About the sixty-eighth Session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Galician Major Archbishopric of the UGCC

All the bishops of the current Kyiv Galician Major Archbishopric of the UGCC attended the synodal meeting, except Bishop Stepan (Meniok), who had a good reason. At that session in synodal meetings took full part newly ordained Bishop Teodor (Martynyuk), auxiliary bishop of Ternopil-Zboriv. To the synodal meetings was also invited Bishop Neal (Lushchak), auxiliary bishop of Mukachevo Greek Catholic diocese.

The main topic of this session of the Synod of Bishops of the Supreme Archbishopric was finalizing the text of the Ecumenical concept of UGCC. In the context of its consideration Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), the Chairman of the Theological Department, presented the text of the modernized document and Father Igor Shaban, the Head of the Commission for Ecumenism, reported on the practical aspects of the current state of the ecumenical process in Ukraine. The Synod Fathers discussed the document, made their corrections and additions and sent into the Ecumenical concept of UGCC for approval to the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.

In the chapter of the synod documents study was investigated in the repeated first reading Pastoral instruction "Good Shepherd", which was reported by Volodymyr Zhdan. The project of Regulation on the financing of the catechetical ministry in the parish of the UGCC in Ukraine also was considered. It was reported by Fr. Andriy Stadnytskyi. The appropriate decision on this important field of parish life was accepted. On the Pastoral strategy of the Deaf reported Fr Oleg Lazurkevych and presented the basic principles of its development.

Among other topics there was a report on the results of the joint meeting of the representatives of the Catholic Church in Poland and Ukraine, presented by His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

In the chapter of consideration of other topics for discussion was heard and approved a report on the activities of the Coordinating Council for Pastoral Care in critical situations, which was made by its Head - Bishop Bogdan (Manyshyn). On the recent activities of the Major Archbishopric commissions and publications reported Father Petro Rak, the Head of the Department of Church Commissions and Father Rostyslav Pendyuk, the Chairman of the Committee on Youth, spoke about its activities. In addition, there was a substantive debate on celebrating the 150th anniversary of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi, it was reported by Metropolitan Igor (Voznyak) and Bishop Bogdan (Dzyurakh).

Synod Fathers listened and took note of the report on preparations for the VI session of the Patriarchal Council on the topic "Live parish - a meeting place with the living Christ," which was made by Fr Oleg Kaskiv.

Synod attentively listened to Fr Bogdan Prakh, the Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, who reported on the Vatican accreditation of the Theology Faculty of UCU and new opportunities for service to the Church that it implies.

Much of the time of the Synodal time was devoted to consideration of the implementation strategy of the missionary activity of the UGCC in the context of pastoral care in Kazakhstan, which was reported by Fr Vasyl Govera, Apostolic Visitor for our faithful in this country.

The members of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Galician Major Archbishopric of the UGCC served a memorial service on the graves of Bishop Mykhaylo Sabryga and Father Vasyl Potochnyak and prayed for the peace of all bishops and priests of the UGCC who have already departed to the Lord.

The sixty-ninth session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Galician Major Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was decided to hold in November 2015.

Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops

Of Kyiv-Galician Supreme Archbishop of the UGCC