On May 17-19 St. Basil Seminary hosted the Spring Session of the Cantors Program. This time the participants rehearsed the Easter Matins tones. Pictured above are the participants of the program together with their instructor Prof. Joseph Roll and Fr. Maxim Kobasyuk, OSBM.

CANTORS PROGRAM SPRING SESSION (MAY 17-19)

This year's annual meeting of the Patriarchal Commission for Priestly Formation took place in Truskavets, Ukraine, at the Chancery building of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy, UGCC. Most Rev. Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of New Westminster, CANADA, the head of the commission, presided over the meeting.

On the first day, the participants, including the rectors or vise-rectors of the eparchial, monastic seminaries and other formation institutes, were presented with the INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS for the seminaries of THE VIBRANT PARISH - A PLACE TO ENCOUNTER THE LIVING CHRIST program. The first session was held together with the spiritual directors of the seminaries and religious formation houses, who were on the retreat, led by Fr. Andrij Onuferko, a spiritual director of the Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa, CANADA.

The members of the Patriarchal Commission for Priestly Formation discussed revisions and implementation of a newly written, by the same commission, document, entitled DIRECTIVES FOR THE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE OF VOCATIONS, emphasizing the responsibility for vocations to spiritual life, whether, priestly or religious, of every Christian, including, bishops, priests, in particular, pastors, deacons, religious, faithful and their families. Other themes, such as, the continuous formation for spiritual persons, especially, pastors, seminary and religious institute staff, preparation of future priests and their wives to married life, unification of academic programs in the seminaries of the UGCC, development of programs for late vocations, who already are living a married life, process of the state (Ukraine) accreditation of the spiritual seminaries (in Ukraine), and others, were set aside and reviewed in a greater detail. In addition, the participants talked about a need to recommend the Catechism of the UGCC, CHRIST - OUR EASTER, as the textbook for the beginners' seminary course, Basic Christian Doctrine.

On the second day, Fr. Petro Baran, C.Ss.R., the head of the Patriarchal Commission for Religious, and Fr. Ioan Lubiv, OSBM, took part in the meeting to discuss cooperation of the both commissions (for priestly formation and for religious) in the preparation to implement a new corse, Theology of Religious Life, into the seminary program, as it was decreed by the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC in 2011.

MEETING OF THE PATRIARCHAL COMMISSION FOR PRIESTLY FORMATION

The members of the Working group also had an opportunity to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with clergy from the Sokal-Zhokva Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy who were on their annual retreat. The Liturgy was celebrated in Blessed Nykyta Budka Chapel. Blessed Nykyta Budka was the first Ukrainian Catholic Bishop in Canada.

On May 14th the Working Group met with coordinators of each of the Archeparchies, Eparchies and Exarchates (Archdiocese, Diocese) of Ukraine to review the progress, and challenges of the last few months in Ukraine with regard to the Pastoral Plan. The coordinators were also introduced to new documents produced by the Working Group to assist parish priests with pastoral planning and the administration of the parishes.

Brukhovitsi/Lviv, Ukraine, 13/14 May 2013: The Working Group for the Strategic Development of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for the period until 2020 under the leadership of Most Rev. Ken Nowakowski (Bishop of New Westminster, Canada) and Most Rev. Bohdan Dzyurakh (Secretary General of the Synod of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishops) held a working session in Brukhovitsi on 13 May. The Working group is comprised of clergy and lay-faithful from Europe, North & South America and has the responsibility to assist the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops in implementing the pastoral plan based on the Pastoral Letter of HIs Beatitude Sviatoslav, father and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church "The Vibrant Parish, the place to encounter the Living Christ!"

THE WORKING GROUP FOR THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR THE PERIOD UNTIL 2020 MET IN UKRAINE

For the full text of the letter click here

HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV LETTER TO MOTHERS OF PRIESTS

On May 7, His Excellency Bishop Paul Chomnycky established the Pastoral Council for the Eparchy of Stamford. The first meeting took place on the same date. Among the first tasks to be undertaken by this council will be the implementation of the resolutions of the Sobor held on April 18-20.

PASTORAL PLANNING COUNCIL

MAY NEWSLETTER

St.Basil Seminary Administration in the Faculty Lounge. For more information visit www.stbasilseminary.com

ST. BASIL SEMINARY ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL IS PLANNING SUMMER & FALL SEMINARY PROGRAMS

To view the images from the Eparchial Sobor click here.

EPARCHIAL SOBOR IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING

IN THE MEDIA GALLERY

Father Ihor Midzak, Cathedral Rector, with parishioners and their domestic animals.

On Sunday, April 28, 2013, St. Vladimirs' s Cathedral community participated in a traditional blessing of the animals.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS AT ST. VLADIMIR'S CATHEDRAL

Recently St. Basil Seminary opened its offical page on Facebook. Please, "LIKE" us by following the link: www.facebook.com/stbasilcollege to stay informed about programs and activities we offer regularly on our campus.

ST. BASIL SEMINARY ON FACEBOOK

1025 ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIANITY IN UKRAINE

AT ST. BASIL SEMINARY AUGUST 1, 2013

1025 ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIANITY IN UKRAINE

AT ST. VLADIMIR'S CATHEDRAL JULY 14, 2013

ONLY 510 DAYS TO 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. BASIL COLLEGE SEMINARY

SOBOR LETTERS TO HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS AND HIS BEATITUDE PATRIARCH SVIATOSLAV

18-20 квітня 2013 року у Стемфорді, Коннектикут було проведено Собор Стемфордської Епархії під гаслом: “Жива парафія – місце зустрічі з живим Христом”.

Біля 200 делегатів Собору (духовенство, богопосвячені особи та миряни), які зібралися з усіх куточків Стемфордської Епархії, під керівництвом Преосвященнішого Владики Павла Хомницького, ЧСВВ, Епарха Стемфордського, своїми резолюціями потвердили, що наші парафії відіграють фундаментальну роль у Церкві. Адже, саме в парафіяльних спільнотах, вірні найчастіше зустрічають Христа через християнське навчання, спільні молитви та служіння ближньому.

Владика Павло Хомницький. ЧСВВ від імені делегатів надіслав листи привітання до Святішого Отця Франциска та Блаженнішого Патріарха Святослава.

На Соборових засіданнях, крім Владики Павла, гостями були: Преосвященніший Митрополит Стефан Сорока (Філадельфія), Владика Кен Новаківський (Нью-Вестмінстер), Владика-емерит Василь Лостен (Стемфорд) та о. Андрій Онуферко (Оттава).

Делегати Собору заявили про своє бажання сприяти подальшому розвитку нашого духовного скарбу Візантійсько-Київської традиції: Літургії, богослов’я і духовності, та виявили бажання поширювати духовні скарби нашої Церкви з усіма, хто хоче і бажає зустріти Христа з нами у наших парафіяльних спільнотах.

Детальнішу інформацію про Епархіальний Собор ви можете знайти на веб-сторінці Стемфордської Епархії: www.stamforddio.org

Прес-служба Стемфордської епархії

Стемфордський Епархіальний Собор:

“Жива парафія місце зустрічі з живим Христом”

Closing seremony: each parish receives as a gift a votive light - a symbol of unity of the eparchy.

Bishop Paul officially closes the sobor and thanks everyone involved for active participation.

The delegates vote on resolutions of the sobor.

Plenary Session. On the photo a group leader reports on his group discussion.

Session 3: Andrew Bamber delivers Richard Pucher's presentation on Serving One's Neighbor. Due to a health issue Richard was not able to attend. Please, pray for his wellbeing.

THIRD DAY OF SOBOR: SESSION III & CLOSING CEREMONY

For the full text of the letter click here

50th WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

At the end of the day a plenary session was held to conclude the group discussions and present suggestions for the sobor resolutions to the bishop. On the photo a group leader reports on her group discussion.

Session II: Holy Mysteries and Prayer by Lesya Muraszczuk.

A group photo in front of the museum.

In the afternoon the participants had a chance to visit the Ukrainian Museum and on the premises of St. Basil Seminary.

One of the group-discussions in progress.

After each session the delegates divide into groups for a discussion.

Session I: The Word of God by Father Andrew Onuferko.

SECOND DAY OF SOBOR: SESSION I & II

His Excellency Bishop Ken Nowakowski of New Westminster Eparchy in Canada delivers a Keynote Address.

His Grace Metropolitan Stepan Soroka of the Philadelphia Archeparchy greets the participants of the Sobor on the occasion of this historic event.

Fr. Bohdan Danylo, Rector of St. Basil Seminary, reads the welcome letters from Pope Francis, Patriarch Sviatoslav, Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Mayor Michael A. Pavia.

The church prays: the faithful together with their bishop pray the Sobor Prayer for the success of the event.

Yesterday, on April 18, His Excellency, Bishop Paul Chomnycky, Eparch of Stamford, officially opened the Eparchial Sobor "The Vibrant Parish – a place to encounter the living Christ".

FIRST DAY OF SOBOR: OPEPNING CEREMONY

HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS GREETING (ENG & UKR)

HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV GREETING (ENG/UKR)

HONORABLE GOVERNOR DANNEL P. MALLOY GREETING (ENG)

HONORABLE MAYOR MICHAEL A. PAVIA GREETING (ENG)

POPE FRANCIS OFFERS THANKS FOR PRAYERS

From April 1 - 10, 2013 Bishop Paul Chomnycky and Fr. Paul Luniw led a spiritual pilgrimage of 28 faithful from the Stamford Eparchy to the Holy Land. For ten days the pilgrims walked the steps that Our Lord and Savior Jesus travelled during his earthly sojourn. They visited the town of Bethlehem where He was born, walked the hills surrounding the Sea of Galilee where He performed many of His most notable miracles, prayed along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem where He carried the Cross and, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, they venerated the place of His death and the place where His body was laid in the tomb. Above, the pilgrims are photographed in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed before His Passion. More photos of the pilgrimage can be found here.