52nd session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the UGCC

The 52^nd session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the UGCC took place in Lviv-Briukhovychi 25-26 May 2011 presided by the newly elected Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk). All the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishops with jurisdiction on the territory of Ukraine participated in the session. Also present at the Synod were the Most Rev. Milan (Shashik), eparch of Mukachevo, and Rev. Dmytro (Hryhorak), Apostolic Administrator of Buchach eparchy.    Discussed among the central topics of this session of the Synod were the issues on ecumenical activity in Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the UGCC. The participants also listened to the presentation about the Ukrainian Catholic University delivered by the Rector of the University, Rev. Borys Gudziak. Rev. Petro Rak, the Head of the Department of Church Commissions spoke about the activity of the Commissions. The Bishops also listened to the presentation of Rev. Rostyslav Pendiuk, the Head of the Youth Commission, who talked about the Commission’s Activity and preparation for the World Youth Day in Madrid.   Once again the Synodal Fathers discussed the issue of catechetical ministry in the Major Archbishopric, and listened to the presentation of Rev. Mykhailo Harvat, the Head of the Catechetical Commission, about the preparation of “Pastoral care catechetical adviser”.   The Synod voted on such normative actions as; Instruction of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric on book publishing and Synodal Appeal on this matter, Regulation of Church Commissions, and Description of responsibilities of the Head of Church Commissions.   Reflecting on the current socio-political situation in Ukraine, the Synod issued a letter “Appeal of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric to the faithful and all people of good will on preservation of the social peace”   There were also discussed the issues related to the financial-economic state in parishes with elaboration of appropriate instructions, especially about the need of proper documentation of church goods.   The Synodal Fathers also discussed the following issues: celebration of 200^th birth anniversary of Rev. Markiyan Shashkevych; preparations to commemoration of 10^th anniversary of John Paul II’s  visit to Ukraine; and preparations to celebrations of 1025^th anniversary of Baptism of Rus’-Ukraine.   The Synod was also reported to about the state of construction of the Patriarchal Cathedral of The Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv and on the creation of all-church printed publication as well as on the visit of Bishop Josaphat (Hovera), Exarch of Lutsk, to Kazakhstan.   A considerable part of the session was dedicated to the discussion of the issue of voluntary movement in Major Archbishopric and of the celebration of 60^th anniversary of the Holy Father Benedict XVI. The Synodal Fathers took into consideration an appeal of the Pope of Rome to pray for Christians in China and established 24 May as the Day of prayer for Catholic Church in China encouraging faithful to pray in this intention.   The 54^th  session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church  will take place in October 2011.     

 Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops

of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the UGCC