Members of the Permanent Synod met with the clergy and laity of the Lutsk Exarchate

On June 26 the bishop of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC met with the clergy of the Lutsk Exarchate to learn about activity of the pastors who work in Volyn and the Rivne region, and also to learn about the spiritual and interpersonal relations of the priests and the laity. The meeting began with an introductory word by the head of the UGCC His Beatitude Lubomyr who invited the audience to participate in a discussion. After the introductory the bishops and priests held a discussion on pastoral themes. Afterward, each of the priests had the chance to express the difficulties and prospects of his parish. The conversation covered the following areas of development of the UGCC in Volyn:  ·           Quantitative and statistical index;
·           Level of pastoral work;
·           Financial means for realizing the ministry;
·           Relationship with representatives of other confessions;
·           Possibility, necessity, and state of building a church;
·           Difficulties in the economic activity and pastoral ministry.  After two hours of discussion Patriarch Lubomyr thanked the pastors for the fruitful work and willingness to work on the missionary territories and presented them with memorable icons. Also on the same day, in the Monastery of Basilian Fathers in Lutsk, as part of the work of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC, a meeting with youth religious organizations and parochial associations of the Lutsk Exarchate was held. In the afternoon people interested in talking with members of the synod came to the Basil the Great Church. The meeting began with an introductory word by Patriarch Lubomyr about the importance of lay organizations in the church and the importance of the personal spiritual life of every member of a parochial organization. Afterward the bishops heard about the life of parochial associations and organizations from the laity. The meeting lasted for more than two hours. During the presentation and afterward the bishops had a chance to ask questions and further analyze the activity of the different organizations. During the meeting Patriarch Lubomyr received a gift – an icon of the martyr Rev. Mykolay Charnetskyj. After the conversation, the head of the UGCC gave blessings to all the participants, thanked them for their fruitful work, and wished their communities successful development. On Saturday the members of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC had a chance to see all aspects of the life and development of the exarchate.

www.lutsk-ugcc.org.ua/news/2010-06-27-21-28-21
www.lutsk-ugcc.org.ua/news/2010-06-28-09-22-27