Retreat for Catholic Bishops of Ukraine Begins in Zarvanytsia
The annual retreat for Catholic bishops of Ukraine has begun at the Marian Spiritual Center “Zarvanytsia.” This year, the spiritual teachings for the archbishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church are being delivered by Bishop Teodor Matsapula of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy.
As Bishop Teodor told the Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, retreats traditionally offer a time of spiritual renewal, silence, and concentrated prayer for bishops.
“Every year we have this special time of silence, prayer, and spiritual renewal, when bishops set aside their daily concerns and administrative duties in order to listen to the word of God and to deepen and reflect on their vocations,” the bishop noted.
The theme of this year’s retreat is “From Fishermen to Apostles.” According to the retreat leader, returning to the biblical story of the calling of simple Galilean fishermen became the foundation for spiritual reflection. “Christ called His disciples, simple fishermen from Galilee, and made them apostles. Their journey from the boat to pastoral ministry is for us, bishops, always a path from which we can discern our vocation and draw strength,” emphasized the bishop.
During the retreat, the bishops reflect on what it means to be successors of the apostles in the modern world, how to respond to the challenges of war, and how to recognize the voice of Christ amid the many voices of our time. “The retreat is a good time to hear again the words Peter heard on the shore: ‘Follow me,’—words that make a fisherman an apostle, a shepherd, and a bishop a true shepherd,” Bishop Teodor noted.
The bishop also emphasized the importance of the retreat bringing together bishops of the two rites: “This is a beautiful testimony that we, as a single community of Christ’s disciples, may differ in liturgical traditions, yet we are united in prayer, silence, and in seeking God’s will.”
In conclusion, the bishop asked the faithful to pray for all the bishops participating in the retreat, “that God may renew their strength and zeal for apostolic ministry and grant them wisdom to lead His people.”
At the end of the retreat, the bishops of both rites will hold a fraternal meeting to discuss current issues and challenges facing the Catholic Church in Ukraine. Afterwards, the bishops of the UGCC will hold a regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC in Ukraine in Zarvanytsia.
The UGCC Department for InformationPhoto credit: Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine
