HEAD OF CHURCH CONVOKES PATRIARCHAL COUNCIL
December 23, 2018
His Beatitude Sviatoslav convokes the 7th Session of the Patriarchal Council of the Ukrainian Catholic Church
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head and Father of the UGCC, by Decree, has convoked the VII session of the Patriarchal (All-Church) Council ("Sobor") of the UGCC on the topic of "Emigration, Settlement and Global Unity of the UGCC," to take place August 26-29 of 2020 in Lviv. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Patriarchal Council is the next instrument that will help formulate the "Vibrant Parish" strategy.
Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, representatives of the clergy and institutions of consecrated life (nuns and religious brothers), rectors of theological seminaries, laity of all eparchies and exarchates from around Ukraine and throughout the world are invited to participate in the Council.
As noted by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, when the strategy for the development of our Church was formed, no one knew what to expect. "We did not imagine that war would break out in Ukraine. We did not think that we will become pastors in a hostile environment, and that not only our parishes will be the place of "encountering the living Christ", but also the Maidan of Kyiv would be. I dream that with you, in particular in the context of this Council, we will hear the Living God whom we seek to meet. He is the Lord of history, He who helps us to correct our strategy today," he said.
By a separate decree the Head of the UGCC named Fr. Dr. Roman Shafran, presently the Head of the Ordinary Tribunal of the Major Archbishop as the General Secretary of the Council.
The VI session of the Patriarchal Council of the UGCC on the topic "Vibrant Parish - a place to meet with the Living Christ" was held in Ivano-Frankivsk with Rev. Dr. Oleh Kaskiv as Secretary. Then about 200 delegates from all eparchies of the UGCC worldwide took part in the Council.
Reference:
The Patriarchal Council is an advisory assembly of the entire Church headed by the Patriarch. The council assists the Patriarch and the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church in resolving important issues (cf. The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 140).
Department of Information of the UGCC
