Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Bishop Volodymyr Viytyshyn on the second day of the Eparchial pilgrimage in Canberra
June 7, 2026
“The Holy Church of Christ, recognising that marriage and family constitute one of the greatest blessings of humanity, desires to make her voice heard and to offer her assistance both to those who already understand the value of marriage and family life and strive to remain faithful to it in their lives and to those who are uncertain, troubled, and searching for the truth,” said Bishop Volodymyr Viytyshyn during the second day of the Eparchial Pilgrimage in Canberra.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We all know that by our very nature every human person loves that which is beautiful, good, and pleasing. To admire magnificent landscapes, works of art, icons, or buildings, people often spare neither time nor expense. Yet despite all of this, the human heart remains restless until it rests in God, who is the most perfect, most delightful, and greatest Being in the universe.
Above all, God is infinite love. God desires that each one of us come to know Him personally and understand that He, as the Creator and source of all that is visible and invisible, knows every one of us and loves us with a fatherly love.
Our God waits for us and desires that we, in turn, love Him more sincerely and more deeply. Therefore, in order to draw people to this love, God chooses the most perfect means: He gives people His own divine being and bestows upon them everything that is most capable of kindling love within the human heart.
The Love of God, being the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). Therefore, God—the Word who became man—is that fiery arrow by which the Lord desires to set human hearts ablaze with love for Himself and to make us blessed forever.
The Holy Church of Christ, recognising that marriage and family constitute one of the greatest blessings of humanity, desires to make her voice heard and to offer her assistance both to those who already understand the value of marriage and family life and strive to remain faithful to it in their lives and to those who are uncertain, troubled, and searching for the truth.
By supporting some, enlightening others, and assisting still others, Holy Church of Christ serves every person who reflects upon the destiny of marriage and family life.
The Holy Family itself, in the plans of Divine Providence, became the perfect model for every Christian family, which today is so shaken and discouraged in the world. It is precisely this exemplary marriage of Saint Joseph the Betrothed and Mary that Holy Church places before our eyes today in order to remind us of the holiness of the Christian family.
For this reason, Holy Church has always zealously and resolutely defended the indissolubility of marriage. We must remember that the sacred bond of marriage was established by God Himself and that Jesus the Saviour elevated it to the dignity of the great mystery of the New Covenant. Therefore, marriage is something holy. It is a divine institution for the renewal of the human race.
May today’s pilgrimage inspire all Christian families to live according to the law of God. Only then will there be peace and God’s grace within their homes.
The Holy Church of Christ addresses herself in a particular way to young people who are beginning their journey of married and family life, seeking to help them discover the beauty and greatness of the vocation of love in the service of human life.
The Church of Christ continually demonstrates a profound concern for the family, emphasising the necessity of evangelisation, beginning with adolescents, in order to lead them to full human and Christian maturity through gradual formation and catechesis.
The Holy Church offers the light of faith so that people may come to know the full truth about the precious gift of marriage and family and their deepest meaning—responsibility.
The Holy Church of Christ proclaims the Good News of the Gospel to everyone without exception and especially to those who are called to marriage, to all engaged couples and married couples throughout the world.
From the very beginning of creation, God willed marriage and the family (Gen. 1–2). By their very nature they are directed towards their fulfilment in Christ our Lord (Eph. 5), and they stand in need of His grace in order to be healed of the wounds of sin and restored to “the beginning” (Mt. 19:4), that is, to the fullness and integrity of God’s plan.
