500 catechists participate in national congress of catechists in Hoshiv

10.06.2011, 15:16

On June 4, 2011, about 500 catechists – representatives of eparchies and exarchates from all over Ukraine – took part in a congress convoked on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of catechetical ministry. The aim of the meeting was to help the public “understand the importance of Christian upbringing through catechization of children, youth and adults; finding common grounds for growing up in faith,” notes the Rev. Mykhailo Harvat.

On June 4, 2011, about 500 catechists – representatives of eparchies and exarchates from all over Ukraine – took part in a congress convoked on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of catechetical ministry. The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Patriarch Sviatoslav, blessed the congress. The aim of the meeting was to help the public “understand the importance of Christian upbringing through catechization of children, youth and adults; finding common grounds for growing up in faith,” notes the Rev. Mykhailo Harvat, head of the Catechetical Commission of the Major Archbishopric of the UGCC, the UGCC Information Department reported.

In the congress participated representatives of the Kyiv and Lviv Archeparchies and the Ivano-Frankivsk, Sokal-Zhovkva, Kolomyia-Chernivtsi, Stryi, Sambir-Drohobych, Ternopil-Zboriv and Buchach eparchies, as well as of the Lutsk and Odesa-Crimea exarchates. The congress was also attended by guests from Germany.

After the Divine Liturgy an academic conference took place. Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC and the head of the Administration of Patriarchal Curia, delivered a speech “The Word of God – The Source of Catechesis.” Thereafter a press conference took place.

Before supper the participants prayed a moleben to Jesus Christ at the end of which the Rev. Mykhailo read a greeting from His Beatitude Lubomyr and from the Patriarchal Catechetical Commission of the UGCC.

After that Bishop Bohdan met with the heads of Eparchial catechetical commissions who presented him various propositions to be considered at the next synod. At the end of the day each catechetical commission made a presentation about its activity, which was followed by a night vigil.

On Sunday May 5, Bishop Dzyurakh presided at the Pontifical Divine Liturgy. Together with him were concelebrating Bishop Taras Senkiv, apostolic administrator of the Stryi Eparchy, and numerous clergy. Around four thousand pilgrims joined the prayer for those who carry God’s Word and listen to it.

After that those who diligently perform their catechetical ministry were rewarded with honorary diplomas from the patriarch. The national congress of the catechists was concluded with a spiritual-artistic performance.