Ukrainian bishops to discuss evangelization, priestly formation

Published: 2007-09-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The world's Ukrainian Catholic bishops were to discuss evangelization and priestly formation in Philadelphia, where they were celebrating the first Eastern Catholic synod to be held in the United States. The bishops also will discuss the revival of youth ministry, said Msgr. Peter Waslo, chancellor, judicial vicar and director of communications for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Because of the lack of youth ministry, "we lost probably two generations already," he told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview Sept. 26. Liturgical renewal of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and staying "true to who we are" are on the list of topics, Msgr. Waslo said. The Eastern church's liturgical traditions have been abandoned and are more like the Latin-rite church, he said. The Sept. 26-Oct. 6 dates for the synod, which will move to Washington Oct. 4, were chosen to coincide with the centennial celebration of the arrival in America of the first Byzantine Catholic bishop, Bishop Stephen Ortynsky. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is one of 22 Eastern Catholic churches that originated in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa.

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