"Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, better known to UMWA miners as Father Torbic, was made an honorary member of the UMWA many years ago. Since then, he has given the opening and closing prayer at countless memorial services honoring lives lost in mining disasters. He has attended rallies and meetings in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Missouri and Washington, DC to address pensions, benefits, bankruptcies and job protection. Father Torbic lists prayer requests for miners in a weekly bulletin and has set up a miners' corner in the parish hall. He ensures no one forgets the lives lost in mining explosions by posting their anniversaries in the parish bulletin. Father Torbic has been a UMWA supporter for years and has traveled near and far to support our many fights. Thank you for your solidarity, Father Torbic."