Archeparchy of Philadelphia Participates in UGCC’s All-Church Forum

The Most Rev. Teodor Martynyuk, Auxiliary Bishop of Ternopil, was the session’s main speaker. He presented a reflection on the theme of Synodality in the Church. After his presentation he pointed out the tasks of the synodal way. This is now the main theme for the diocesan synods of the Roman Church as they prepare for the Papal Synod on Synodality to be held at the Vatican in 2023.

The Head of the Church invited representatives from all metropolia (Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Warsawa-Peremysl, Philadelphia, Winnipeg, Curitiba), eparchies, exarchates (Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne; Protection of the Mother of God in Buenos-Aires; Holy Family in London; Saint Volodymyr in Paris; as well as the exarchates in Germany and Scandinavia; and Italy), and the Patriarchal Curia’s Pastoral and Migration Department. The latter serves places without a Ukrainian Catholic Bishop, such as Spain.

Ms. Sofia Zacharczuk spoke on behalf of the Philadelphia Metropolia (consisting of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia and the Eparchies of Stamford, Saint Josaphat, and Saint Nicholas). She underscored the importance of listening. “We need to build communication, not only vertically but also horizontally.” As an example, she mentioned the regular meetings of the bishops of the Philadelphia Metropolia and the inter-eparchial work done in communications office projects and in the elaboration of the Archeparchial plan. “It is important to give the platform for people to speak, but also we need to act accordingly after we have gathered information,” concluded Sofia.

Patriarch Sviatoslav thanked participants and speakers at the end of the Forum and invited them for the second session planned for December 11. The main speaker for the next meeting will be Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the Saint Josaphat Eparchy in Parma, OH. Discussion will focus on the pandemic’s effects on the life of the Church and the faithful.