During the days of October 17-19, 2017, the Patriarchal Commission of Consecrated Life in the UGCC sponsored an International Assembly of Major Superiors, held in the Patriarchal residency in Lviv, Ukraine. The gathering was attended by representatives from twelve countries in the world, who were greeted with great joy by Most Reverend Mihailo Bubnij – head of the Patriarchal Commission of Consecrated Life in the UGCC. He shared thoughts regarding the basis goal and tasks of this Assembly.
Source: Department of information UGCC
Mother Dia Stasiuk, General Superior, and General Councilors Sister Mariela Rotzen and Sister Nazariya Mykhayliuk represented the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great. Other Basilian Sisters were present from around the world: from Philadelphia, PA, USA – Sister Miriam Claire Kowal (Provincial Councilor); from Argentina - Sister Norma Roznicki (Provincial Superior) and Sister Anastasia Laszkarow (Provincial Econom); from Osijek, Croatia - Sister Anastasia Pitka (Provincial Superior); from Krizevci, Slovakia – Sister Naucratia Zavacka (Vice-Province Superior); from Australia – Sister Anisia Shewchuk (Delegature Superior) and Sister Lukia Anheluk (Delegature Councilor-Vicar); and from Ukraine - Mother Dayila Vynnyk – (Provincial Superior).
Other representatives of female consecrated life included the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, Studite Sisters of various monasteries, Sisters of the Holy Family, Mercy Sisters of Saint Vincent, Sisters of Saint Joseph, Myrrh-bearer Sisters, Sisters of the Holy Eucharist, Redemptorist Sisters - Daughters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sister Catechists of St. Anne, Sisters of the Incarnate Word, Catechists of the Heart of Jesus, Sisters of the Love of Christ – Miles Jesu, and the Sisters of God’s Providence. Representing the male consecrated life were Fathers of the Order of Saint Basil the Great, Studite monks of various monasteries, Redemptorist Fathers, Salesian Fathers and Oratorian Fathers.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Head of the UGCC welcomed all those present and spoke of the difficulties facing the universal church in current times. Answering questions about “Church Expectations of Those in Consecrated Life during Current Times.”, His Beatitude Sviatoslav invited and accented the need for those in consecrated life to teach the faithful of the Church how to pray. Reverend Monsignor Joseph Grech read a letter from Most Reverend Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine. Present at the Assembly was Most Reverend Cyril Vasil’ , Secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, who encouraged the participants to reflect upon the question regarding “Inner Challenges of Those in Consecrated Life Fulfilling their Call”. Most Reverend Nil Lushchak, auxiliary-bishop of the Mykachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, guided the daily reflections about the call to consecrated life based on the Word of God.
The Bishop of the Eparchy of the Holy Family in London, Most Reverend Hlib Lonchyna touched upon the theme “Inner Challenges of Those in Consecrated Life Fulfilling Their Call”. He encouraged a return to the basic principles of monasticism and to bearing witness to Jesus Christ through their lives. To do this, it is necessary to deepen one’s fervor through prayer, which is the foundation and breathe of monastic life. Becoming a person of prayer – that is the fundamental goal of monastic life while living and recognizing the signs of the times.
Working in groups, the task of the participants of the Assembly, was to address and give input about important and relevant questions regarding the renewal of consecrated life in the UGCC. Sharing their problems and successes, the participants had an opportunity to get to become better acquainted with one another and to support each other in the common journey of their vocation. All participants agreed unanimously that this type of gathering is unquestionably essential and requested another Assembly in three years.
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