The 46 th World Day of Prayer for Vocations will take place on May 3, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Attached is the 2009 Message of the Holy Father on this occasion.
2009 Presbyteral Council Meetings: 2:00 – 5:00 pm, Chancery Office: June 29, October 5 (Providence Centre), and November 2.
2009 Clergy Conferences:10:00 am–4:00 pm, October 9 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Providence Centre), and November 3
2009 College of ConsultorsMeetings – in conjunction with Presbyeral Council meetings, or as otherwise convoked.
Annual Pope’s Pastoral Works Collection. A disastrous flood or earthquake strikes a nation at the other end of the world. Immediately many countries rush in food, medicine, blankets, money and trained people. Prominent among such aid is the financial help offered by the Holy Father to people in need. In the name of Catholics everywhere, he displays Christ’s love and compassion for those who suffer. Canada has been consistent in giving such funds to the Holy See, enabling the Pope to be even more generous in times of disaster. The annual Pope’s Pastoral Works collection is taken up throughout the Eparchy of Edmonton during the months of May and June.
The Eparchial Catechetical Centre, under the direction of Mrs. Gloria Green, is organizing, together with Mrs. Jess Lastiwka-Nahachewsky, a Day of Reflection for all Eparchial Catechists and Sunday School Teachers. The event will take place on Saturday, May 2, from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm at Saint Josaphat’s Cathedral basement. The theme of the day is “In the Spirit of Growing and Sharing.” For further information, contact Gloria at 780-424-5496 or gloriagreen@shaw.ca.
The Annual Alberta March for Life will take place on May 7 beginning with a 10:30 am Divine Liturgy at Saint Joseph Basilica, Edmonton, concelebrated by Archbishop Richard Smith, Bishop David Motiuk, and other Alberta Catholic bishops. A 1:00 pm Rally will take place at the Legislature Grounds, followed by a march through downtown Edmonton.
The Basilian Fathers Museum, Mundare, will mark its annual Museum Day on Sunday, May 24, beginning at 5:00 pm with Moleben, followed by a program honouring the late Dagmar Reis, longtime Museum Curator. Bishop David will be joined by anticipated guests including Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, Bishop Paul Chomnycky, and Premier Ed Stelmach.
On November 14, 2008, the Eparchy of Edmonton promulgated Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines, which took effect January 1, 2008.
The Guidelines have as their purpose increased unity and uniformity concerning parish life in the Eparchy of Edmonton. They are also an important tool for existing parish pastoral councils to help them better understand their role in relation to their pastor, with whom they collaborate, and with their parish, whom they serve.
Now that the parishes are somewhat familiar with the document, each and every parish and mission throughout the Eparchy are invited to revise their Parish By-law in light of the Guidelines. In this regard, see in particular the section entitled Resources: By-laws in general, Sample By-law, and Civil By-law. The revised Parish By-law is to be forwarded to the Chancery for review and approval by May 31, 2009.
For your information, a group by the name of One More Soul, Canada has organized and is promoting a conference on Pope John Paul II's theology of the body, to be held in Saskatoon, June 5-7, 2009. The Diocese of Saskatoon and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon are among the sponsors. Clergy and religious can attend without a registration fee. More information is available at:
2009 Clergy Study Days: June 15 – 19, Sanctum Spiritual Retreat Centre, Caroline, Alberta. Rev. Peter Galadza, Kule Family Professor of Liturgy, Sheptytsky Institute, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, will lead us on a reflection on liturgical renewal within the Eparchy of Edmonton, based upon the 1996 Eastern Liturgical Instruction. (Directions to Sanctum Retreat)
The Second Annual Sheptytsky Institute Study Days will take place from July 2 to 4 in Ottawa. This year’s theme is Eastern Christian Spirituality. The plenary speakers will be Archimandrite Robert Taft, Fr. John Behr and Martha Shepherd. For more information download the brochure, poster and registration details at www.ustpaul.ca/sheptytsky/news.
2009 Annual Clergy Retreat: October 5 (5:00 pm)– 9 (9:00 pm),Providence Centre, Edmonton.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pope Benedict XVI announced a special “Year of the Priest,” which will begin on June 19 th, the Latin Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, to the same date in 2010. The year, entitled “The Faithfulness of Christ, the Faithfulness of the Priest,” will be an opportunity to contemplate the work of the Lord, who willed to institute the ministerial Priesthood, linking it inseparably to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the life of the Church.
The Holy Father gave his assent to the canonical election by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church of Fr. Josyf Milan, pastor of the cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord, as auxiliary of the Archeparchy of Kyiv (Catholics 240,000, priests 43, permanent deacons 9, religious 37), Ukraine. The bishop-elect was born in Dobryany, Ukraine in 1956 and ordained a priest in 1984.
Bishop David established a Clergy Personnel Committee to advise on various clergy related issues including but not limited to: clergy assignments, remuneration, pension, health and well being, stipends, annual retreats and clergy study days. The committee members are: Rev. Josaphat Tyrkalo, osbm, Rev. Rendy Yackimec and Rev. Stanislav Bjeli.
Bishop David established a Cemeteries Advisory Committee to serve in an advisory capacity to the Bishop as to the operation and capital planning of Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Rosehill Cemetery, and all Ukrainian Catholic parish cemeteries throughout the Eparchy of Edmonton. The committee members are: Rt. Rev William Hupalo, Protosyncellus, Bishop’s Delegate; Rev. Gregory Faryna, Chancellor, Bishop’s Delegate; Rev. Peter Brezden, Member; Pat Elaschuk, Member; Robert Greschuk, Member; Gary Kokolski, Member; Gary Leskow, Member, Eparchial Finance Council, Liaison; Michael Savaryn, Member; Barb Hlus, Eparchial Finance Officer; and Walter Kaminsky, Manager, Saint Michael and Rosehill Cemeteries.
From information gathered for the 2008 Annual General Statistical Questionnaire on behalf of the Vatican Secretariat of State, as of December 31, 2008 the Eparchy of Edmonton has a Ukrainian Catholic population of 28,845; 86 parishes and missions; 1 bishop; 26 eparchial priests, 13 religious priests, 3 deacons, 28 women religious, and 7 men religious; 212 baptisms; 120 First Communions; 78 marriages; 232 funerals; 346 children in catechism; and 65 catechists.
In 2007, by way of comparison, there were 25 eparchial priests, 15 religious priests, 3 deacons, 27 women religious, and 4 men religious; 261 baptisms; 161 First Communions; 81 marriages; and 292 funerals, 440 children in catechism; and 72 catechists.
Saint Josaphat Cathedral recently published the memoirs of Rt. Rev. Jurij (George) Kowalsky, “Saved by the Blessed Virgin: Recollections of Auschwitz and Dachau.” Father Kowalsky was the pastor of the Cathedral from 1959 to 1980. The 252 page book (English and Ukrainian texts) is available through the Cathedral.
Attached for your information is a Message issued by the Social Affairs Committee of the Quebec Assembly of Catholic Bishops, entitled “For a better redistribution of wealth.” The Message is also posted on the AECQ website at www.eveques.qc.ca.
|
