www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan of Philadelphia

I understand that the Apostolic Nuncio will "solemnly install" the new Metropolitan Archbishop in Philadelphia on Tuesday. An important even in the life of our Church.

Am I the only one curious that an afternoon hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Cathedral on the Tuesday of the 1st week of the Great Fast?

Should I read into this violation of the traditions, that we'll have a non-traditional Archbishop?

I hope not. May God grant Archbishop Stefan, many years.

Christian

Am I the only one curious that an afternoon hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Cathedral on the Tuesday of the 1st week of the Great Fast?

Whoa. Good point.

Serge

<a href="http://oldworldrus.com">Old World Rus�</a>

According to the pastor at my home parish yesterday, Archbishop-elect Stefan emphatically DID NOT want to have this installation during the Great Fast.

The presence of the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio was requested, but the Pro-Nuncio, when scheduling this event, was not aware that our Great Fast begins on Monday and not on Wednesday.

Preosvjashchenomu kyr Stefanovi mnohi i blahi lita!

[This message has been edited by RichC (edited 02-26-2001).]

Dear Rich,

Thanks for the word.

Why is the Aposotolic Nuncio to the USA involved with the Eastern Churches, when he obviously knows nothing about them? I have heard a number of stories about his insensitivity to the East over the past year or two.

Perhaps Eastern Churches should deal directly with Rome, if the local "ambassadors" and his secretaries and functionaries are not familiar with our Church?

Christian

As Kurt likes to point out, the Apostolic Nuncio is the representative of the Pope. So he should be at our installations as a brother bishop.

HOWEVER, I would agree that the guy should have the common sense to figure out when our Lent starts!!! Abp. Stefan should sent the Papal Nuncio a big ham on Prodigal Son Friday, and then say, "oops, i didn't know Latins fasted on our Prodigal Son Friday!"

anastasios

Hey folks!

We can discuss this topic better after a few rounds of All You Can Eat Fish Fries during Lent on Fridays.

Pass the Tartar Sauce, someone.

Joe

Dear Joe,

Do they serve beer at the fish fry, or do we have to bring our own?

Christian

Christian,

Dunno. Maybe they put that in the batter?

Joe

Church is conveying 'that bounce for life'

by Ron Goldwyn, Daily News Staff Writer

The youthful archbishop who will be installed today as leader of Ukrainian Catholics in
Philadelphia confronts a community with a rich but fading culture.

Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, 49, newly arrived from his native Winnepeg,
Canada, becomes "spiritual father" of the United States' 300,000 Ukrainian Catholics
as part of the job.

Ukrainian Catholics are among 18 Eastern rites that answer to the Vatican but operate
independent of its local hierarchy.

The striking feature about Soroka, a stocky, cordial man who prefers to be known as
"Archbishop Stefan," is his age. He's at least a decade or two younger than most other
bishops, and 27 years junior to his predecessor, Archbishop Stephen Sulyk, who retired in Philadelphia last fall.

Soroka said yesterday he was surprised at his choice by about 35 fellow bishops at a synod in the Ukraine last fall. (Pope John Paul II gave final approval).

"I did find it kind of premature, so quick," he said at the office across from the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Franklin Street near Brown, where he
will be installed.

But he said, "The church wants to convey that bounce for life. There comes a
time when you should pass over the reins."

Soroka intends to bring vigor and promotional zeal to his post, traveling to meet
its 68,000 souls in 74 parishes over five states and Washington, D.C.

Since Philadelphia is the oldest of the four U.S. archeparchies, or archdioceses,
he is designated the "spiritual father" for all.

Soroka is learning the region's Ukrainian Catholics are a far-flung and shrinking
clan due to assimilation. He wants to renew cultural traditions for a younger generation.

"If you're really alive and joyful in your ministry and you offer things for the family and children, people will come," he said.

He accepts the label of traditionalist but said he wants to "push myself to be more radical in the profession of my beliefs."

Soroka will be installed at 2 p.m. in a colorful procession and enthronement ceremony at the gold-domed landmark on N. Franklin Street. Expected to attend are three cardinals, including Philadelphia's Anthony J. Bevilacqua, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the U.S. Apostolic Nuncio, about 35 bishops, a procession of 400 children, and 2,000 faithful.

Eastern or Byzantine Catholics are not connected to the Eastern Orthodox, who are separate from the Vatican and the pope.

Ukrainian Catholic priests traditionally were permitted to marry. But Soroka, who studied stresses on the ministry for his doctorate in social work at Catholic University of America, said the tug between obligations to family and to God often leaves a religious leader more harried and less effective.

Marriage was a choice he faced before entering the seminary.

"I had somebody special in my life. It was a struggle for me," he said. "But the call to serve was very strong.

"The lady told me later, 'You belong to the church, I shouldn't take you away from that.'"

A Vatican decree in the early 20th Century forbade Eastern rite priests, like their Roman Catholic counterparts, to marry in North America.

Married priests - the Philadelphia archeparchy has several - are all immigrants from the Ukraine, where the practice is still widepread.

"I haven't looked back," he said. "I made a decision. I am what I was called to be in this life, serving God as a priest."

Soroka tells how he found himself pastor of a suburban Winnepeg parish full of young couples and their children.

"There's a joke I tell, that I was getting more hugs and kisses on a Sunday after Mass than a married man gets all year," he said.

Send e-mail to goldwyr@phillynews.com
-------------
My apologies for posting this without permission.

No doubt there is ample material here for discussion from the new Metropolitan's statements and the press's typical botched reporting.

Nevertheless, Many Blessed Years to Metropolitan Stefan!

Many years to Archbishop Stefan!

John.

Hmmm... I'm glad to see a young bishop taking over the reigns in the Ukranian Church. I sincerely hope that he will take measures to gradually restore their Eastern heritage. I would especially like to see more sung Divine Liturgies, rather than the dreaded "recited" liturgy that prevails in these parts.

One could possibly infer from this article that the Archbishop is opposed to married priests. I truly hope that this is not the case. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Anthony

>>Ukrainian Catholic priests traditionally were permitted to marry. But Soroka, who studied stresses on the ministry for his doctorate in social work at Catholic University of America, said the tug between obligations to family and to God often leaves a religious leader more harried and less effective.<<

>One could possibly infer from this article that the Archbishop is opposed to married priests. I truly hope that this is not the case. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Anthony<

Perhaps he is just wary of the burdens that are placed on married men in the priesthood. I would imagine that this would be a legitimate pastoral concern for an Archbishop. Considering the archeparchy has both married and celibate priests I am sure Archbishop Soroka is qualified to deal with such issues.

As an aside: It seems somewhat providential that the Archbishop did not marry. Otherwise he wouldn�t be Archbishop now.

Metropolitan Soroka is a "Traditionalist" as the article said. I have never met him, however I know people who have and are very impressed with him.

Not only did the Metropolitan not want to have a Divine Liturgy ceremony, he asked that the installation be moved to a Sunday, or be conducted during a Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The Apostolic Nuncio refused this request and insisted that it be done as scheduled.

It is interesting that the Roman Catholic Church "commands" us to return to our traditions, but it seems that we should do so only when it is conveniant to them.

My Prayer is that Archbishop Husar act in accordance with the resquest of the Synod of Ukrainian Bishops and accept the title of Patriarch by Rome, so that the Church abroad can be guided by Her own people (Eastern Catholics).

Does anyone know if the Liturgy was video-taped and if it will be made available? I also understand that the entire Liturgy was taken in English. Has anyone heard? Thanks! John.

Not only did the Metropolitan not want to have a Divine Liturgy ceremony, he asked that the installation be moved to a Sunday, or be conducted during a Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The Apostolic Nuncio refused this request and insisted that it be done as scheduled.

It is interesting that the Roman Catholic Church "commands" us to return to our traditions, but it seems that we should do so only when it is convenient to them.

This combined with some of Dr John�s astute observations on the latest Dr Carroll thread remind me that, even though my own church and Church can be as annoying as all get out, there is no way I could live with cr*p like the above. What you wrote is too true.

The former Ukrainian metropolitan in the US, Stephen, when he complained to the Latin bishops about their stealing his ordinands from his dioceses and parish assignments to do special projects, was told by the Latins, who both belong to another Church and are outranked by him, to go away and mind his own business.

Uniatism (and perhaps a Roman cleric or two) should be tossed into the Dnieper like St Vladimir did to the idol of Perun.

Serge

<a href="http://oldworldrus.com">Old World Rus�</a>