New Diocese of Greensburg bishop is first to be from the area

GREENSBURG, Pa. — The Diocese of Greensburg has a new spiritual leader and its someone that community knows well.

Thursday’s ceremony was a very scaled-back version of what you’d typically see for a Bishop installation Mass. Due to the pandemic, attendance was very limited and by invitation only.

While this is the only sixth bishop to lead the Diocese of Greensburg — he’s the very first to be from the area.

This year, the Diocese of Greensburg is celebrating 70 years since its inception, and for the first time in its history, a native is being appointed bishop.

“That 2000 year tradition of handing on that apostolic office is something to me that I think about and reflect upon, moved me and is quite humbling,” said Bishop Larry Kulick of the Diocese of Greensburg.

In a nearly three-hour ceremony at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Leechburg native Larry Kulick was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg.

The Mass, scaled down due to the pandemic, was live-streamed.

Kulick’s local ties and fervent admiration for the area are easing his transition to lead the diocese.

“I also feel extremely blessed for that reason that I know the area; I know the parishes. I’ve worked with so many of the priests and the religious,” Bishop Kulick said.

“He knows the area and he knows it inside and out just from the sense of the people of the area, but also knows it from the administrative point. He’s going to be a great, great pastor, as a bishop,” said Bishop David Zubick of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Kulick proudly wore his Slovak roots on the coat of arms, and a Slovak symbol adorning these plaques, which was hand-carved by his uncle, were gifted to those there Thursday.

Bishop Kulick says he sees the challenge of reconnecting people to their faith as a great opportunity, all while the Catholic Church continues to heal from the sex abuse scandal that rocked it to its core in 2018.

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“Having worked very closely these last several years in the whole process of our compensation reconciliation process and sitting down and listening to victims, the church is actively engaged and actively using resources of the people to help heal,” he said.

Bishop Kulick says the diocese has endured and adapted to the pandemic — donated to the needy — and over half of its parishes stream services every Sunday. But he’s hoping to make the church relevant and a source of unity for the people.

“We know Christ came to unify not to divide. The church is here to bring people together, and if we’re true to the mission of the church, we must find our common ground and work together.”

Prior to his appointment, Bishop Kulick served under previous bishop, Edward Malesic, who was also part of Thursday’s Mass.

Cox Media Group