The Church’s Care for Families: UGCC Holds All-Church Forum on Family Pastoral Ministry

The care of families is one of the Church’s important pastoral responsibilities. On November 7, 2026, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church held an All-Church Forum on family pastoral ministry, bringing together bishops and representatives of family and laity commissions from eparchies, exarchates, and Church communities around the world.

Bishop David Motiuk of the Eparchy of Edmonton participated in the forum. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, joined from Winnipeg along with other bishops. Participants met by video conference to discuss challenges facing Christian families today, share experience in accompanying couples, and consider how family ministry can grow amid war and migration.

His Beatitude described the forum as part of the Church’s synodal journey: a way for bishops, clergy, consecrated persons, and laypeople to reflect together on current needs and work toward pastoral responses. He emphasized that care for families is a priority for the Church and for Christian life.

Supporting families at every stage

In his address, His Beatitude drew attention to preparation for marriage and the accompaniment of young families. He described three stages of preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage: initial formation within the family, ongoing preparation through the Christian community, and immediate preparation for marriage.

The family is often a person’s first experience of relationships and family life. The parish community also has an important role: through catechesis, participation in Church life, and relationships with other faithful, people encounter the Church’s understanding of marriage and family.

Forum participants noted that families today face many different pressures. War separates loved ones and creates grief and uncertainty. Migration can bring challenges of integration, language, and maintaining traditions across generations. Families may also experience isolation, strained relationships, or a lack of consistent connection with a parish community.

The forum included examples of family ministry from different parts of the world. Participants spoke about premarital courses, gatherings for families, support for military families, Scripture reading, prayer, and ways to accompany couples and parents over time. They also discussed the value of online gatherings and bilingual prayer and catechetical materials for families living far from a church community.

Across these varied experiences, one shared need emerged: family ministry involves more than responding when a crisis arises. It also means offering ongoing support to couples, helping parents nurture their children’s faith, and making space for families to grow in the life of the Church.

Family and Life Ministry in the Eparchy of Edmonton

The Eparchy of Edmonton’s Family and Life Ministry supports Christian family life through catechetical programs and gatherings for families, young couples, and children. These opportunities help families grow in faith and raise children with Christian values, in a community that encourages prayer, learning, and shared life in Christ.

Families are also invited to take part in the UGCC’s Week of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life, taking place November 21–27, 2026. The week’s bilingual resources include a Guidebook for the Domestic Church in Ukrainian and English, with seven days of Scripture, reflections, questions, and activities for children and teenagers. Families can use the guide to pray together at home and reflect on how God calls each person to serve.

Explore the Week of Prayer for Vocations and family materials.

The Eparchy of Edmonton joins the wider Church in recognizing the vital role families play in the life of the Church and in the formation of future generations. May our homes and parish communities be places where children encounter faith, families find support, and each person can discern and respond to God’s call.

Sources: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church report on the All-Church Forum; UGCC Week of Prayer for Vocations materials. Details about the Eparchy of Edmonton’s Family and Life Ministry are based on information provided by the Eparchy.