Cindy Wooden's CNS article, "Ukrainian archbishop says he was chosen 'despite age to promote unity" on Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk gives a clearer sense of the man and some of priorities. Wooden and Shevchuk met in Rome this week on the latter's visit to Pope Benedict.Archbishop Sviatoslav described the nature of his church in this way: "We are an Eastern Church with its tradition and inheritance, ... a synodal Church is governed by the synod of bishops together with the major archbishop. But, we are also a Catholic Church that lives its identity in a full, visible and real communion with the Holy Father."
What are Archbishop Sviatoslav's priorities?
- to strengthen the proclamation of the Gospel (kērgma) and the teaching of the faith (didachē)
- to work on the Church's liturgical theology and praxis; to make the liturgical patrimony intelligible in all the countries where the Ukrainian Catholic Church exists
- to develop programs that attack secularism and engages the positive secularity
- to strengthen the service of justice (diakonia)
- to promote unity in the Church and among the other churches
- to develop better social communications strategies for the Church
- to identify ways in which to inculturate the Gospel and Byzantine tradition
- to work with the Ukrainian people to heal from past injuries viz. the Russian Orthodox Church; to work on the fears that are paralyzing some members of the Church
- to dialogue and work with the Orthodox Churches in the Ukraine (and where the Church is present) on matters of theology and mutual human interest
- to promote healthy celibate and married vocations to religious life and priesthood.
Read the CNA story on the archbishop.
The Archeparchy of Philadelphia's newsletter The Way also gives another sense of the recent events in the Church: The Way March 2011.pdf
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