UPCOMING EVENTS
- Presbyteral Council meetings – October 1 (2:00-5:00 pm, Chancery), November 19.
Clergy Conferences – October 2 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm), November 20. - The Eparchy of Edmonton will host the “Third Annual Bishop’s Appeal” fundraising event on Thursday, December 6, Chateau Louis Conference Centre, Edmonton. The Appeal aims at providing financial support for the programs and activities of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Alberta in carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ, that is, to preach the Good News of the Gospel Message. For information and tickets, contact the Chancery Office at (780) 424-5496 or chancery@edmontoneparchy.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Attached are the Synodal Decisions (Ukrainian) and Communique (English and Ukrainian) arising from the 2012 Synod of Bishops held in Portage la Prairie, MB.
- His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav addressed the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops during their annual meeting held in Sainte-Adele, Quebec. In greeting the more than 70 bishops of the Catholic Church in Canada, he reminded the bishops of the suffering of the Ukrainian Catholic Church during the communist era. The Church witnessed to Christ both “in the catacombs” as well in open defiance to the regime. “So many martyrs and confessors have suffered for the faith in the last century. Let their example and witness be an inspiration for all of us,” Shevchuk said. “Fully embracing its identity of being ‘Orthodox in faith and Catholic in love’ we are aware of our role in allowing the Catholic Church to breathe with both its lungs, East and West,” he said. See attached for full text.
- The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement regarding Motion 312 by Mr. Stephen Woodworth, Member of Parliament. The Motion calls for the House of Commons to form a special committee which would review a statement in the Criminal Code of Canada that “a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth.” Article 223 (1) of the Code reads: “A child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother.” The official and complete text of Motion 312 is found on the website of the Parliament of Canada at http://www.parl.gc.ca/.
The Catholic Church holds that a human being comes into existence at conception.Canadian Catholics, and all people of good will, are encouraged to pray that our legislators be blessed with wisdom and courage to do what is best to protect and further the common good, which is based on respect for the human dignity of all. - The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) published its 2012 Message to Families, entitled “The Gospel of Everyday Life – An Adventure Worth Sharing!” The family is called to play a major role in the New Evangelization. That is why COLF decided to reflect on the ways and means of proposing the friendship of Christ to the members of our families, our friends, and colleagues at work, in the midst of our day-to-day life. The 2012 Message, reflection questions, and Workshop Guide are available at: www.colf.ca.COLF is co-sponsored by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. It promotes respect for human life and dignity and the essential role of the family.
- The Church is constantly called to renewal. We are all called to preach the Good News. As you know, our Eparchy’s response to this call is the 25 Year Pastoral Plan. One theme within the Pastoral Plan is Youth Evangelizing Youth.The Eparchy has developed iWitness, an online contest meant to engage the youth (from kindergarten to grade 12) and help them encounter Christ. The youth from our parishes will showcase how they bear witness to the Lord in their lives through drawings, pictures, written works (including poetry, short stories, narratives, etc.), videos or combinations of these.The submissions will be posted on the iWitness website (iwitness.edmontoneparchy.com). Students can visit the website to look at examples of different projects. Once the projects have been submitted, anyone can go online and vote for their favourite. Winners will receive a monetary prize for their school and a personal prize. – iWitness! Youth Evangelizing Youth!
- As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Appointment of Bishop-martyr Nykyta Budkaas the First Ukrainian Catholic Bishop of Canada (July 2012 to July 2013), clergy are encouraged to commemorate Bishop Budka in the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy and other liturgical services:
- Through the prayers of Blessed Nykyta (Budka), Bishop and Martyr… will have mercy and save us, for He is good and loves mankind. Amen.
- Молитвами блаженного священномученика Микити (Будки)… помилує й спасе нас, як благий й чоловіколюбець. Амінь.
© 2012 Eparchy of Edmonton
9645 – 108 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 1A3
Tel: (780) 424-5496 Fax: (780) 425-2330
