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On the General Chapter of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI) – Rome 2023

Informal group picture of the delegates of the Chapter, in front of the place where they met, Pontifical College of St. Josaphat. Standing on the far left can be seen Sister Laura Prokop, delegate, and Sister Christina Syrotynsky, Provincial Superior of Canada. Standing on the far right is Sister Oresta Svorak, delegate. To the right (as we see it) of the priest is Sister Sofija Lebedowicz, Superior General, and immediately next to her is Sister Theresa Slota, past-Superior General. Sister Janice Soluk, General Councillor and also Canadian, is hidden behind the other priest on our visual left.

The XV Chapter of the Congregation of the SSMI began on July 5th at the Pontifical Ukrainian College of the Holy Hieromartyr Josaphat in Rome on the theme “Christ is our Life”. The Chapter lasted until July 16th. The participants of the Chapter were 29 Sister delegates from seven Provinces of the Congregation which have their Provincial Sees in Ukraine, Canada, Brazil, Serbia, Slovakia, Poland, and the United States. 

His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk congratulated all the delegates at the Chapter from which 14 countries were represented where the Sisters actively serve. He also thanked the participants for their sacrificial work for God’s glory and the fruitful development of the Church. The opening of the General Chapter began with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, led by the Apostolic Exarch in Italy, Bishop Dionisio Lachovicz. It was done in concelebration with the rector of the college, Father Louis Kasiyan, OSBM, and the confessor of the college, Father Dionisio Zavedyuk, OSBM. After the Divine Liturgy, the Superior General, Sister Sofija Lebedowicz, officially opened the Chapter.  The participating delegates then took the oath on the Gospel and announced that within the framework of the Chapter sessions, the Sisters felt the wounds of the Ukrainian people and would jointly seek a cure for their healing, which is found in Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. The Sisters will try to work out their priorities for the next six years in order to better serve the suffering, the Church, and to pray together in order to recognize the signs of the times, seeking God’s will together. 

Discussion group of the Canadian representatives: L to R: Sr. Oresta Svorak, Sr. Laura Prokop, Sr. Janice Soluk, Sr. Christina Syrotynsky and Sr. Theresa Slota

The Chapter also began with a spiritual renewal led by the host and moderator Sister Alexandra Huf from the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit. Each new day of the Chapter began with morning prayers, Holy Liturgy, and the sharing of faith through the word of God, namely, a reflection on a passage from the Gospel, and answers to questions and how they can be used in the spiritual life. Session classes began with the reading of greetings from the clergy, the various Provinces of the Sisters Servants, as well as the Sisters of Foreign Orders and Congregations, who prayed for the successful course of the Chapter. At the beginning of the meetings, the protocol of events from the previous day was read out and the reports for the period from 2017-2023 began: first, the reports of the work of the General Board, and then followed each Provincial Superior giving an account of the work, life, and apostolate of the Sisters in their Province. It was interesting to hear the reports of all the Provinces, especially regarding the charism of the Sisters–work in kindergartens, teaching in schools, catechesis, and work with youth, efforts in parishes, and care for the sick in nursing homes. The sisters worked like bees, tirelessly helping refugees, collecting funds for the army, and sending humanitarian aid to soldiers because of the war in Ukraine. During the entire time of the General Chapter, there was an opportunity to listen to various sermons by priests, instructions by Sister Alexandra Huf, and interesting teachings from the Prefect of the Dicastery of Consecrated Life, Joan Bras de Aviz; and Bishop Dionisio Lachovicz, Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians in Italy. 

At the Chapter, the Sisters had to consider spiritual life in three dimensions: 

– the blessings that God bestows upon each person
– difficulties that require the cultivation of various virtues;
– suggestions for a future life under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 

Thus, the General Chapter concluded that the mission of the Sisters stems from a deep unity with Christ, which is reflected in a personal testimony of faith: “The more a consecrated person is like Christ, the more Christ will be present in the world for the salvation of people” (“Vita Consecrata”, 72). At the end, there was a vote and selection of the members of the new General Council, who were: 

After long discussions and debates in the provincial groups and at the general level, plans and directions for the spiritual revitalization of the sisters were adopted and outlined, along with personal formation and recognition of the signs of the times; nurturing healthy, Christian relationships at the relationship/community level; and deepening the consciousness of conducting the mission in the spirit of the Congregation’s charisma/apostolate level. The Chapter also adopted instructions to the Superior General and her Council, and instructions to the Provincial Superiors and their Councils for the next 6 years of the Board of the General Board. 

Newly elected General Administration: L to R: Sr. Bonifatija Djakiv, First Councillor and General Vicaress; Sr. Sofija Lebedowicz, Superior General, Sr. Rosalia Paraschuk, Fourth Councillor, and Sr. Petra Sicakova, Second Councillor. (missing: Sr. Theresa Matwe, Third Councillor, who was not at the Chapter)

—Sister Sofija Lebedowicz–Superior General of the Congregation of the SSMI, Poland 
—Sr. Bonifatija Djakiv–First Councilor and General Vicaress, Ukraine 
—S. Petra Sicakova–Second Councilor, Slovakia 
—Sr. Theresa Matwe–Third Councilor, Canada
—S. Rosalía Paraschuk–Fourth Councilor, Brazil 

Russian rocket attack on Kremenchuk shopping mall

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that over 1,000 people were inside a crowded shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk when it was hit by a Russian missile strike.

At least two people have been killed and 20 wounded in the Russian missile strike on a crowded shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office said.

Sharing a video of the fire on Instagram, Mr Zelensky said: “The mall is on fire, rescuers are fighting the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine.

Red more…

Ukrainians meet pope to bridge ‘ambiguous’ communication gap

ROME – A prominent Ukrainian academic, who recently met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, said the pontiff has tasked a handful of cardinals to study the topic of “just war” in light of the current conflict with Russia.

Myroslav Marynovych, vice rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, was one of three Ukrainians who met with the pope on June 8. The discussion centered on Ukrainian concerns over “ambiguous” rhetoric about the war coming from the Vatican and the pope  – particularly remarks suggesting the pope is against arming Ukraine.

Read more…

From the Head of the UGCC on the 64th day of the war: We see how the enemy drives out sons and daughters of Ukraine from their land en masse

Today we see how the enemy is driving out the sons and daughters of Ukraine en masse. Just yesterday, official russian sources announced that russia had expelled and deported more than a million Ukrainian citizens, almost two hundred thousand of whom were children. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said in his daily address on the 64th day of russia’s war against Ukraine.

Read more…

Vatican adapts Good Friday Way of the Cross after outcry in Ukraine

The Vatican adapted Pope Francis’ Way of the Cross on Good Friday after an outcry in Ukraine over a Station involving Ukrainian and Russian families.

The meditation for the 13th Station, “Jesus dies on the Cross,” was written by members of a Ukrainian and a Russian family. In the event, the meditation was not read out during the Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum on April 15.

In its place, a reader said: “In the face of death, silence is more eloquent than words. Let us therefore pause in prayerful silence and each one in his heart pray for peace in the world.”

Read the rest at the Catholic News Agency…

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250997/vatican-adapts-via-crucis-after-outcry-in-ukraine

This year, baking Ukrainian Easter bread feels different

Soon it will be Easter and following the traditions of my Mennonite ancestors, I will make paska, a Ukrainian Easter bread.

This year I struggle with how to think about this family tradition. Invading soldiers have swarmed over the area from which a century ago my relatives fled Russian bloodshed. Once again it is a place of war. My maternal relatives lived in the Donetsk District, currently an occupied part of Ukraine….

Read the rest at the Globe and Mail…

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-ukrainian-easter-bread/

Campaign to Retire the Museum Mortgage and Build Sustainability

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land


  

We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.

Canadian Bishops Announced $30M National Financial Pledge to Support Healing and Reconciliation Initiatives

Participate in the UCC Community Engagement Survey

The first-ever national survey of Ukrainian Canadians is generating excitement and engagement across Canada. 

Over 2,000 responses from across the country have already been gathered. Ukrainian Canadians are sharing their thoughts on values, beliefs and priorities that unite us.  

The perspectives of a broad spectrum of Ukrainian Canadians are important for us to keep growing as a thriving and engaged community. We ask for 10 minutes of your time to answer a few questions on values and identity, involvement in educational and artistic programs; volunteerism, and affinity to Ukraine.

CLICK HERE to participate in the survey specifically for UCWLC members.

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