the son of the late Ignatius and Sophia Dejak Pataki. He was preceded in death by his parents , Ignatius and Sophia, and also by a brother, Ignatius Pataki; sisters, Mary Kern, Sophia Iliades, Nan Roberts and Julianna Gamble.
He is survived by brothers, Deacon Michael Pataki and wife, Annette, Mountain Top; and Charles Pataki and wife, Betty, Cincinnati, Ohio; sisters, Helen Hahn, Lancaster; and Peggy Rendesh, North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Passaic, 96 First St., Passaic, N.J. The Bishop's body will lie in state at the Cathedral today and Wednesday. A Panachida will be celebrated at 7 p.m. each evening. Interment will be in Mount St. Macrina Cemetery, Uniontown, on Friday.
