Experienced leaders ease young priest’s transition

But in 2007 when the Rev. Stephen Vernak arrived at his first pastoral assignment — Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Lower Paxton Twp. — he couldn’t help smiling as he looked at the three priests greeting him.

Vernak, a priest for four weeks, saw the Very Rev. Dr. Michael G. Kovach, associate pastor and then a priest for 64 years; the Very Rev. Daniel D. Ressetar, pastor emeritus and then a priest for 49 years; and the Rev. Neal J. Carrigan, assistant priest with more than 30 years experience.

Their combined 143 years of experience delighted Vernak. Two years later, Vernak, now 32, calls them ”amazing guys, a real benefit for me in my young priesthood. They all welcomed me.”

Although Carrigan is no longer on the Christ the Savior staff, Kovach and Ressetar are. They celebrate the Divine Liturgy with Vernak and help run the multiethnic parish.

”I was OK coming in new as the pastor,” Vernak said. ”In fact, Father Kovach baptized my father when he was an infant. I wasn’t intimidated, but I do respect them tremendously. I grew up with the clergy around me.”

Vernak, who grew up in Brick, N.J., is the son, grandson and great-grandson of Orthodox priests. He graduated in 1999 from the University of Vermont where he majored in recreation management. Then he went to work, managing retirement homes first in Anchorage, Alaska, then in Eugene, Ore.

After a few years in ”the real world,” he headed to St. Tikhon Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan in 2005. Two years later, after marrying Anna, he was ordained. They have three children, Sophia, 5; Zoe, 2; and Jacob, seven months.

Vernak said that having older priests on the staff benefits the whole parish.

Kovach, who married a priest’s daughter before being ordained in 1943, served as an Army chaplain during World War II. When he returned, he was assigned to parishes in western Pennsylvania. He spent 261/2 years on the staff at Millersville University, where he taught Russian for three years then worked in administration, retiring as dean of graduate studies.

”I came here 30 years ago as a parishioner,” said Kovach, who will turn 91 next month. ”But I’m a priest here too. A priest is a spiritual leader and teacher. It’s important to preach from the gospel. Be true to yourself and that makes you successful in any field.”

Ressetar, son of a priest and nephew of Orthodox St. Maxim Sandovich, was ordained in 1958, two months after marrying Theodora Prislopsky, a priest’s daughter. They have three sons. Ressetar, whose talents run from directing a choir to cantoring, first was assigned to an Orthodox church in McAdoo.

Like Kovach, Ressetar joined the military. He served as a chaplain with the U.S. Air Force, where he became a captain, then was in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel. He also spent eight years as a full-time chaplain at Dauphin County Prison.

Ressetar served as Christ the Savior Orthodox Church pastor from 1965 until 2007. Now he’s retired in name only. He recently founded and is president of the Orthodox Christian Academy located at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Asked if he’s a hard act to follow, he grinned. ”I wouldn’t want to follow me,” he joked.