Atrium - Holy Vessels - Ciborium

The ciborium, used to hold consecrated hosts, is made of silver, gold plate, and pewter. It is inscribed: “To Rev. Christopher Kurina, OFM from The Valuch Family.”

Christopher J. Kurina was born on January 31, 1938, in Lansford, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Rudolph and Anna (Valuch) Kurina. He attended St. Michael’s Parochial School and later St. Anthony of Padua High School in Watkins Glen, New York, before entering the Franciscan Order. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1964.

During the early years of his ministry, Fr. Kurina taught at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio. Much of his later ministry was spent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After leaving the priesthood in 1987, he worked at Easton Hospital in Easton, Pennsylvania. Christopher passed away peacefully on November 20, 2020, at the age of 82, after suffering a stroke and a prolonged battle with cancer.

The ciborium was housed at Holy Family Friary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That friary was originally part of the Most Holy Savior Vice Province, which was established in 1926 when friars came from Slovakia to minister to Slovak immigrants. In 2000, the friars of that vice province joined St. John the Baptist Province.