REBUILDING CIVIL SOCIETY: THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH

What is Civil society?_______________________________

“un-coerced collective action around shared interests, purposes

and values…”(The London School of Economics Centre for Civil Society)

THE UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH IS:

The largest Eastern rite Church within the Universal Catholic Church

UGCC Today:•Over 6 million faithful throughout the whole world

– Over 4 million in Ukraine– Over 2 million in the diaspora

•29 Eparchies and Exarchates– 12 in Ukraine– 2 in Poland– 1 in France

– 1 in Germany– 1 in Great Britain

– 5 in Canada– 4 in the USA– 1 in Brazil

– 1 in Argentina– 1in Australia

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

PERSECUTION AND THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH

•1945: Metropolitan Slipyi and other UGCC hierarchs arrested.

• 1946:The beginning of the Church’s underground era, which lasted 43 years.

• 1989: Legalization and freedom for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Archbishop Volodymyr Sterniuk,Underground bishop – led the Church to freedom in 1989.

(1972-1991)

Patriarchal Josef Slypyi(1944-1984)

4 000 000 faithful - ONE church building

FREEDOM AND THE REALITIES OF 1989

20 years later

Over 3,500 churches - 2,000 priests

THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN UKRAINE:

AN OVERVIEW

1989 1995 2002 2009

THREE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

National levelEparchial level

Parish level and Educational institutions

1989 1995 2002 2009

• Founding and registering parishes

• Forming Seminaries

• Founding theological-pedagogical institutions

• Renewal of monasteries

Stage I: First steps in Freedom

Stage II: Strengthening Eparchies

1989 1995 2002 2009

• Setting up eparchial administrations

• Development of key pastoral areas:

Catechetics and Youth

• The development of Charitable activity

FORMING THE PATRIARCHAL CURIA

Stage III: Developing the National Level

1989 1995 2002 2009

THE TASKS OF THE PATRIARCHAL CURIA

1. Serving the Head of the Church, the Synod of Bishops, and the eparchies.

2. Building cooperation with government agencies and other denominations

3. Representing the UGCC at International organizations and gatherings.

1989 1995 2002 2009

August 21, 2005

The transfer of the See from Lviv to Kyiv

Forming the Patriarchal Curia

COMMISSION STRATEGY1. Problem identification.

2. Analysis.

3. Taking action.

4. Making adjustments as necessary.

EXAMPLES OF OUR MINISTRY

COMMISSION ON NATIONAL HEALTH

COMMISSION STRATEGY:

1. Problem identification.

2. Analysis.

3. Taking action.

4. Making adjustments as necessary.

PROGRAM EXAMPLES:

1. Hospital Chaplains2. Program: For a

Sobor Way of Life.

CATECHETICAL COMMISSION

COMMISSION STRATEGY:

1. Problem identification.

2. Analysis.

3. Taking action.

4. Making adjustments as necessary.

PROGRAM EXAMPLES:

1. Christian Ethics2. Programs for

Migrant Children and Youth.

COMMISSION ON MIGRANTS

COMMISSION STRATEGY:

1. Problem identification.

2. Analysis.

3. Taking action.

4. Making adjustments as necessary.

PROGRAM EXAMPLES:

1. Research and Publications

2. Networking3. Counseling Centers4. Lobby on Migration

PRISON MINISTRY

COMMISSION STRATEGY:

1. Problem identification.

2. Analysis.

3. Taking action.

4. Making adjustments as necessary.

PROGRAM EXAMPLES:

1. Training for Chaplains and Volunteers.

2. Ecumenical and State Cooperation. 1st Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya

THE CHURCH

An integral part of Ukrainian Society

THE UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH