Head of Ukrainian Church to visit Saskatoon
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski
SASKATOON — The worldwide leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church
will visit the Eparchy of Saskatoon Sept. 18-24.
“The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon is honoured and
privileged to host His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Father and
Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church,” says eparchial communications
co-ordinator Jerry Wasylow. 
The universal Catholic Church has two great traditions, the western or Latin Rite (the Roman Catholic Church), and the eastern or Byzantine Rites, explains Wasylow. In reference to these traditions, Pope Benedict XVI spoke in March 2007 about efforts toward reconciliation of the “ ‘two lungs,’ East and West, joined by a shared history.”
The Ukrainian Rite, the second largest Catholic Church in the world, is one of about two dozen Eastern Catholic churches in communion with the Holy See of Rome, each having its own canon law, spiritual heritage, and hierarchy.
Visits to parishes, schools and nursing homes, as well as celebrations of the Divine Liturgy, meetings, social gatherings and a celebratory banquet are on the itinerary for His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk’s visit to the Eparchy of Saskatoon, which spans the entire province of Saskatchewan.
In a video posted on the eparchy website www.skeparchy.org, Shevchuk speaks to the Saskatchewan faith community about the upcoming visit.
“We can discuss the exciting gifts from God of Vision 2020 and what it means to be a vibrant parish, as well as a new catechism for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church,” he says, expressing his eagerness to meet with catechists and youth during his visit.
“You have a significant role to play in the immediate future of our church in Saskatchewan, in Canada and throughout the world,” said the church leader.
A celebratory banquet honouring Shevchuk’s visit will take place
7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at Teacher’s Credit Union Place in
Saskatoon.
Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, Eparch of Saskatoon, has extended an invitation
to all Catholics in Saskatchewan to celebrate this historic pastoral
visit by joining the faithful of the Eparchy of Saskatoon at this celebratory
banquet.
Tickets are available from the Ukrainian Catholic Parishes in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford or through the Eparchy of Saskatoon Chancery Office (306-653-0138).
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