BISHOP BRYAN BAYDA ENTHRONED AS 4th BISHOP OF TORONTO AND EASTERN CANADA
June 27, 2022
BISHOP BRYAN BAYDA ENTHRONED AS 4th BISHOP OF TORONTO AND EASTERN CANADA
Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, who was formally the Bishop of Saskatoon, but has also served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Toronto Eparchy since the resignation of Bishop Stephen Chmilar of Toronto in 2019, was officially enthroned as the local Eparchial Bishop of Toronto and Eastern Canada.
To accommodate more clergy, faithful, guests and dignitaries (although a fraction of those who would have liked to attend) the enthronement took place in the large church of Sts Peter and Paul in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough.
The Chancellor of the Eparchy of Toronto, Very Rev. Zenon Walnyckyj, read the decree of Pope Francis by which he nominated Bishop Bryan as the Bishop of Toronto. The Protosyncellus, Very Rev. Andrew Onuferko read the decree of the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav. [His Beatitude not only has the priviledge of presiding at all episcopal installations, but he usually does. However, as the horrific war continues to be waged by Russia against Ukraine, he chose not to leave his people at this moment]
The Metropolitan-Archbishop of Winnipeg, His Grace, Most Rev. Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, as the primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, presided at the event. Together with the Metropolitan-Archbishop of Philadelphia, Most. Rev. Borys Gudziak, he escorted Bishop Bryan to the episcopal throne, seated him and presented him with insignia of his office - a pectoral cross and the bishop's staff in particular.
At the Homily, Metropolitan Lawrence read the letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav to Bishop Bryan and to the faithful of the Eparchy at this historic new beginning for them.
The participants included a large number of bishops - representing the Ukrainian Catholic, Roman Catholic and other Eastern Churches, including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada. Many clergy and layfaithful - including Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta and Bishop Bryan's family - attended the truly glorious enthronement Liturgy. Many found the event to be well-planned and truly uplifting in its heartfelt and prayerful execution.
