Archbishop Borys Gudziak Participates in Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia

Melbourne, Australia — December 2025.

From December 4–14, 2025, the 13th (84th) Session of the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) is taking place in Melbourne — the first time the Permanent Synod has ever convened on the Australian continent.

The Permanent Synod is a small governing and consultative structure within the UGCC. It consists of the Father and Head of the Church, who presides over it, and four bishops who serve on a rotating five-year term. This Synod assists the Head of the Church in addressing pastoral, administrative, canonical, and organizational matters throughout the year and functions as his principal advisory body between the full sessions of the Synod of Bishops.

Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia, is participating in this session as one of the four bishops currently serving on the Permanent Synod. Together with His Beatitude Sviatoslav and the other members, he will take part in the working sessions focused on preparing materials for the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the theme of pastoral care of vocations to the priesthood and monastic life. The bishops will also discuss the current situation in Ukraine, review pastoral needs within the Melbourne Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul and among Ukrainian communities in the diaspora, and hear reports from various UGCC departments responsible for pastoral ministry, theological and canonical matters, social service, the maritime apostolate, and the processes of beatification and canonization.

During their time in Australia, Archbishop Gudziak and the Synod bishops will participate in liturgical services and meetings with Ukrainian faithful in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Geelong. They will also meet with representatives of the Catholic Church in Australia and Australian government leaders to share information about the situation in Ukraine and to foster greater awareness and support.

This session of the Permanent Synod provides an opportunity for direct pastoral engagement with the Ukrainian community in Australia and reflects the ongoing commitment of Archbishop Borys Gudziak and the bishops of the UGCC to accompany the faithful and serve the needs of the global Church.