Cardinal Mykola Bychok Presided over the Parish Feast of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ivano-Frankivsk
On Sunday, 5 July, Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish feast of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ivano-Frankivsk. During the service, the bishop ordained Deacon Ihor Benish, C. Ss. R., to the priesthood.
Before the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and young people of the parish solemnly welcomed Cardinal Mykola and the bishops who had arrived for the celebration. Numerous clergy, religious and faithful gathered for the common prayer.
Concelebrating with Bishop Mykola were Bishop Emeritus Mykhail Koltun; Bishop Petro Loza, Eparch of Sokal-Zhovkva; Bishop Mykhail Bubniy, Exarch of Odesa and Administrator of the Crimean Exarchate; Fr Volodymyr Boreiko, C. Ss. R., Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer; Fr Mykola Turkot, C. Ss. R., Superior of the Monastery of Saint Joseph the Betrothed in Lviv; Redemptorist priests and clergy of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy.
In his homily, Cardinal Mykola emphasised the special significance of the feast for the Redemptorists, recalling the words of Pope Pius IX with which the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was entrusted to the congregation: “Make her known throughout the world.” The bishop noted that, ever since then, generations of Redemptorists have brought people not only the image of the Mother of God but, above all, the message of God’s love and mercy.
Addressing Deacon Ihor shortly before his priestly ordination, Cardinal Mykola emphasised: “The priesthood is not a profession or a human achievement. It is a response to the Lord’s call.” He also encouraged the newly ordained priest to be a sign of Christ’s presence among God’s people, to support those who suffer, and to bring people a word of hope and spiritual support, which the Ukrainian people especially need during this time of war.
Following the Cherubic Hymn, the Rite of Priestly Ordination of Deacon Ihor Benish, C. Ss. R., took place. In accordance with the tradition of the Church, the candidate for the priesthood made his Profession of Faith, after which Cardinal Mykola offered the prayers of ordination and vested the newly ordained priest in the priestly vestments. Fr Ihor then concelebrated the Divine Liturgy for the first time as a priest.
At the conclusion of the service, Cardinal Mykola congratulated the newly ordained priest and encouraged the faithful to pray for him so that he may always remain faithful to his vocation to serve God and His people. The bishop also thanked all the bishops, priests, religious and faithful for their common prayer and emphasised that Our Lady of Perpetual Help unfailingly guides all those who entrust their lives to the Lord.
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