Bishop Mykola took part in the meeting of the Pastoral Council of the UGCC in Brazil

The Pastoral Council of the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Catholic Church was established in June 2019. This is an association of commissions of the UGCC. The purpose of the Pastoral Council is to provide effective ministry of the Ukrainian Catholic Church to all its faithful, irrespective of their place of residence and other characteristics. The Pastoral Council, in cooperation with representatives from the eparchies that belong to this Council as advisers in pastoral matters, creates space for constant communication and coordination of all structures of the UGCC.

This year, the leaders and delegates of the Pastoral Council from the Southern continents gathered in the monastery of the Basilian Fathers in the city of Ivaí, Paraná state. During the assembly, the participants discussed issues and challenges relevant to the UGCC as well as worked on the Pastoral Plan for the period until 2030, “The hope to which the Lord calls us.”

On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, January 28, Bishop Mykola celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná State. In his homily Bishop Mykola emphasised the importance of personal conversion, which should become the motor of our spiritual life, and an example of this is the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The bishop paid special attention to the person of the eldest son, who is, as it were, the personification of all those people who follow the prescriptions and God’s commandments, go to church, and try to live God’s way, but very often there is no spiritual satisfaction in this; there is no holiness in this. “For us, the time before Great Lent is a special moment when we have an opportunity to think about what kind of son we are. Is the younger one — a prodigal son, or the older one? And after that, the Lord encourages us to acquire all those virtues that a father has, who is loving, who does not pay attention to our mistakes, shortcomings, or sins but accepts us as we are, if we repent and truly convert,” Bishop Mykola emphasised.

While being in Brazil, Bishop Mykola visited the faithful of the UGCC in Curitiba and Prudentopolis. So this time in Brazil became not only a time of active pastoral planning, where special attention was paid to the Christian family and the healing of spiritual wounds, but also a time of putting this planning into practice through meetings and joint prayer with the faithful of the UGCC.

Photo: www.ugcc.ua

See also

October 8 Bishop Mykola Bychok Meets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I October 7 Media Release. Bishop Mykola Bychok proclamed a Cardinal October 7 Bishop Mykola Bychok: “I understand how much responsibility this appointment entrusts to me.”