The call to prayer for the success of the Electoral Synod of Bishops

The call to prayer for the success of the Electoral Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

All the faithful of our Church have been informed that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has blessed the petition of His Beatitude Lubomyr to be relieved of his office of Major Archbishop. We meet this happening with great trust in the Lord and in his care for His Church.

The Church is a Divine institution. It is guided by the Holy Spirit; sent on His Church on Pentecost by our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit “sends prophets, perfects priests, teaches the ignorant wisdom, reveals the fishermen to be theologians and unites the entire Church.” (Verse at Vespers of Pentecost)

Today we prepare for the Synod that will elect a new Head of our Church. The Decree calling the Synod, informed, all members of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, that the election is to take place from March 21 -24 with the Solemn Installation planned for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, March 27, 2011, at the Patriarchal Sobor of the Resurrection in Kyiv.

The election of a new head of the Church is a Divine act and in order to elect a person in accord with God’s will, “Not as a man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” (1Sam. 16:7 NAB), all of us, clergy and laity, are called to sincere prayer

I urge you all to sincere prayer, that the Spirit of the Lord, as in times past with the prophet David (Cf. 1Sam 16:12), would point out the person and anoint the newly-chosen Head as His chosen and His leader of the People of God of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

For the intention of a successful Electoral Synod, after every Divine Service, the congregation, is to, together, with one heart and one voice, recite the prayer “Heavenly King” three times followed by one “Glory be.to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit now and ever and forever. Amen.

May the name of the Lord live in our hearts and be glorified in our actions!

+ IHOR

Administrator of the Major Archepiscopal 
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Given Kyiv at the Patriarchal Sobor of the Resurrection, February 16, the year of God 2011

All Pastors are to read this Appeal during the Divine Liturgy in all Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches on Sunday, February 20, 2011. Until the conclusion of the Electoral Synod, in every Divine Liturgy the following petition is to be added during the Litany after the Gospel

We also pray our Lord God, that He hear the prayers of us sinners, and send the grace of the Holy Spirit on the participants of the Electoral Synod of our Church, strengthen them, enlighten them, and bring their God-pleasing act to a successful conclusion.