The Reverend Monsignor George Nicholas Vida

Msgr. George, the son of John and Elizabeth Vida, was born in Michigan on August 23, 1931. He grew up in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Detroit and attended SS. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1957, and after serving as an assistant chancellor in the Chancery office, he was assigned as assistant to the pastor of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Brownsville, Pennsylvania in May 1958. Six months later Msgr. George was appointed administrator of St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church in Munhall, Pennsylvania and led his parish in the purchase of a new property and the building of a new Church, which was dedicated in 1966. In 1970 Msgr. George was appointed Pastor of St. Elias, and that same year Pope Paul VI named him Monsignor.

Msgr. George also taught at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary as an instructor of Liturgy from 1963-64 and an instructor of Eastern Ecclesiastical arts from 1971-72. In addition, because of his great love for the youth, he facilitated the formation of the Byzantine Catholic Youth organization in 1970, and served on the executive board for the Boy Scout’s East Valley Area Council.

In 1985 Msgr. George accepted the call from Bishop Thomas Dolinay to assist with the Byzantine Catholic Community in California, and in February 1987 Msgr. George was appointed pastor of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Anaheim, at the time when Sunday Liturgies were held at the chapel of St. Catherine’s Military Academy. Msgr. George worked with his parishioners to search for a location for a new Church complex, and in 1988 the parish purchased the current location at 995 N West

St. in Anaheim. Msgr. George organized countless fundraisers including rummage sales and the Tamburitzan performances to help the parish acquire the funds to build a new Church, and in 1994 he witnessed the groundbreaking for the property and in 2006 the dedication of the new Church.

Monsignor George retired as pastor from Annunciation in July 2013, but continued to concelebrate Liturgies and assist in hearing Confessions. He was, and still is, well-loved by his parishioners.

Msgr. George is predeceased by his parents, his brothers John and Alex, and his sister Betty. He is survived by his sister Emma Stock of Virginia and numerous nieces and nephews. Blessed Repose and Eternal Memory, Monsignor George!

In lieu of flowers, donations to Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Msgr. George’s memory,

995 N West St Anaheim, CA 92801

Please join us on Thursday, August 13th - Viewing at 5:00 pm followed by service at 6:00 pm

Friday morning - August 14th - Viewing at 8:00 am followed by actual funeral service at 9:00 am

at The Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church

Live streaming of services can be seen on Facebook at http://facebook.com/stephen.washko

Website for church is https://www.annunciationbysantine.org and there is link to the Facebook steaming there.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.funerariadelangelanaheim.com for the Vida family.