Emil John Mihalik

Emil John Mihalik (February 7, 1920 – January 27, 1984) was the first eparch of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio. He attended high school in Brentwood, Pennsylvania, and received his undergraduate degree from St. Procopius College.

Pastoral appointments As many Eastern Catholic seminarians of his time, Mihalik attended a Roman Rite seminary, but was ordained to the Byzantine Catholic priesthood on September 21, 1945, at St. Mary's Church in Trenton, New Jersey, by Bishop Basil Takach.

He was pastor at St. Thomas Church in Rahway, New Jersey, from February 1, 1961, until June 12, 1969,

Eparch of Parma On February 21, 1969, Pope Paul VI created the Eparchy of Parma. His principal co-consecrators were Bishops Michael Dudick and Michael Rusnak.

In May 1977, Bishop Alden Bell of the Diocese of Sacramento gave $20,000, which had been a World War II relief fund for Slovaks, to Mihalik.

Legacy During his priesthood, Mihalik is credited with the establishment of 18 parishes and ordaining 23 priests.