Pastoral Plan for the Eparchy of Peter & Paul of Melbourne in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania

 

 

7^th October 2015

 

Слава Ісусу Христу!

During 2015, we have had three significant gatherings of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. In April, we had the Eparchial Sobor, in August the Patriarchal Sobor, and in September the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Each of these gatherings was a culmination of Divine Grace, prayer, our planning, and participation. Each produced a series of resolutions which are not merely a wish list but in fact are a real pastoral plan for all of us. They also have the weight and status of God’s will for us and are church law.

The whole church has spent a lot of time and effort in its “Vibrant Parish”, “Vision 2020” programme. The “Vibrant Parish” pastoral project continues for another five years and beyond. The latest meetings suggest that our church is very much alive.

The Patriarch, the Synod, the Sobor, the Eparchy want us to pray about and to study this plan and to implement it so that we, in Australia, also have a Vibrant church.

I therefore ask each and every parish council in our Eparchy to take this plan and bring it to life under the leadership and guidance of our parish priests. This is a very good and solid plan, one that will with God’s help make each of our parishes a “Vibrant Parish”.

As of today I ask our parishes to pray about this and take each point as it is presented very seriously. Obviously we cannot cover all these points in one meeting or maybe not even in a year but, from now on, no parish council and each of its subcommittees should conduct a meeting without reference to an effort to implement all of these items in our parish life one point after another. This is what the church expects of us.

We at the Eparchy will work with you. The Eparchial Pastoral and Financial Councils will be in contact with you and will help you as you implement each point into your parish life.

I want to thank our Vicar for Evangelization and Fr. Ivan Mysiv for organizing this material for us.

May God Bless!

Peter Stasiuk  C.Ss.R.  AM

Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in

Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

 

 

The resolutions which follow derive from three meetings: the Eparchial Sobor of the Eparchy of Saints Peter & Paul, held in April, 2015 in Melbourne; the Patriarchal Sobor; and the Patriarchal Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church; both of these latter meetings were held in Ivano Frankivsk. The resolution are organized under the headings that seem most appropriate i.e. parish priests, the Vicar for Evangelization and the Eparchial and parish councils along with various sub committees of the last mentioned body. The source of each resolution is identified in parentheses.

 

A.THE PARISH PRIEST

 

1. Encourage priests to be an example in their personal and family (if married) life, fostering the virtue of modesty in particular. (Patriarchal Sobor, Leadership, Eparchy, #1)

2. Recommend that when administering the Mystery (Sacrament) of Anointing with Oil (of the Sick) priests engage family members of the ill person in the reading of the Psalms and the Epistle. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #4)

3. So that the faithful might more fully experience and understand the Good News proclaimed each Sunday, priests should print the changeable parts of the Divine Liturgy for their parishioners. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #5

4. In the form of recommendations publish rules regarding the behaviour of the faithful during the Divine Liturgy and other services; explain to the faithful how to foster piety in their behaviour, clothing and posture in the church. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Eparchy, #1)

5. Introduce liturgical catechesis and preaching in parishes. Elaborate an educational strategy to explain liturgical services to the faithful, choosing an appropriate time and method (before or after the Divine Liturgy, handing out printed commentaries, explanations, engaging trained laity). (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Parish, #1)

6. Prepare the faithful for liturgy, explaining its meaning and beauty. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Eparchy, #1)

7. Call upon priests to live on the territory of their parishes, to personally know their parishioners, to be open to them, and effectively distribute (parish) duties among them. (Patriarchal Sobor, Leadership, Eparchy, #2)

8. Call upon the pastor to closely cooperate with his parishioners. (Patriarchal Sobor, stewardship, Parish, #1)

9. Recommend that priests continuously inform the parish community on the activity of the parish. (Patriarchal Sobor, stewardship, Parish, #2)

10. Call upon the parish community to pay special attention to families in dire social need. (Patriarchal Sobor, stewardship, Parish, #3)

11. Recommend that parishes engage consecrated persons (sisters and brothers) to conduct retreats, parish schools, etc. (Patriarchal Sobor, stewardship, Parish, #4)

12. To entrust priests, catechists and parents to explain to children and youth the importance of conversing with God and to show by their own example the role played by private prayer. (Patriachal Synod, #7, G, 1)

13. To remind priests of the need for diligence and attentiveness in the celebration of the Liturgy and to follow directives of the liturgical books. (Patriachal Synod, #7, H, 3)o remind priests about the need to celebrate the Divine Liturgy frequently, especially on Sundays and Holy Days, or everyday (see can. 378 of CCEC, can. 57 of CPL), as well as the Divine Praises daily according to Canons of the particular law of the UGCC (see can. 22, 56 CPL). (Patriachal Synod, #7, H, 5)

14. To ask eparchial bishops to stress the importance of establishing pastoral and finance councils in parishes (see can. 41 of CPL). (Patriachal Synod, #7, I, 1)

15. To call priests to recognize the gifts and talents of God, sent by Him to His people – each individual person, and to help the laity live their Christian vocation to serve God and others. (Patriachal Synod, #7, I, 2)

16. To entrust priests to explain to laity in their holilies and catechetical studies the content and meaning of liturgical services. (Patriachal Synod, #7, F, 3)

17. To charge priests with paying special attention to the importance of studying the authentic liturgical heritage of the UGCC. (Patriachal Synod, #7, G, 2)

18. To charge priests with being attentive to the beauty of liturgical singing, to make sure that the cantor (and the priest) are articulate and clear in their speech and to encourage the faithful to participate in liturgical singing. (Patriachal Synod, #7, H, 4)

19. To charge priests to develop evangelizing and missionary communities in parishes to help different people come to faith in Christ. (Patriachal Synod, #7, E, 2)

20. To entrust to priests, by their own example, to preach unity of spirit, dialogue and cooperation; so that the parish may feel itself more and more a single family of God, realizing that it belongs to a larger family – The Eparchy, The Ecclesiastical Province, The Particular Church (UGCC) and the Universal Church. (Patriachal Synod, #7, J, 1)

21. To charge priests with the need to cultivate among the faithful the idea of bringing to fruition the parish as a “community of communities” to which belong families, different councils, brotherhoods, communities, movements, centres, etc., granting them appropriate leadership and cooperation within the framework of a single parish. (Patriachal Synod, #7, J, 2)

22. To charge priests to encourage the faithful in praying for the restoration of the unity of all Christians inspired by Christ’s commandment “So that they may all be one” (see Jn 17,21). (Patriachal Synod, #7, J, 3)

23. To charge priests to encourage in the laity the realization of their own vocation to express Christian faith in all circumstances of life by undertaking corporal and spiritual works of mercy. (Patriachal Synod, #7, K, 1)

24. To encourage youth of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church to participate in World Youth Day 2016, in Krakow. To encourage Youth Commissions to cooperate with the Organizational Committee formed for World Youth (Patriachal Synod, #32)

25. To provide proper participation of the UGCC in Extraordinary Year of Mercy, declared by Pope Francis (Patriachal Synod, #33)

26. To charge Eparchial Bishops and Superiors of Monasteries and Religious Communities to nominate suitable priests to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization to be appointed Missionaries of God’s Mercy according to the Norms established by the Apostolic See. (Patriachal Synod, #33, D)

27. To prompt priests to diligently prepare for the delivery of the homily during the Divine Liturgy, during the celebration of the Holy Sacraments, Funerals and other services and blessings. They also need to remember the necessity to proclaim God’s word to those who are not baptized and live outside the Church community (kerygmatic proclamation). (Patriachal Synod, #7, D, 1)

B. THE VICAR FOR EVANGELIZATION

 

 

1. Recommend to eparchial bishops to organize days of spiritual renewal for their priests. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #2)

2. Call upon priests to preach on and explain the Word of God not only on Sundays and holydays, but also at every Divine Liturgy, during Vespers when there are Old Testament readings, at the celebration of the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments), as well as during other liturgical services and blessings. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #3)

3. Encourage priests to become familiar with various methods and practices in the UGCC for reading Sacred Scripture, and to apply them in parishes. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #1)

4. Encourage priests to hold retreats (and other events) on the theme of mission. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #5)

5. Call upon the clergy to give a personal example of prayer for the parish community. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Parish, #1)

6. Establish an association of priests to promote unity among the clergy as a witness to unity for the faithful. (Patriarchal Sobor, Community-Unity, Eparchy, #5)

7. In the program of ongoing formation for the clergy introduce a course of lectures on parish administration. (Patriarchal Sobor, Leadership, Eparchy, #9)

 

 

C. THE EPARCHIAL PASTORAL COUNCIL

 

PREAMBLE

Vatican II, the Code of Eastern Canon Law and the Particular Law of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, encourages lay people to become more expressive of their faith, concern for and involvement in the Church, We, the Ukrainian Catholic Council in Australia, representing the Parish Church Committees of Australia, and therefore the laity of the Eparchy, do hereby declare ourselves willing to serve actively in the mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ, within the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul, Melbourne.

 

CONSTITUTION

5 Purpose

In the Eparchy, if pastoral circumstances recommend it, a pastoral council is to be established whose responsibility it is, under the authority of the Eparchial Bishop, to investigate, ponder and propose practical conclusions about those things which regard pastoral works in the Eparchy (cf canon 272 CCEO).

• The Eparchial Pastoral Council is an advisory body to the Eparch.

• It represents the Eparchy at the patriarchal level wherever appropriate.

• To promote the action of the apostolate in the areas of legislation, judicial procedure and individual rights in Australia and internationally.

• Lobbies governments on human rights, religious freedoms, social welfare issues and other issues as the need arises.

• Provide communications between Eparchial and other Church groups for more effective action.

• Make recommendations to the Parish Councils in the Eparchy.

• Consider programs of human development, social action, and work towards proper informed action through education, media and public relations.

• Take part in the Patriarchal and Eparchial aspects of the Church’s mission and worldwide evangelization.
• When the occasion arises, to take on the co-ordination of significant Eparchial celebrations.

• It represents the laity of the church in the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO).

Extract from The Eparchial Statutes Appendix 1

 

 D. THE PARISH COUNCIL

 

1. Our pastoral ministry in the Eparchy needs to be more structural with pastoral plans put in place. These plans will either be formed on the eparchial and parish levels. Funds must be available to support the pastoral plans on an eparchial and parish level. Each parish will commit itself to structure and expand its ministry to youth. (#1 Eparchial)
2. Our pastoral planning will also focus on those who frequent our churches on a less regular basis. A serious effort will be made to seek out those in our community with whom we have lost contact. Our data bases will need to be updated with the help of all people of good will. (#3 Eparchial)
3. Visitation of parishioners should be systematic and ongoing throughout the year and not merely confined to Holy Water visits at Theophany. (#4 Eparchial)
4. Parishes should see that the sick and household have access to the sacraments on a regular basis. (#5 Eparchial)
5. Social Welfare: Our resources and training for laity programmes must include information that will give us access to appropriate welfare agencies, particularly Catholic agencies, for the purpose of referral of those people who need additional pastoral care. All aspects of social welfare must be included in each parish’s program. (#7 Eparchial)

6. Take care that prayers and liturgical services in parishes are scheduled at a time that is convenient for the people, including in the evenings. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Parish, #3)

7. Cooperate with other parishes in various kinds of catechetical, prayer, and charitable initiatives. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Eparchy, #4)

8. Organize various parish events (common meals, master-classes, sport activities, ecological campaigns) and inform one another about needs and mutual help. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #3)

9. Be open and accessible to new members of the parish, sensitive to their needs. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #4)

10. Create a parish web site or social network page. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #5)

11. Organize encounters for parishioners, where under their priest’s guidance they would be able to discuss how they see their parish, express their wishes and expectations (e.g. at pastoral planning meetings, meetings of parish councils, etc.). (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #6)

12. If possible, a priest should meet with the people every Sunday after Divine Liturgy. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #7)

13. Encourage the creation of centres to care for orphans, provide assistance to pregnant women, the homeless, addicts, and other individuals in dire social circumstances. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Eparchy, #2)

14. Organize special shelters for the homeless in the cold season. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Eparchy, #3)

15. Call the parish community to social service as an important manifestation of our faith. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Parish, #1)

16. We recommend that parish councils include programs of social service in their planning. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Parish, #3)

17. Call upon parishes to help priests and individuals engaged in prison ministry. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Parish, #4)

18. Encourage the parish community to care for the elderly. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Parish, #5)

19. Encourage parish communities abroad to help emigrants from Ukraine in questions of law, language, employment and the implementation of state programs. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Parish, #6)

20. Explain the vocation and function of parish councils, thus demonstrating one’s trust in them and supporting their ministry. (Patriarchal Sobor, Leadership, Eparchy, #3)

21. Establish and implement parish statutes (charters). (Patriarchal Sobor, Leadership, Eparchy, #6)

22. Establish parish pastoral and financial councils (where they do not exist), hold transparent elections to existing councils and inform the parish community about their activity. (Patriarchal Sobor, Leadership, Parish, #1)

23. To encourage priests and laity to more actively and creatively participate in the UGCC Decade of Mission. (Patriachal Synod, #7, E, 3)

24. To charge priests with establishing prayer groups in parishes and to minister to them. (Patriachal Synod, #7, G, 3)

25. To ask eparchial bishops to make available programs for the training and ongoing formation of parish cantors and lectors. (Patriachal Synod, #7, H, 2)

 

E. SUB COMMITTEES

 1.Finance Committee

1. Acknowledging the importance of our ministry to all members of the parish community adequate resources for ministry should be provided by parishes. (#6 Eparchial)

2. Remind the faithful how important it is to possess a personal copy of the Sacred Scriptures; and for eparchial and parish communities to help those in financial need to acquire a Bible. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #6)

2.Liturgy Committee

1. Care for the beauty of liturgical singing, pay attention to the diction and clarity of the cantor, to proper amplification, encourage all the faithful to participate in singing during liturgical celebration. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Parish, #2)

2. Engage children in the liturgical life of the parish, entrusting them with different duties. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Parish, #3)

3. Ensure that liturgical books are available in the parish community and the faithful are provided with texts for liturgical services held in the parish. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Parish, #4)

4. Encourage children and youth to take an active part in parish liturgical services and educate them in this spirit. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Parish, #2)

5. Encourage the parish community to hold common liturgical services, prayers, and different celebrations (Christmas, sharing of kutia, blessing of food) to promote unity among all parishioners. (Patriarchal Sobor, Community-Unity, Parish, #1)

 

3. Religious Education Committee

1. Adult Education: Programs for will be provided at the parish level in the biblical, liturgical and catechetical areas. The new Catechism of the UGCC will be a principal. (#8 Eparchial)

2. The Welcoming Parish. We resolve to make our parishes places which extend a welcome to the stranger, especially those who are new to our Christian community. (#9 Eparchial)

3. Ask the eparchial bishops to support and encourage the development of a Bible apostolate in the parishes of their eparchy. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #1)

4. Encourage priests to introduce Biblical catechesis as a method of adult catechesis. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #5)

5. Remind the faithful how important it is to possess a personal copy of the Sacred Scriptures; and for eparchial and parish communities to help those in financial need to acquire a Bible. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Eparchy, #6)

6. Establish Bible groups and circles in parishes so that the faithful might have an opportunity to better understand the Holy Scriptures and explain them to others. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #2)

7. Encourage priests to take into consideration the presence of children when explaining the Word of God. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #3)

8. Encourage the practice of prayerful reading of the Holy Scriptures in a family circle. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #6)

9. Utilize a variety of best practices to popularize the reading of Sacred Scriptures. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #7)

10. Organize the training of catechists and animators (active laity) on eparchial and deanery levels, and support their ongoing formation. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Eparchy, #1)

11. Organize foundational catechesis in the parishes on the basis of the Catechism of the UGCC, “Christ – Our Pascha.” (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Eparchy, #2)

12. Where it is necessary, introduce catechetical instruction in the language of a given country. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Eparchy, #3)

13. Introduce systematic catechization of adults based on the UGCC Adult Catechumenate Program. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Eparchy, #5)

14. Parish communities shall make every effort to ensure that catechesis is made a top priority for the parish, and that consideration is given to all age groups (children, teenagers, youth, adults) and social groups, regardless of the number of persons present. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Parish, #1)

15. Establish Parent Advisory Councils in parishes to promote and develop catechesis. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Parish, #2)

16. In parishes lacking organized catechesis create catechetical schools (programs) and engage catechists to serve in them. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Parish, #3)

17. Organize camps, both external and parochial, as special occasions for catechesis. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Parish, #4)

18. Introduce systematic catechization of adults based on the UGCC Adult Catechumenate Program. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Parish, #5)

19. Engage children in the liturgical life of the parish, entrusting them with different duties. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Parish, #3)

20. Ensure that liturgical books are available in the parish community and the faithful are provided with texts for liturgical services held in the parish. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Parish, #4)

21. Encourage children and youth to take an active part in parish liturgical services and educate them in this spirit. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Parish, #2)

22. Stress on the importance of unity to children and youth, in parish schools and during other community gatherings (at Christian camps, during meetings, conferences, forums, ecological projects, campaigns, Olympiads, and contests). (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #2)

23. To prompt priests to diligently prepare for the delivery of the homily during the Divine Liturgy, during the celebration of the Holy Sacraments, Funerals and other services and blessings. They also need to remember the necessity to proclaim God’s word to those who are not baptized and live outside the Church community (kerygmatic proclamation). (Patriachal Synod, #7, D, 1)

24. To encourage the valuing of the biblical apostolate in every eparchy, exarchate and parish, developing communities by daily reading of the Gospel. (Patriachal Synod, #7, D, 2)

25. To prompt all the faithful to read the Bible every day – in private and within the family, as well as forming Bible Study groups in parishes, so that God’s word might become spiritual nourishment for everyone. (Patriachal Synod, #7, D, 3)

26. To ask bishops to see that every parish has catechesis for people of different ages. (Patriachal Synod, #7, F, 4)

27. To encourage priests to create and improve the efforts of parochial catechetical schools. (Patriachal Synod, #7, F, 5)

28. To encourage all the faithful to study the Catechism of the UGCC “Christ Our Pasch”. (Patriachal Synod, #7, F, 6)

 

4. Youth Committee

Youth ministry: Pastoral planning will be instituted on an eparchial and parish level in support of our Youth Ministry. Funds must be available to support the pastoral plans. Each parish will commit itself to structure and expand its ministry to youth. A suitable person ought to be appointed to the position of Head of Youth Ministry. However, the parishes of a region should share resources where necessary. (#2 Eparchial)

 

5. Property Maintenance Committee

1. Encourage bishops and priests to engage the laity in the administrative and property management responsibilities of the eparchy and parish (building, repairs, maintenance) and dedicate more time to communication with the faithful. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Eparchy, #3)

2. Establish a parish notice board where the faithful can post prayer requests. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #10)

3. Ask eparchial bishops to more diligently enforce adherence to architectural norms, interior decoration and painting in places of worship, according to church regulations and traditions, in cooperation with the eparchial commission for sacred art and architecture. (Patriarchal Sobor, Liturgy, Eparchy, #3)

4. Restore the practice of using bells to call for common prayer at appropriate times. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Eparchy, #3)

5. Pay attention to people with special needs (e.g. in wheelchairs) when constructing new churches or restoring old ones. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour, Eparchy, #4)

 

6. Ecumenical & Interfaith Committee

1. Ecumenical and interfaith relationships are an important part of our Eparchial Pastoral Ministry. This will be expanded in our parishes. (#10 Eparchial)

2. Practice ecumenical prayer in parishes and eparchies (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, etc.). (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Eparchy, #2)

3. Hold charitable events together with other Christian communities and religious organizations, fostering mutual respect and love. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Eparchy, #3)

 

7. Social Committee

1. Take advantage of pilgrimages and community leisure times as opportunities for special catechization. (Patriarchal Sobor, Catechesis, Eparchy, #4)

2. Encourage the creation of different communities in a parish, through which the faithful can become more open to others and ready to witness about Christ. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #1)

3. On a parish level, when celebrating the Patronal Feast, encourage extending the festivities beyond the liturgical services in the form of fellowship through community celebration and the sharing of a common meal. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #8)

4. Organize meetings for the sharing of faith among different age groups of parishioners (family meetings, youth meetings, etc.). (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #9)

5. Encourage the parish community to hold common liturgical services, prayers, and different celebrations (Christmas, sharing of kutia, blessing of food) to promote unity among all parishioners. (Patriarchal Sobor, Communion-Unity, Parish, #1)

6. Pay special attention to the importance of pastoral care for children, youth, and families suffering as a result of social upheavals. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour , Eparchy, #5)

7. Set up social councils, “Caritas” organization centres or appoint individuals responsible for organizing social service in parishes. (Patriarchal Sobor, Serving One’s Neighbour , Parish, #2)

8. To establish in parishes centres of social service (Caritas and others) for serving our neighbours, inspired by Christ’s love. (Patriachal Synod, #7, K, 2)

 

8. Vocations Committee

1. During catechesis emphasize the missionary vocation of every Christian (to share his or her faith) and provide concrete examples of missionary service. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Eparchy, #1)

2. Organize lay formation on the parish and eparchial levels. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Eparchy, #2)

3. Call upon parishioners to joyfully witness their faith – to evangelize. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #6)

4. Introduce systematic formation programs for existing prayer communities. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Eparchy, #4)

5. During Episcopal visitations of parishes that eparchial bishops place greater emphasis on sharing fellowship with the laity and on common prayer. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Eparchy, #6)

6. In parishes organize brotherhoods for men and provide for their spiritual formation. (Patriarchal Sobor, Prayer, Parish, #4)

7. To charge priests to awaken the conscience of the laity, regarding the vocation to witness to their own faith as important proof of a Christian way of life. (Patriachal Synod, #7, E, 1)

 

9. Family Life Committee

1. Remind the clergy and faithful that the field of missionary activity of the UGCC is never limited by ethnic origin. (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #2)

2. Encourage the faithful to bear witness to their Christianity through public manifestations of faith (e.g. Christian greeting, sign of the cross, etc.). (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #3)

3. To entrust priests and catechists to teach and encourage the faithful to pray daily – in private and together as a family, also before and after meals. (Patriachal Synod, #7, G, 4)

 

10. Public Relations Committee

1. Make use of modern mass media technologies when proclaiming the Word of God and conducting catechesis. (Patriarchal Sobor, The Word of God, Parish, #4)

2. Encourage parishioners to invite their friends and acquaintances to take part in the life of parish communities (e.g. invite friends for common prayer, vigils, and other events that take place in parishes). (Patriarchal Sobor, Missionary Spirit, Parish, #4)