He encouraged outreach to students on college campuses and a "vigorous presence" on social media. He also encouraged outreach to families with children, and to Hispanic communities through the offering of Spanish liturgies.
"We must not lock ourselves in our own world, with our own problems. That won't help us. I strongly encourage you to reach out. We cannot do without outreach … Let us not be afraid to be open to the diversity of the faithful and of cultures, for only this is the way to a flourishing future."
Additionally, Lach noted that successful and fruitful outreach is not possible if it is not born out of a deep faith, fostered through prayer and the Word of God.
"God's Word must become for everyone in our eparchy a daily meal, as something without which we cannot live," he said.
"If we depart from the Logos, the Word of God, we will run the risk of our churches becoming social clubs where people enjoy being together, but do not need anyone else in their company. The Church is not a club; the Church is a community of baptized brothers and sisters."
He also encouraged the people of his eparchy to frequent the sacraments, including monthly confession, and to pray, fast, and help the poor and needy.
"Let us not neglect our traditional liturgical prayers in our churches, whether it be vespers, morning prayers, canonical hours, or molebens and akathists. I encourage my brother priests and deacons to be an example for the faithful with their liturgical prayers and in their personal life. May God's temple be a place of prayer where sacred silence is kept and appreciated. This is a matter close to my heart," he said.
There are currently 23 active priests in the eparchy. In the next eight years, Lach estimates that the region will need 17 additional new priests. That is why he wants to focus the resources of the eparchy on fostering vocations and supporting priests and deacons, rather than on propping up parish buildings for the sake of an attachment to the building, he said.
"(I) want to invest funds in high-quality priestly preparation and formation of young men from the United States, who want to serve Christ in our eparchy, as well as in priests from Europe who will come to help us," he said.
These funds will also go toward the support of currently active priests, as well as for those in retirement or those who will retire soon.
At the end of his letter, Lach described the financial situation of the eparchy, and noted that the chancery of the eparchy will no longer be able to offset the debts of parishes and "pay the required amount to the priests' pension fund or health insurance plan."
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At one time the eparchy had enough funds to provide this, Lach said, but those funds have run out, and indebted parishes will be expected to gradually repay their debts to the chancery "in the near future," he noted.
Finally, Lach urged the people of the eparchy to work together in implementing his vision for the future of the eparchy.
"I am firmly convinced that our Byzantine Catholic Church in the United States has a future, because it offers the Gospel, the joyful message of the living Jesus Christ, through a millennia-old authentic experience. We must let others know about it," he said.
"While I am willing to lead and to serve, all of us need to embrace our future together," he added.
"I hope that you will share my optimism that our future is bright, but we must together embark on the right path. Please pray for me that I may receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of discernment. I pray for you constantly that, by being united in Christ, in the end we will all meet in His heavenly home."