Reverend Edward G. Cimbala, D.Min.

Father Cimbala was elected to serve as Administrator of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic by the College of Consultors on April 23, 2012, the Feast of Saint George. He remained in that role until Bishop Kurt Burnette was named the fifth Bishop of Passaic, succeeding Bishop William Skurla, who had been elevated to Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

Born in Trenton, NJ on February 15, 1955, he is the son of the late +Peter Cimbala and Betty Lee Cimbala (Terryberry), and the stepson of Kenneth Terryberry. He is the grandson of the late +George and +Anna Cimbala, +Viola Lee Wildblood, and +Edward and +Marie Wildblood.

Responding to a vocation from Saint Mary of the Assumption Byzantine Catholic Church in Trenton, he completed his priestly formation at Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh. He was ordained on May 8, 1988 by Bishop Michael J. Dudick at Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Pottstown, PA, and celebrated his First Divine Liturgy one week later at his home parish in Trenton.

His first assignment was as Assistant Pastor at Saint Michael Cathedral in Passaic, NJ. He was then appointed the founding pastor of Ascension of Our Lord Church in Williamsburg, VA, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Virginia Beach. In 1992, he became Pastor of Saint Therese in St. Petersburg, FL and also served as Temporary Administrator of Saint Anne Church in New Port Richey, FL.

In 1996, he was appointed Pastor of Holy Ghost Church in Jessup, PA, where he led the parish through its 100th Anniversary and served as president of the Board of Pastors of LaSalle Academy—the only bi-ritual Catholic grade school in the U.S.—while also teaching 8th Grade Religion.

In 1999, he returned to his home parish as Pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption in Trenton, and in 2002, became Pastor of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hillsborough, NJ, where he remained for 14 years. Under his leadership, the parish paid off a $1 million mortgage, completed a $200,000 icon project, and hosted numerous educational, cultural, and community events. On July 27, 2016, he was named Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Levittown, PA before his current assignment in New York City.

His education includes Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic School (1969), Saint Anthony High School (1973), and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), where he earned a Bachelor’s in Speech and Theatre with concentrations in Marketing and Communications. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1996), where his dissertation focused on the parish’s responsibility in fostering vocations.

Before seminary, Father Cimbala worked in the performing arts, holding marketing and management roles with companies such as the Hartman Theatre (CT), Indiana Repertory Theatre (IN), NJ Shakespeare Festival, and others. He also consulted in development and fundraising for arts organizations.

His diocesan service includes 15 years as Eparchial Director of Vocations, Protopresbyter of the Susquehanna Protopresbyterate, and Coordinator of the teen retreat Camp Come Alive at Carpathian Village. He has also served on the Eparchial Presbyteral Council, Retirement Board, Deacon Formation, and Seminary Advisory Committee. Prior to his appointment as Administrator, he was Protosyncellus (Vicar General) of the Eparchy.

Father Cimbala is also a retreat and workshop leader, presenting topics such as “The Nuts and Bolts of Evangelization,” “Becoming an Energized Parish,” and “Turning the World Upside-down: Discipleship Today.”