WINNIPEG - At the invitation of His Grace, Most Rev. Michael Bzdel, CSsR, Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan for all Canada, the Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops of the Metropolia of Winnipeg met in Winnipeg from 5-6 August 2004 to join together in prayer and fraternal discussion. The Synod is comprised of the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of Canada: Most Rev. Michael Bzdel, CSsR (Archeparchy of Winnipeg), Most Rev. Michael Wiwchar, CSsR (Eparchy of Saskatoon), Most Rev. Severian Yakymyshyn, OSBM (Eparchy of New Westminster), Most Rev. Lawrence Huculak, OSBM (Eparchy of Edmonton), Most Rev. Stephen Chmilar (Eparchy of Toronto), Most Rev. David Motiuk (Auxiliary, Archeparchy of Winnipeg), Most Rev. Cornelius Pasichny, OSBM (Emeritus, Eparchy of Toronto), and Most Rev. Basil Filevich, (Emeritus, Eparchy of Saskatoon).

As their gathering took place at the time of the feast of the Transfiguration, the bishops had an opportunity to sing together Great Vespers on the eve of the feast in the Archbishop's Chapel at the Winnipeg Consistoria. They also celebrated together the Divine Liturgy of the feast with the parish community of St. Joseph in Winnipeg, and while there took time to pray together at the Shrine of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, and to ask for this martyr's intercession for the needs of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada.

Among their discussions at this encounter, the bishops received a congratulatory letter from Cardinal Daoud, Prefect for the Congregation of the Eastern Churches, on the erection of First and Second Instance Marriage Tribunals, which are now operating in Saskatoon and Winnipeg. They also accepted and approved a new Code of Conduct for students preparing for the priesthood at Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa.

In October 2005, there will take place in Rome at the invitation of Pope John Paul II the XI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The theme of this gathering will be: The Eucharist - the Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church. In preparation for this gathering, every bishop in the world is asked to reflect with those in his eparchy on questions proposed in a preparatory document (Lineamenta). Upon the presentation of a summary of the Lineamenta and a proposed draft response by Fr. Michael Winn, the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Canada have agreed to coordinate their efforts and respond together as a Metropolia to this document.

The bishops reflected on the pastoral approach to the usage of the filioque, the words "and the Son" in the Creed, a matter to be referred to the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. They also reflected on the timeliness of the proposed pastoral letter on the faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the "diaspora" and its particular application for the Church in Canada.

During their deliberations, the bishops also honoured their elder brother in Christ, Metropolitan Michael, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. The bishops also took time to visit with His Beatitude Vasyly, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada, on 6 August at his consistoria offices.

The Synod of Bishops of the Winnipeg Metropolia hope to meet again later in 2004, fulfilling their own desire to gather semi-annually to pray and better respond to the needs of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada.

The Lineamenta can be viewed online at: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20040528_lineamenta-xi-assembly_en.html

[Progress - 18.08.04]

Copyright 2004 - Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg - Email: chancery@archeparchy.ca