Patriarchal Sobor of the Ukrainian Catholic Church
Fourth Session – Youth and the Church in the Third Millennium
August 13-19, 2007 , Kyiv, Ukraine
 Some 200 delegates from around the world representing the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine recently gathered in Kyiv, the City of Saint Volodymyr the Great, in what is called a “patriarchal sobor.”
The purpose of the gathering was to pray, study, discuss, reflect, and discern the workings of the Holy Spirit on the theme of our youth and the Church in the third millennium.
Representing the Eparchy of Edmonton were Namisha Hlus, Dr. Melanie Turgeon and Most Rev. David Motiuk. The Eparchy of Edmonton can be proud in that of the ten delegates from Canada, the only two lay delegates were from our eparchy.
What is a Patriarchal Sobor?
 For a definition of what is a patriarchal sobor, we turn to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, promulgated by Pope John Paul II.
“The patriarchal assembly (sobor) is a consultative group of the entire Church presided over by the patriarch. It assists the patriarch and the synod of bishops of the patriarchal Church in dealing with matters of major importance especially in order to harmonize the forms and methods of the apostolate as well as ecclesiastical discipline, adapting them to the current circumstances of the time and to the common good of the respective Church, but also taking into account the entire territory where several Churches sui iuris coexist” (canon 140).
Who participates in a Patriarchal Sobor?
In order to ensure representation from the hierarchy, clergy, religious, monastics and lay faithful from around the world, the Church selects official delegates accordingly:
- Eparchial bishops and other local hierarchs;
- Titular bishops (auxiliaries and retired);
- Protoarchimandrites and General Superiors of Religious Communities (male and female);
- Superiors of monasteries sui iuris;
- Rectors of Catholic universities;
- Deans of faculties of theology and canon law;
- Rectors of major seminaries; and
- From each eparchy, at least one priest, one religious, and two lay persons.
General Impressions on the Youth Sobor
 “Having the honour to attend the patriarchal sobor in Kyiv and spending time in Ukraine was the greatest and most influential experience and one I will recall many times,” said Namisha Hlus, youth delegate. “It opened my eyes to the world around me. Everything from what life in Ukraine is like to how much I should be thankful for what I have in our country.”
Dr. Melanie Turgeon, having recently earned her doctorate in music, was moved by the prayer and divine worship celebrated during the sobor: “Personally, the most powerful and overwhelming aspect of the sobor involved unification in worship. It is an unbelievable feeling to experience the vastness as well as the oneness and unity of our Church.”
She added: “It is like finding members of your immediate family all over the world and praying with them. To be able to come together from all different parts of the world and sing, pray and worship in the same manner, generated great strength which hopefully all delegates will transport to their various areas of service and worship.”
“This is the third session of the patriarchal sobor that I have had the privilege to attend,” said Bishop David, “and, in my opinion, the best in that I truly felt the Holy Spirit guiding our Church. Of course, being one of the youngest bishops participating in the sobor, a sobor which was dedicated in its entirety to our youth, resonates deeply within my heart.”
Dr. Melanie picked up on this point: “The very fact that ‘youth’ was chosen as a topic for the sobor shows the Church’s sincere focus, interest, and concern for the youth and for the future of our Church. From my observations at the sobor, the clergy, sisters, and all who attended the sobor and work in the Church want the youth to be involved in their parishes and they wait with outstretched arms to accept them.
 “They look to the youth for energy, new initiative, and future goals for their respective parishes and out entire Church. The older generation must show the way by example. They must act justly and fulfill their mission of love and service to others so that the youth can respect them for their actions and learn from them.
“The Church does not have a perfectly constructed, specific plan in mind for the youth and for the future of the Church; however, I see this as a great plus, for when nothing is certain so much becomes possible. Namely, the Church is open to change in order to extend its mission and to include and encourage others.”
Namisha, entering her first year of college, welcomes the wisdom and guidance that comes from adults in helping young people discover their role in the Church and in the world: “Our leaders and educators think that ‘all’ youth want to do their own things and don’t want anything to do with adult guidance…. We will not succeed if everyone does their own thing… we need to promote community.
“Our issues are real, so to overcome these issues we need realistic solutions. We must all come together, with our talents, strengths and ideas, to provide the tools necessary to find these solutions. It all sounds nice just saying it, but we need action now. We are the Ukrainian Catholic community, together with ‘all’ the parishes working together, moving forward together as one.”
Проповідь Владики Давида до учасників IV сесії Патріаршого Собору УГКЦ – «Молодь – у Церкві третього тисячоліття»: «Ви – сіль землі. Ви – світло світу.»
 Bringing it Home
“Having just celebrated the youth sobor in Kyiv, and the ten thousand strong Youth for Christ Rally which followed it,” said Bishop David, “I am coming home with two thoughts which I will treasure, and hopefully implement in the Eparchy of Edmonton:
“First, what might work best in bringing the good news of Gospel of Jesus Christ to our young people is ‘youth evangelizing youth,’ that is, our young people sharing among themselves the plan of love and salvation that God has in store for them by using their already God-given gifts in song, spirit and action.
“Second, in order for youth to be able to evangelize youth, perhaps the greatest gift the Church – translation: all of us – can give our young people today is the tools and support they need to accomplish this goal.
“After all, our youth our not just our future; they are our present!”
Звернення Владики Давида до учасників Християнського форуму «Молодь. Церква. Україна.»
Photos supplied by Dr. Melanie Turgeon. |
