Edmonton (20080529) - On May 26 – 28, 2008 the clergy, religious, and clergy wives of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada gathered in the city of Edmonton, AB to pray and reflect upon the theme of “Evangelization through Catechesis.”
In his opening address his Beatitude Lubomyr spoke of the Missionary nature of the Church. He reflected on how it is the duty of all the faithful not just of the Clergy and Monastics to share their faith, and how it is our job as clergy and religious to enable and empower them to do so. He also spoke of Whom and to whom we are to preach, and how fully living out our rich liturgical tradition needs to be central in this process.
The following day was spent learning about the Byzantine catechetical program called “Generations of Faith”. This 5 year comprehensive program, which focuses on the Liturgical year, Scripture, Patristics, Liturgy, Morality and more, is designed to cater to the unique catechetical needs of all age groups within a parish. Following that, there were breakout sessions and networking opportunities for everyone including deacons and clergy wives.
The Metropolia Sobor concluded shortly after the celebration of a Pontifical Divine Liturgy and the blessing of a monument of Blessed Bishop Nykyta Budka (the first UC Bishop in Canada and martyr) at St. Josaphat’s Cathedral. This Divine Liturgy was celebrated by his Beatitude Patriarch Lubomyr Husar (head of the UGCC), along with Most Rev. Lawrence Huculak (Metropolitan of Winnipeg), Most Rev. Ihor Voznyak, (Metropolitan of Lviv), Most Rev. Michael Bzdel (Archbishop Emerit. of Winnipeg), Most Rev. Vasyl Semenyuk, (Bishop of Ternopil-Zboriv), Most Rev. David Motiuk (Bishop of Edmonton), Most Rev. Ken Nowakowski (Bishop of New Westminster), Most Rev. Stephen Chmilar (Bishop of Toronto), Most Rev. Paul Chomnycky (Bishop of Stamford), Most Rev. Michael Wiwchar, (Bishop Emerit. of Saskatoon), Most Rev. Severian Yakymyshyn (Bishop emerit. of New Westminster), Rev. Bryan Bayda (Bishop-Elect of Saskatoon) and with the heads of the Redemptorist and Basilian Fathers, the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate, and the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, over 150 priests, deacons, monks, nuns, and clergy wives who were attending the sobor, many children from the Edmonton Catholic School System, various lay organizations, and the faithful of the city of Edmonton.
Article by Fr. Bo Nahachewsky, Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Lyodminster, Alberta [ Click here for parish website ]
Additional photos:
Several Bishops with his Beatitude Patriarch Lubomyr Husar at the 2008 UC Metropolia Sobor
Clergy Wives with Patriarch Lubomyr