21.05.2008, [09:50] // UGCC // RISU.ORG.UA
On May 7-9, 2008, priests of the Greek-Catholic Church who perform their ministry on the territory of Russia met with Bishop Joseph Werth. The meeting was devoted to catechizing people who belong to the Greek-Catholic Church on the territory of Russia.
At the invitation of Bishop Joseph Werth and the head of the Catechetical Commission in Russia, Fr. Serhiy Nikolenko, and with the blessing of Bishop Dionisii, the head of the Patriarchal Catechetical Commission of the UGCC, Sr. Luiza Tsiupa and a worker of the Catechetical-Pedagogical Institute, Nazar Duda, took part in the meeting. The two shared their experience of work in the catechetical field with the participants.
During the meeting an open dialogue was held in which each priest presented a situation in relation to catechetical ministry. Communities are still very small, although in Siberia, Surgut and other localities there are many people who have come for work. Catechetical ministry is not developed enough there.
Summarizing the meeting, Bishop Joseph noted that the priority is gathering people, giving them attention, and celebrating the Liturgy. But it is also necessary to explain the Liturgy to people, that is, to conduct catechism for adults. It is necessary to give attention to the conducting of catechetical summer camps. The Bishop also asked that Ukraine help in this process of religious education, and organizational questions which are linked with it, and encouraged the formation of missionary groups which would be able to help in this area of Church ministry.
Information Department of the UGCC