Greek Catholic Council Discusses Role of Consecrated Life in Culture, Education and Life of lay People
Representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) from thirty archeparchies, eparchies and church centers in America, Europe, Asia and Australia participate in the 5th session of the Patriarchal Council on consecrated life in the UGCC in the Brazilian city of Prudentopolis, in the former novitiate chapel of sister-servants.
According to the Information Department of the UGCC, during the four days of the council the participants will ponder on ways to create necessary conditions for the development of vocations to consecrated life. Six reports and fifteen joint reports will be made.
The first day dealt with the traditional monastic life, monasticism in the history and tradition of UGCC, identity of consecrated persons in Ukraine. Special attention was paid to the charisma of the founders of consecrated communities in UGCC, Eastern branches of the Western orders and associations of the UGCC and communities of consecrated laymen in the UGCC.
On September 2, the participants of the council will ponder on what the church expects from consecrated persons in the modern world. Joint reports will deal with what laymen expect from consecrated persons, the role of consecrated life in culture and education and ministry of consecrated people in schools. The practical experience of the missionary work will be presented with the use of the example of the activity of consecrated persons in Brazil. Specificities of evangelization and catechization in Brazil and social ministry will be considered.
The meetings of the third day will deal with education of consecrated persons. The main reports will be dedicated to the role and place of the prayer and intellectual education in the life of consecrated persons.
The speakers will concentrate on the role of family, youth organizations and parish communities in fostering vocations to consecrated life.
The Patriarchal Council on consecrated life of the UGCC will end on September 4 with a liturgy. After that, the Greek Catholic bishops will move to the town of Curitiba where sessions of the Synod of Bishops will be held until September 10.
