Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg Media

CHANGES IN EPISCOPATE

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, accepted the resignation of Most Rev. Michael BZDEL of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. It was presented in accord with canon 210, §1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Most Rev. Lawrence HUCULAK, until now Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton, as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in Canada. Archbishop Lawrence was born on January 25, 1951 in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Following perpetual religious vows in the Order of Saint Basil the Great, he was ordained a priest on August 28, 1977. He holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. On April 3, 1997 he was ordained a bishop for the Eparchy of Edmonton.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Pastors are kindly requested to forward to the Chancery Office by January 31, 2006 the following documents for each parish or mission in their pastoral care:

• A current list of the Parish Council Members, including position, name, address, telephone and e-mail.

• 2005 Financial Statements, as well as a copy of the annual T3010A Registered Charity Information Return (for parishes who issue income tax receipts).

• A photocopy from the Baptismal, Marriage and Death Registers for the year 2005.

• A copy of the parish’s annual Corporate Return, if civilly incorporated.

The next meeting of the Presbyteral Council/College of Consultors will take place at 3:00 pm on Monday, March 13 at the Chancery Office. Future scheduled meetings are May 3 (10th anniversary of the passing of Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk), June 5, September 25, and November 20.

The next Clergy Conference will take place in the context of a Tri-Archeparchial Clergy Assembly (Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, Archdiocese of Winnipeg) on Tuesday, March 14, from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm at Saint Boniface Cathedral, 190, avenue de la Cathédrale. Archbishop James Weisgerber will present on the Report of the Special Taskforce for the Review of “From Pain to Hope” of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The report is available at www.cccb.ca or by contacting the Chancery Office. Future scheduled clergy conferences are May 4, June 8, September 26, and November 21.

National Volunteer Week takes place April 23-29. This week is a special time set aside to thank and honour the people who donate their time and energy. It is also a time to raise awareness of the vital contribution volunteers make to our churches, communities and to society as a whole. The Archeparchy of Winnipeg expresses its sincere gratitude to those who volunteer in many capacities, especially in sharing in the mission of the Church to bring the good news to the people of God.

2006 Clergy Retreat: June 5-8, Villa Maria, Winnipeg, Retreat Master Rev. Bohdan Lukie, cssr. With the sale of Villa Maria, the annual clergy retreat has been moved from September to June.

The Central Canada 2006 Franklin Graham Festival, in cooperation with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, will take place October 20-22 in Winnipeg. The Festival is supported by the three Catholic Archbishops of Winnipeg. For more info, see CentralCanada2006fgf@bgea.org or billygraham.org. In preparation for the Evangelistic Festival, a series of preparatory events are planned; further information will be forthcoming when available.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pope Benedict XVI released his first encyclical “God is love” (Deus caritas est), which discusses the Christian understanding of love and commitment to the others. The encyclical is available on the Vatican website: www.vatican.va. The encyclical is also available from CCCB Publications ($6.95 plus tax and shipping; www.cccbpublications.ca; 1 (800) 769-1147).

Please find attached a pastoral letter from His Beatitude on the 60th anniversary of the Lviv Pseudo-Council (Sobor) [PDF - Eng|Ukr].

The Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy in Canada issued on Pastoral Letter on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Winnipeg Metropolia. On November 3, 1956, Pope Pius XII united the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada under one metropolia, the first outside Ukraine. The Ukrainian and English texts of the letter are attached [PDF Eng|Ukr]. National and eparchial events are being planned to celebrate this historical event.

Attached for your information is a Pastoral Letter on Immigration and Protection of Refugees: “We are aliens and transients before the Lord our God,” prepared by the CCCB Social Affairs Commission, issued on the occasion of the World Day for Migrants and Refugees, which was held January 15, 2006.

Copyright © 2007 Archeparchy of Winnipeg