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WASHINGTON (usccb.org) - Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Robert M. Pipta as bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma. Bishop-elect Pipta is a priest of Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix, and currently serves as rector of Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on August 31, 2023, by Monsignor Séamus P. Horgan, chargé d’affaires, ad interim at the apostolic nunciature in Washington, in the temporary absence of Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Father Pipta was born on April 7, 1967, in Anaheim, California. He studied at the University of California at Irvine (1985-1990) and earned a bachelor’s degree in music. He attended the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1990-1994). He was ordained to the priesthood on April 21, 1994, for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys.

Bishop-elect Pipta’s assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar at St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Phoenix, Arizona (1994-1997); administrator of St. Garbiel Byzantine Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nevada (1997-2004); and pastor at Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church in San Diego, California (2004-2014). Since 2014, Father Pipta has served as rector of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh.

Bishop-elect Pipta has held numerous appointments within the eparchy: member of the Intereparchial and Eparchial Music and Liturgy Commissions (1994-present); ecclesiastical notary for the eparchy (1994-1997); a member of the advisory council for the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius (1998-2012); vocations director (1994-2014); member of the Eparchial Review Board (2008-2014); and the Eparchial College of Consultors (2008-2014). He has also served as director of an eparchial youth camp, “Eparchial Alive in Christ” (2003-2014).

The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians ministers to 4,309 Byzantine Ruthenian Rite Catholics in the United States.

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