Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs confer at synod in Ukraine (10/10/99)

Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs confer at synod in Ukraine

LVIV - Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs held a synod at St. Nicholas Monastery in Krekhiv, Ukraine, (25 miles northwest of Lviv) on September 1-8.

Among the topics discussed and decisions made was a proposed reorganization of eparchies that are too large, in either territory or in population, in order to better manage the eparchy and provide better pastoral care.

It was determined that the Ukrainian Church will participate in the following millennial events: opening of the Holy Doors of St. Peter's Basilica, December 24-25; an ecumenical ceremony commemorating the martyrs of the 20th century, May 7, 2000; World Youth Day in Rome, August 19-20, 2000; and a divine liturgy concelebrated by all the Byzantine Churches on October 1, 2000. An all-Ukraine pilgrimage to the Mother of God Shrine in Zarvanytsia has been scheduled for July 22-30, 2000.

Hierarchs in the United States, Archbishop Stephen Sulyk, and Bishops Basil Losten, Michael Wiwchar and Robert Moskal, also announced a united pilgrimage from all the U.S. eparchies to the Holy Land for the celebration of Christianity's second millennium.

The pilgrimage will begin on March 6, 2000, and will return March 15.

The itinerary will include Nazareth, Galilee and Jerusalem. Divine liturgies will be celebrated at important sacred places. A visitation of the Melkite Patriarchal Greek-Catholic Church will take place on March 13, centering on the celebration of the divine liturgy by bishops and clergy.

The following eparchial directors have been appointed by their local eparchs to coordinate the trip: Philadelphia - Sister Thomas Hrynewich, SSMI, (215) 627-0143; Stamford - the Very Rev. Patrick Paschak, OSBM, (203) 324-7698; Chicago - the Rev. Theodore Wroblicky, (916) 481-8545; and Parma - Msgr. Richard Seminack, (412) 279-4652.

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