Bishop Mykola Bychok visited the parish in Newcastle
On the Sixth Sunday after Easter, May 5, Bishop Mykola Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, led the Divine Liturgy in Newcastle, New South Wales.
From May 2 to 9, Bishop Mykola Bychok is participating at the Plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which is taking place in Sydney, so he gladly responded to the invitation of Fr. Paul Berezniuk, administrator of the Parish of the Protection of the Mother of God, and on Sunday, May 5, arrived in Newcastle to pray with the local faithful.
The bishop presided over the Divine Liturgy in the co-service of Fr. Paul Berezniuk and Fr. Justin McDonnell from Sydney.
During the homily, Bishop Mykola explained to the faithful how important the Gospel of the Sixth Sunday after Easter — the Sunday of the Man Born Blind — is for us today. After all, in our daily lives, we often tend to draw quick conclusions about the lives of other people and condemn them. “Jesus reminds us that such judgements can be wrong and harmful. He invites us to look at others through the prism of compassion and understanding, because every person is a beloved child of God, worthy of love, respect, and dignity. Our role is not to judge, but to extend a helping hand, offer support, and bring healing and reconciliation to those who need it,” Bishop Mykola emphasised.
After the liturgy, the faithful had the opportunity to talk with the bishop, so it was a good time for the whole parish community.
