The Catholic University of America Honors the Late Bishop Basil H. Losten
The Center for Ukrainian Church Studies at the Catholic University of America (CUA) hosted a special Day of Remembrance on Thursday, November 14, to honor the life and legacy of Bishop Basil H. Losten. In 2019, Bishop Losten’s generous donation helped establish the Center, which continues to foster scholarly research and understanding of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
The evening began with an academic panel that brought together members of the Ukrainian Catholic community and university faculty, moderated by Mitred Archpriest Mark Morozowicz, Director of the Bishop Basil H. Losten Ukrainian Church Studies Chair at Catholic University (CUA). Dr. Peter K. Kilpatrick, President of Catholic University, recalled how the late bishop often spoke fondly of his alma mater, CUA. Father Ivan Kaszczak, who assisted Bishop Losten in the final stages of redacting his autobiography, provided further insights into the bishop’s character, sharing a few anecdotes from his time as a priest in the Eparchy during Bishop Losten’s leadership.
In his remarks, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak emphasized Bishop Losten’s tireless efforts to raise awareness of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and its rich traditions. He noted that Bishop Losten’s work extended far beyond the Ukrainian community. In particular, he highlighted the late bishop’s involvement in the academic dialogues of the 1990s between the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, known as the Kyivan Church Study Group. These dialogues aimed to analyze the role of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the broader effort to restore unity between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
The evening culminated with the Memorial Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family. Most Rev. Paul Chomyncky, who succeeded Bishop Losten as Eparch of Stamford, presided at the liturgy. In his homily, Bishop Paul reflected on the challenges Bishop Losten faced throughout his service—societal, economic, and technological changes—and his unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Despite these challenges, Bishop Losten remained dedicated to his Eparchy and to advancing the mission of the Ukrainian Catholic Church on a global scale.
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