After One and a Half Year of Interregnum, a new Metropolitan Archbishop.

His Excellency William Charles Skurla, Eparch of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic of Passaic promoted into Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh

From the Website Byzantine Catholic Church in America (ByzCath)

"Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop William C. Skurla of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, N.J., as archbishop of the Byzantine Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Archbishop Skurla, 55, will succeed Archbishop Basil M. Schott, who died in June 2010. The appointment was announced Jan. 19 in Washington by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States. His enthronement -- as the Eastern Catholic installation ceremony is known -- will take place April 18 in Pittsburgh. The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is the only self-governing Eastern Catholic Church in the United States, meaning it is directly under the authority of the pope rather than a Catholic patriarch in Eastern Europe or the Middle East. It stretches from Erie, Pa., to Texas and has 58,000 parishioners and 65 priests in 78 parishes. William Charles Skurla was born in Duluth, Minn., June 1, 1956, and attended local Catholic and public elementary schools. He graduated in 1974 from Chisholm High School, Chisholm, Minn. He attended Deerfield Academy postgraduate program in Deerfield, Mass., from 1974 to 1975. He then attended Columbia University in New York, graduating in 1981 with a concentration in philosophy in 1981. He entered the Byzantine Franciscan community in Sybertsville, Pa., in 1981 and studied for the priesthood at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, Pa., receiving master's degrees in divinity in 1986 and theology in 1987. Ordained a Franciscan priest in 1987, he was incardinated nine years later into the Eparchy of Van Nuys, Calif., where he served as pastoral administrator at St. Melany Byzantine Catholic Church in Tucson, Ariz., from 1993 until 2002. The eparchy is now known as the Holy Protection of Mary Eparchy of Phoenix."

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Since the Death of His Excellency Basil Myron Schott in June 2010, it seems that the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh experience one of the longest Interregnum i ever seen. We pray for the New Metropolitan Archbishop that by the grace and mercy of God he lead his faithful with Faith, Багато років до Його Високоповажності митрополита архієпископа Вільяма.

Here below are some Photos of the New Metropolitan Archbishop, some taken from the Eastern Rite Catholic Filipinos Facebook Fan Page:

Episcopal Ordination of Most. Rev. John Michael Kudrick, Bishop of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma. His Principal Consecrator is the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh, His Excellency Basil Myron Schott and his Principal Co-Consecrator is the present Metropolitan William Skurla

Hierarchs of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church at their Yearly Pilgrimage at Mount St. Macrina. from Left to Right: Most. Rev. Gerald Nicholas Dino, Eparch of the Ruthenian Eparchy of Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix; His Excellency Basil Myron Schott, O.F.M, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh; Most. Rev. John Michael Kudrick, Eparch of the Eparchy of Parma and Most. Rev. William Skurla, Eparch of the Eparchy of Passaic

Another one here from the Website of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh  on the Appointment of His Excellency William Charles Skurla as Metropolitan Archbishop. I have noticed the use of the term Metropolitan Archbishop-Elect. Clarification, we use the term Elect if the Bishop is still a Priest waiting to be Ordained into Episcopate, and that His Excellency William, a reigning Eparch, was thus promoted or should i say Elevated into a Metropolitan which Enthronement is necessary and not a Episcopal Ordination because he is a Bishop already.