Bishop Bryan Bayda CSsR ordained for Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon on June 27, 2008 By Kiply Lukan Yaworski

Transcription

1 Bishop Bryan Bayda CSsR ordained for Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon on June 27, 2008 By Kiply Lukan Yaworski SASKATOON - Bishops and clergy from across Canada joined with faithful from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon to celebrate the Episcopal ordination of a Saskatchewan-born leader for the eparchy, Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR. St. George s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral was filled to capacity for the liturgy June 27, with hundreds more witnessing the celebration via a video feed to the hall next door. Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, of Winnipeg, the Metropolitan for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada, retiring Saskatoon Bishop Michael Wiwchar, and Bishop Ken Nowakowski of New Westminster ordained Bayda in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, who is the representative of Pope Benedict XVI in Canada. Many other bishops and clergy also participated in the celebration, representing both the eastern and western rites of the Church. Bishop Brian Bayda, Bishop Michael Wiwchar and Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, Metropolitan (l-r). 1

2 Ceremonies began the night before with Bayda making a profession of faith and signing church documents in the presence of the Metropolitan and the Apostolic Nuncio at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Saskatoon. The ordination Friday morning began with further professions of faith by Bayda, and a dialogue with the three ordaining bishops sitting among the faithful. The bishop-elect was later received by the bishops in the sanctuary, and led around the holy altar, kissing the four corners as prayers were sung. The book of the gospels was placed upon the kneeling bishop-elect Bayda s head, then the ordaining bishops and all the other bishops present laid their hands upon his head as prayers and litanies continued. The Metropolitan s refrain of Axios (Greek for he is worthy ) was repeated by all those in the sanctuary and in the entire church as Bayda was dressed in the Episcopal vestments. With the ordination complete, the Divine Liturgy continued, before concluding with a rite of enthronement upon the ambo, near the bishop s chair. The Metropolitan put upon Bayda the upper-cassock (ryason ) of a bishop, the pectoral holy image (panagia), the mantle (mantiya) and chotky, before the clergy of the Saskatoon eparchy came forward to greet the newlyinstalled bishop. In his homily, Huculak reflected on the role of a bishop, noting how members of the faith community will all have different ideas about priorities and directions for the eparchy. The original meaning of the term bishop is one who watches over, he said. The new bishop must watch over the people of God in his care in this case, all of the Ukrainian Catholics in the province of Saskatchewan and as far north as the Arctic Ocean, as outlined in the papal decree that established the eparchy in Bishop Brian Bayda kneels as bishops and priests come forward to lay their hands upon him in prayer. This does not limit his concern only to the cathedral church, not even to the existing parish communities in Saskatchewan, rather all the baptized faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church are under his pastoral care, whether they have a parish church or not, he said. In the preaching of the word of God and the life of grace given through the sacramental mysteries, the bishop is not only to lead the people to their salvation, but also to see that they understand their Christian duty to also preach the good new of Jesus Christ to those around them. 2

3 Another concern of the bishop is unity, Huculak described. The bishop becomes a sign of communion with the universal Catholic Church as well as with other Christian communities. This also involves outreach and a mission to the world, he said. As a Ukrainian Catholic Church, we cannot become a ghetto church focusing solely on our own needs and our own concerns. Thirdly, the bishop is to watch and pray, Huculak said, describing the importance of a bishop being a man of prayer, who leads his people in prayer, and who is also supported by the prayers of the faithful and of the church in order for the Spirit to strengthen him for the ministry of shepherd and guide him in his daily task for discerning the will of God for the life of the Church in Saskatchewan. A moment of applause for the new bishop at the banquet after the Episcopal ordination (from left to right): Bishop Albert LeGatt of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon; Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, president of the CCCB; Bishop Emeritus Michael Wiwchar, CSsR, of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon; Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, of Winnipeg, the Metropolitan for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada; Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, who is the representative of Pope Benedict XVI in Canada; Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon; and the new bishop s dad, Joseph Bayda. During a banquet program following the Divine Liturgy, a number of speakers brought greetings from different levels of government and Church. Doreen Clark of Yorkton spoke on behalf of the laity of the eparchy of Saskatoon, reflecting on a conversation she had with her young son several years ago, in which he asked about Bishop Wiwchar s retirement, and identified their pastor Father Bryan as a possible replacement because, her son said, he is good with people of all ages, works hard and he s pretty smart, you know. As a pastor, Bayda has grown in awareness about issues that the laity wrestle with, Clark said issues such as how to challenge and inspire youth in their faith; how to reach out to the elderly; how to deal with great stresses and issues facing families, including family breakdown; the role of women in the church today; and reaching out to the world. He has also had outstanding mentors in his journey to this new role, she added. 3

4 Speaking on behalf of the clergy and religious of the eparchy, Sr. Theodosia, SSJ, reflected on the staggering responsibilities that lie ahead for the new bishop, pledging to work with him, and echoing the words of the liturgy: we gladly accept you. Retiring Bishop Wiwchar had a great vision during his term, organizing the first eparchial Sobor mapping out areas of priority and concern for the eparchy, she added, presenting a copy of the 2005 Sobor document to Bayda as a road map for the years ahead. Rev. Larry Kondra, CSsR, spoke on behalf of the Redemptorist religious community, while Archbishop James Weisgerber brought greetings from the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops and Archbishop Huculak did the same for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada. Huculak noted the relative youthfulness of the Ukrainian Catholic bishops presently serving across the country and at the same time, the mentorship available from experienced retired bishops across the country. In his remarks the Apostolic Nuncio recognized the new bishop s parents, Florence and Joseph Bayda, stressing the importance of their marriage and Christian family life in the unfolding of their son s vocation. Carolyn Pasieczka, one of Bayda s five siblings, spoke on behalf of the family. Before leading the closing prayer at the banquet, Bishop Albert LeGatt of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon said he is looking forward to working with the new Saskatoon bishop in areas of common effort, particularly Catholic health and Catholic education. At the conclusion of the program Bayda offered his thanks to God and to the community, presenting a song of his own composition More images from the day: 4

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