Annual Spring Clergy Conference for Philadelphia Archeparchy Hosted by Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Bridgeport, Pa.

Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Christopher Lukach. from the Anne Klein Communications Group made  presentations on the following topics, “The Realities of Today's Media Landscape” and “Navigating the Social Media Landscape.”

During the evening dinner, prepared by the parishioners of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Metropolitan Soroka presented certificates to the clergy who are celebrating significant anniversaries of their priestly ordination this year.

The Wednesday morning session began with Mr. John Drozd, Archieparchial Finance Officer (Econome) presenting the financial report of the Archeparchy and St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary.

Archbishop Stefan gave a status report on the plans to move the Chancery into the renovated school building and the plans to generate funds from the rental of the existing chancery building.

Father Paul Makar, Vocations Director, gave a summary of plans for the May 7 World Day of Prayer for Vocations and how it should be observed in the parishes that weekend.

Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko gave a detailed report of the weekly Divine Liturgy attendance in all the parishes of the Archeparchy, together with the number of registered faithful in both the parishes and combined archieparchial enrollment.

After a short break, Auxiliary Bishop John Bura presented a talk “Understanding Iconography in Our Church” which included power-point slides as he developed the history and stylistic developments and proper placement of icons in our Ukrainian Catholic Churches.

Sister Ann Laszok, OSBM outlined the structure and uses for the text “Christ Our Pascha—The Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church” as a catechesis resource for our parishes.

The concluding topic of the conference was a presentation by Rev. Msgr. Myron J. Grabowsky on evil and the use of exorcisms in the church.

The conference ended with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Stefan as main celebrant and homilist.  Bishop John Bura, together with the deans Very Rev. Andriy Rabiy, vicar general; Very Rev. Taras Lonchyna, Very Rev. John Seniw, Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko, and Very Rev. Robert J. Hitchens were celebrants.

During his homily Metropolitan Stefan discussed the encounter with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus as related in the Gospel of Luke and how our hearts should also be burning with desire as we serve our faithful as priests in the vineyard of Christ.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Holy Chrism (Myron), which was consecrated at the Holy Thursday Divine Liturgy was distributed to all the pastors to use in administering the Holy Mysteries in their parishes.

Rev. John M. Fields
Communications Office
Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia