Sacred Heart [Ruthenian]

Welcome to Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church

The parish greets visitors with 'Glory to Jesus Christ!' and introduces itself as a Ruthenian (Byzantine) rite Catholic parish located in the suburbs of Livonia, Michigan. It is governed by the Eparchy of Parma in the midwestern United States. The parish clearly affirms that it is in full communion with the Pope, Rome, and all the other churches of the Catholic Church, sharing the same faith while specifically following Byzantine traditions and practices. Office hours are published as 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Story of Sacred Heart Parish

Sacred Heart's founding story begins in the years after World War II, when many returning servicemen had married, started families, and bought homes on Detroit's western fringe and in suburbs like Redford and Livonia. They still traveled to St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church on Detroit's East Grand Boulevard for worship, and a group of these 'west siders' asked St. Nicholas's pastor, Rev. William Lesko, about founding a Byzantine church closer to home. Father Lesko agreed to help secure episcopal permission and financing if they could find a building at a reasonable price. A building on Beech-Daly Road near Five Mile Road in Redford Township was purchased in April 1957, remodeled, and dedicated; the first Baptism and Chrismation took place the following month. On May 6, 1959, Bishop Nicholas T. Elko assigned Rev. Myron Hornyak as Sacred Heart's first resident pastor. Faced with a growing community in a small building, the parish acquired the current Livonia property between 1961 and 1964; groundbreaking on the new church was October 23, 1966, the first Divine Liturgy was January 6, 1968, and the formal blessing took place in September 1969 under Bishop Emil J. Mihalik.

• 1957 (April): Beech-Daly / Five Mile building purchased in Redford Township
• 1957 (June 30): Remodeling completed; first sacraments the following month
• 1959 (May 6): Rev. Myron Hornyak assigned as Sacred Heart's first resident pastor
• 1961–1964: Current Livonia property acquired
• 1966 (Oct 23): Groundbreaking with Bishop Elko
• 1968 (Jan 6): First Divine Liturgy in the new church
• 1969 (September): Formal blessing by Bishop Emil J. Mihalik

Who Are Ruthenian Catholics?

Sacred Heart's About page includes an introduction to Ruthenian Catholic identity, rooted in central Europe. The Ruthenian people were evangelized by followers of Saints Cyril and Methodius — the Byzantine Greek missionaries, 'The Apostles to the Slavs,' who in 863 brought Christianity and the Slavonic alphabet to Greater Moravia (the present Czech Republic and Western Slovakia). Their followers moved eastward and eventually converted the Ruthenian people of Carpathian Rus' — Transcarpathia, also known as Carpatho-Ruthenia, Carpatho-Russia, or Carpatho-Ukraine — today eastern Slovakia, southwest Ukraine, northeast Hungary, and northwest Romania. Like the other East Slavs, the Carpatho-Rusins received Christianity from the Byzantine Empire, and today continue to worship in the Byzantine liturgical tradition while in communion with Rome.

• Cyril and Methodius: 'Apostles to the Slavs,' mission to the Slavs beginning in 863 AD
• Carpathian Rus' / Transcarpathia ancestral homeland
• Liturgical tradition: Byzantine Rite, in full communion with Rome

Our Eparchy — Eparchy of Parma

The Eparchy of Parma is an eparchy (diocese) of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church in the midwestern United States. Its episcopal seat is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma, Ohio, and its liturgies use the Byzantine Rite. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh within the ecclesiastical province of Pittsburgh, and is dependent upon the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches. It is sometimes styled the 'Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma.'

• Cathedral: St. John the Baptist, Parma, Ohio
• Suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
• Depends on the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches
• Bishop (per GCatholic directory): Bishop Robert Mark Pipta

Our Pastor — Rev. Fr. Marton Egressy

Rev. Fr. Marton Egressy serves as Priest and Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart. His appointment became effective October 1, 2025 and was made with the approval of Bishop Teodor Matsapula of the Eparchy of Mukachevo. Parish bulletins show that Fr. Marton also shares pastoral duties with St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church in Allen Park, MI, and he is available to speak with visitors and seekers after Sunday Divine Liturgy during the parish's potluck Agape in the Parish Hall.

Church Schedule

The parish publishes a regular weekly schedule of Divine Liturgies, Confessions, and Church Hours. Divine Liturgy is offered three times a week, with confession immediately before the midweek and Saturday services. The church is also opened for silent prayer and visits to the All Saints Shrine during the posted Church Hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

All Saints Shrine

Located directly inside the parish, the All Saints Shrine is a curated collection of saints' relics 'beautifully displayed in a place of pious tranquility' for visitors to pray with the Christians who have gone before them. The collection spans from 1st-century saints to modern ones, and includes several items of exceptional significance to pilgrims: a relic of St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1st century), a fragment of Pope St. John Paul II the Great's blood-stained cassock, three small fragments of the Wood of the True Cross (brought from Jerusalem to Rome by St. Helen in 324 AD), and small linen fibers taken directly from the Shroud of Turin, accompanied by an 1806 Ecclesiastical Document of Authenticity. The parish encourages pilgrim visits and accepts donations to support the work of bringing these witnesses to the world.

• Relic of St. Anne (1st century)
• Fragment of Pope St. John Paul II the Great's blood-stained cassock
• Wood of the True Cross — 3 small fragments, brought to Rome by St. Helen in 324 AD
• Shroud of Turin — small linen fibers, with 1806 Ecclesiastical Document of Authenticity
• Many additional saints' relics, displayed inside the parish

Sacramental & Pastoral Ministry

The parish provides the full range of Byzantine Catholic sacraments. Sacraments are scheduled by appointment, with marriage requiring at least six months of preparation and Pre-Cana formation (an Eparchy-wide Pre-Cana weekend is offered through the Eparchy of Parma's Marriage and Family ministry in collaboration with the Tabor Life Institute). The sick are visited at home or in the hospital, and Holy Communion is brought to the homebound by appointment.

• Baptism — by appointment
• Chrismation — by appointment
• Marriage — by appointment, at least 6 months in advance; Pre-Cana weekend required
• Anointing of the Sick / hospital visits — by appointment, any time
• Holy Communion for the sick — by appointment, any time
• Funerals — by appointment

Parish Life & Fellowship

Sacred Heart's community life centers on the Divine Liturgy and the Agape meal that follows it in the Parish Hall. The parish bulletin welcomes visitors and seekers to stay for the Agape so they can 'get to know' the community, and the pastor is happy to speak with anyone looking for a new church home, considering the Eastern Catholic Church, or needing a prayer request. Adult formation includes the Byzantine Book Club, which meets online weekly.

• Sunday Agape — potluck meal in the Parish Hall after the 11:30 AM Divine Liturgy
• Byzantine Book Club — Mondays 7:00 PM (online via Google Meet)
• Ladies' meetings
• Parish Council meetings

Contacts & Location

The parish is located on Six Mile Road in Livonia, Michigan, with published office hours and a phone line for visitors. The mailing address, phone number, and parish email are listed on the website and bulletin.

• Address: 29125 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152
• Phone: (734) 522-3166
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.shbyzantine.com/
• Office Hours: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM