Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches
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Bishop John's Welcome
“O Christ our God, we give you thanks for this day and everyday trust that we are blessed to be able to know you more and love you more. We are blessed to be able to participate in a new approach to a creative faith formation for all ages.
We do this so that our parishes may continue to grow in the knowledge of you; see our parishioners, all our people of all ages and stages of life to learn together. We beseech you O Lord our God, grant us the wisdom to understand and the courage to fulfill this endeavor. For you are Christ our God and our Teacher and we pray in the words you taught us,
Our Father……”
Welcome! “Vitayemo”!
As mentioned in the prayer, this is a new endeavor. We want to learn more about Christ, the Church he founded, what our church teaches and celebrates throughout the year, and how it applies to all of us. Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches gathers our faithful of all ages and stages of life to learn together. This is unique, but yet this is what parish should be, what family should be.
I thank you all for coming today to participate in this workshop. Thanks to Fr. Popyk for organizing it. And a special thank you to Sr. Ann Laszok of the Basilian Sisters, who has worked on this program, and who will conduct the workshop today. You know there are many problems in our world today. I just returned from a bio-ethics workshop for Bishops in Dallas, Texas. Science is progressing rapidly. It is difficult to keep up with all its moral implications. Bishops and priests cannot do it alone. We need good, knowledgeable lay people. You know at one time the Catholic Church, the Catholic vote had a voice, not any more. This has to change. Our Church is challenged by our modern world. We can only respond if we know our faith, what our church teaches, what is truly “right and wrong” and not what I “think or live”, or would do”.
So again, welcome. Let us refresh our parishes. Let us learn together what it means to be Ukrainian Catholic, for the good of our people, for the salvation of our souls.
Thank you!
Slava Icycy Xrysty!
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Bishop John Bura
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GOF NEWS:
The Eparchy of New Westminster Canada holds Four Generations of Faith Sessions on the Mysteries : " Session 3: Reconciliation (Penance or Confession) Held @ Richmond Funeral Home on February 26, 2012
St. Vladimir Parish in Hempstead holds Third Generations of Faith Session : "A place of tranquilityÖ in the presence of God" was the theme of the third Generations of Faith Program (GOF) conducted at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hempstead, NY on Sunday, November 13, 2011. The inaugural GOF was conducted in November of 2010, and a second program in the series took place in March of 2011.
Assumption Parish in Perth Amboy NJ held the Generations of Faith in April 3, 2011. Over 100 people have gathered after the Sunday Liturgy in the school hall to learn of how to become a better Christian by integrating faith, worship, and life in light of the Gospel during the Lenten season.
Saints Peter & Paul Parish in Ambridge PA held the Generations of Faith in June 4-5, 2011.
Vancouver British Columbia Parish held the Generations of Faith in April 10, 2011.
St. Vladimir Parish in Hempstead Prepares for the Great Fast : “The Great Fast” was the theme of the first Generations of Faith Program (GOF) that was held at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hempstead, NY on Sunday, March 13, 2011. Previously, on November 14, 2010, Sister Ann Laszok, OSBM, Director of the Eparchial GOF program, had presented an overview of the innovative five year-long cycle of programs.
St. Nicholas Parish held the Generations of Faith in February 2011.
St. Vladimir Parish in Hempstead Prepares for the Nativity of Our Lord : On Sunday, November 14, 2010, Fr. Wasyl Hrynkiw welcomed Sister Ann Laszok OSBM, Director of the Generations of Faith (GOF) Program. Sister Ann gave an overview of the five year-long program cycle. She began by focusing on the Liturgical Year. The topic of her orientation session was "The Nativity."
Victoria & Richmond—New Westminster: This autumn's Eparchy of New Westminster Generations of Faith Theme wasThe Entrance into the Temple of Our Most Lady the Mother of God and Ever Virgin-Mary. The presentation prepared under the direction of Mary Boucher, Eparchial Generations of Faith Director. Fr. Edward Danylo Evanko, (of Holy Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Richmond, BC) narrated an original dramatic representation of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple, prepared by Fr. Evanko based on the account in the Protoevangelion of James.
The Eparchy of New Westminster (Canada) had three Generations of Faith for the Byzantine Church sessions in Victoria, Kelona and New Westminster this past fall. They presented the liturgical calendar for the whole year by preparing the "Welcome to Our Church Year" session.
On April 16, 2010 the Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches program ran for the Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster British Columbia Canada.
GOF for Byzantine Churches in Holy Eucharist Cathedral, BC Canada
Sr. Ann Laszok, OSBM trains leaders from 17 parishes in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy
of Edmonton.
On January 23-24, 2009 Sister Ann Laszok, OSBM presented the use of Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches to the Eparchy of Edmonton. In attendance were priests and core leaders from some 17 parishes. The inservice started on Friday evening with the Forgiveness Vespers (since the session that was used for training purpose was the Great Fast).
Saturday morning a mini Great Fast session was experienced and later explained by Sr Ann. The afternoon was filled with planning how the parishes would implement Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches in their parishes.