Patriarch Celebrates Divine Liturgy for Bilingual Students

His Beatitude Patriach Sviatoslav celebrated the Divine Liturgy for over 500 Ukrainian bilingual students and their teachers today as the first official event during his visit to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  The students attend bilingual schools in Edmonton and neighbouring Sherwood Park from kindergarten to Grade 12.  They learn to speak, read, and write the Ukrainian language, in the context of the Catholic faith. The Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by Bishop David Motiuk and some two dozen priests from throughout the Edmonton Eparchy.  In his sermon, Patriarch Sviatoslav spoke of his excitement at being able to meet the children, see their eyes, and hear the lovely singing of their voices.  “You are our future in Canada,” he told them.  He reminded them this was the year of Canada for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as it marks the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Bishop Nykyta Budka in this country.    Patriarch Sviatoslav also expressed his gratitude to the children for coming and giving him the opportunity to share the liturgy with them.  Speaking in both Ukrainian and English, he drew a chuckle from the children when he asked Bishop David if he had pronounced a word correctly in English.  At one point, the Patriarch asked the youngest children to raise their right hands.  He then raised his hand and told them he was like them because he is the youngest Ukrainian bishop.  

www.edmontoneparchy.com