Obituary of Rt. Stephen Bodnar

Bodnar, Right Rev. Stephen At St. Joseph's Hospice on Friday, May 16, 2014 Rt. Rev. Stephen Bodnar in his 77th year. Beloved husband of Julianna (nee Petroczi) Bodnar. Dear father of Julianna (Douglas) Krestick of London, Istvan (Anna) Bodnar of Windsor and Phoeby Sheldan of London. Proud grandfather of Stefanie, Steven, and Rachael. Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Monday, May 19th from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. Then lying in state at St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica, 196 Dufferin Avenue, on Tuesday morning, May 20th from 10 o'clock, until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11 o'clock. Interment in St. Peter's Cemetery. Prayers Monday evening at 7 o'clock. "He was born in Penészlek, Hungary in 1937. Fr. Stephen went to high-school in Esztergom which was administered by the Saint Francis Order and then attended Szent Athanasz Greek Catholic Seminary in Nyiregyhaza. In 1961, he was ordained into priesthood in Nyiregyhaza by Bishop Dudas. In the same year, post-ordination, he married in Budapest (Gát utcai Catholic Church). In 1962-1966, he was assistant priest in Sátoraljaújhely. From 1966-1969, he was rector at Greek Catholic Church in Beregdaroc. In 1969, he immigrated to Canada with his family. From 1969-1976, he was the parish priest at St. George's Greek Catholic Church in Courtland, Ontario. From 1976-1986, he was pastor at St. Mary's Greek Catholic Church in Windsor, Ontario. During at that time, he assisted at Slovak Greek Catholic Church in Windsor, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Amherstburg, and St. John's Catholic Church in Detroit. Also, he was a freelance reporter for CBC, including a fascinating interview of an observer who was on a rescue boat during the 1912 Titanic tragedy. Additionally, he was a guest speaker at various Hungarian cultural events, including the Hungarian House in Delhi and Mindszenty Hall in Windsor. In 1976 and 1982, Bishop Isidore appointed him as Dean for Hungarian Greek Catholics and Mitrophoric Archpriest of the Hungarian Deanery (Hungarian Greek Catholic Churches in Central East Canada) respectively. Later, Bishop Cornelius appointed him Counsellor of the Ukrainian Eparchy. In 1980s, he was granted permission to administer mass services according to the Latin Rite. From 1986-2005, he returned to the St. George's Greek Catholic Church in Courtland, where he also assisted with other parishes - St. Ladislaus Church in Courtland and St. Istvan's Church in London. In January 2005, he retired. However, he continued up to 2012, as a guest priest, providing mass services in the Hungarian Greek Catholic Church community (Welland, Hamilton, London, and Courtland). In 2011, he celebrated his 50th Priesthood Anniversary in Courtland, Welland, and Hamilton parishes. He was officially recognized for his Golden Jubilee 50th Priesthood anniversary with an official certificate from Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Lastly, he was a member of Knights of Columbus councils (Tillsonburg and Windsor) for decades."