An auxiliary bishop has been appointed for the faithful of the UGCC in Argentina

On January 14, 2009, at 13.00 in the Vatican it was announced that His Holiness Benedict XVI has blessed the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church to appoint Reverend Father Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Ph.D., rector of Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv, Auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God in Buenos Aires (Argentina). The titular throne of Castra Galbae was given to the new bishop. "As a student, Father Sviatoslav was one of those whom the at that time eparchial bishop of the UGCC in Argentina, Andres (Sapelak), invited to this country to study theology there and, consequently, there were pastors for the faithful of our Church in Argentina. At this time he learned Spanish and got to know the culture of this country. Now when we were choosing a candidate for a bishop for the Greek-Catholics of Argentina, the choice, considering this primary idea about his ministering in this country, came down precisely on Fr. Sviatoslav." So His Beatitude Lubomyr, Major Archbishop of Kyiv and Halych, explained the decision of the Synod of Bishops. "We have a great expectation that Fr. Sviatoslav will bring with him those characteristics which are so needed for fortifying and rebuilding our Church in Argentina, where according to official data 300 thousand faithful of the UGCC live. The biggest problem of this eparchy is the limited number of priests. Father Sviatoslav, who until now was the rector of the Lviv seminary, probably will be able to find priests who would be ready to travel to minister to the faithful of the Church in this South American country," the Head of the UGCC said. Addition  Biographical information on Fr. Sviatoslav Shevchuk: Born on May 5, 1970, in the town of Stryj, Lviv Region. Ordained a deacon on May 21, 1994. (The ordaining bishop was Fylymon (Kurchaba).) Priestly ordination on June 26, 1994. (The ordaining bishop was His Beatitude Myroslav Ivan Cardinal Lubachivsky). Studies: 1991-1992 – studied at the Don Bosco Center of Philosophical-Theological Studies in the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina); 1992-1994 Lviv Seminary; 1994-1995 Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Rome, Italy). Theology Faculty. Baccalaureate; 1995-1997 Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Theology Faculty, Moral Theology Department; 1997-1999 Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Theology Faculty. Doctorate with “Summa cum laude” in theological anthropology and the bases of moral theology of the Byzantine theological tradition. Doctor of theology. Ministering activity: 1999-2000 prefect of Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv 2000-2007 vice-rector of Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv From 2001 vice-dean of Theology Faculty of the Lviv Theological Academy (subsequently the Ukrainian Catholic University); 2002-2005 head of the secretariat and personal secretary of His Beatitude Lubomyr, head of the Patriarchal Curia in Lviv; From June 2007 rector of Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv

Information Department of the UGCC