Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Participates in Spring Meeting of Eastern Catholic Bishops in St. Louis

In addition to regular administrative matters, the bishops addressed a range of topics of shared concern for Eastern Catholic Churches in the United States. Representatives of the Eastern Catholic Conference of Eparchial Directors of Religious Education (ECED), including its director Rev. Daniel Dozier and business manager Amanda Singel, presented a report on their work over the past year. They also introduced a newly launched Catechetical Certificate Program developed in partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville. ECED continues to serve as the publishing arm of the ECA, producing catechetical and liturgical resources for parishes.

The bishops also engaged in discussions on the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality. Dr. Julia McStravog, Senior Advisor at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), joined the meeting via Zoom for a question-and-answer session. This was followed by a presentation from Chorbishop John Faris, who shared insights from his participation in a Vatican study group examining the relationship between Eastern Catholic Churches in the diaspora and the Roman Catholic Church.

A presentation was also delivered by Msgr. Peter Vaccari, president of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), which is marking its 100th anniversary this year. He highlighted the organization’s mission of supporting Eastern Catholic communities in regions affected by war, poverty, and instability.

On Tuesday evening, the bishops gathered for prayer at the Maronite Divine Liturgy (Holy Qurbana), celebrated by Bishop Zaidan. The liturgy was followed by a fraternal dinner, attended also by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of St. Louis.

The meeting continued on Wednesday with a presentation by Bryan Enriquez, co-founder of the Hallow app, which aims to foster prayer and spiritual life through digital media. As part of the gathering’s tradition of mutual learning, Bishop Joy Alappat offered an overview of the history, spirituality, and current realities of the Syro-Malabar Church in India and North America.

The bishops also devoted time to discussing the ongoing challenges faced by the faithful in their ancestral homelands. Particular attention was given to the continued impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the instability in the Middle East. In response, the bishops issued a statement titled “A Cry for Peace and Justice from the Eastern Catholic Bishops of the United States,” reaffirming their solidarity with those suffering from war and violence.