Christ is Risen,

Our theology is a theology that focuses on the resurrection of Jesus.   In the words of St John of Damascus:

“We shall therefore rise again, our souls being once more united with our bodies, now made incorruptible and having put off corruption, and we shall stand beside the awful judgment-seat of Christ: and the devil and his demons and the man that is his, that is the Antichrist and the impious and the sinful, will be given over to everlasting fire: but such fire as God would know. But those who have done good will shine forth as the sun with the angels into life eternal, with our Lord Jesus Christ, ever seeing Him and being in His sight and deriving unceasing joy from Him, praising Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever.”

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The Sisters of St Basil the Great are celebrating their 50th anniversary of serving the people of the eparchy this year. God calls people to serve Him.  The question is, do we hear God when he calls us.  I give thanks for the different people who have responded to God’s call.

Priests, deacons and sisters have all dedicated their lives, to serve God and His people.   Let us pray that those who have a calling from God to serve, may have the courage to answer that call. That is why oour community has committed itself to a 3 day workshop in May which will be led by Fr Michael Mason, on understanding how God is using our young people to speak to us all about the modern world and our community.

We need to understand that we as a community are not a static community, but a group of dynamic believers looking for God.

Together with the rest of the church in Australia, we need to:

have an authentic and personal engagement by Church Leaders in the challenges and success in young people’s lives priests and nuns need We cannot presume that the life of a young person today is the same as the life of a young person 30 years ago.

Acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of young people, and young people are acting upon the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church;

We as a church need re affirm that the Holy Spirit is talking to young people.  We see often youth being very inspirational often in social justice issues.

Upholding the dignity of young people, ensuring a safe environment from physical, emotional and spiritual harm is important to all of us.

This is about really being conscious of boundaries.  What we can do and what we cannot.

Acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of young people, and young people are acting upon the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church

We need to understand that we as a community are not a static community, but a group of dynamic believers looking for God.

This is important to everybody.  We see that the nature of our parishes is changing.  We are far more an Australian Church rather than an immigrant church.  All of us young and old need to be aware of God working in our lives.

May the Risen Lord keep us in His care.

 

+Peter Stasiuk C.Ss.R. AM

Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in

Australia, New Zealand and Oceania