Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy As
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Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia VOL. 79 - No. 08 APRIL 22, 2018 ENGLISH VERSION Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy as Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka effective April 16, 2018 Statement by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka On Monday, April 16th, 2018, the Vatican Information Service announced that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation for medical reasons of Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians and Metropolitan for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in USA. Pope Francis has declared the Archeparchy of Philadelphia as “sede vacante”. Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy has been appointed by Pope Francis as the Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia until the appointment of the new Archeparch. Most Rev. Stefan Soroka was appointed as Metropolitan-Archbishop by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II on November 29th, 2000 and installed on February 27th, 2001. Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy Archbishop-emeritus was appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia on August 8th, 2017. Bishop Andriy, a priest of our Archeparchy, was ordained to the episcopacy by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk in St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine on September 3rd, 2017. Our heartfelt appreciation is extended to His Holiness, Pope Francis, and to His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of (continued on next page) Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy as Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka effective April 16, 2018 (continued from previous page) the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and to His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk for their understanding and compassion. We are also grateful to the Holy Father for the confidence he has shown in the abilities of Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy in appointing him as Apostolic Administrator for the interim. I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the clergy, religious, seminarians and laity of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. These past seventeen years have been filled with many challenges and blessings, some unique in the experience of the Philadelphia Archeparchy. Success in responding to the varying needs of the Archeparchy and its parishes was achieved with the positive and hopeful participation of clergy, religious and laity enabled by the Grace of God. Most gratifying to me was the personal journey of prayer and fraternity experienced with the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archeparchy. The highlight of my ministry in leadership was experienced when amidst parishioners and their ministers in parish liturgical celebrations, visits, pilgrimages, festivals, and in personal sharing. I was inspired by the dedication of the clergy, religious and faithful and their love for their Church. I am also especially grateful for the fraternity and cooperation shared with my brother bishops of USA, with whom common needs of clergy, religious and Archive photo June 2017 faithful were addressed in our regular meetings, and in gatherings of our Church. The Grace of God provided richly in our many shared endeavors. The Risen Christ greeted his apostles with the words, “Peace be with you!” May the peace offered by the Risen Christ characterize our continued love and service of our Ukrainian Catholic Church. Let us remember one another in prayer as we seek the intercession of the Mother of God in this time of transition being experienced within the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and in our Ukrainian Catholic Church in the USA. Christ is Risen! APRIL 22, 2018 2 USCCB News Release Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy as Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka April 16, 2018 in December of 2001 Youth Protection Office, Washington, D.C. At the by Archbishop Stefan 2008-2015; member, Catholic University of WASHINGTON—Pope Soroka at the Ukrainian Administrative Board, America, Washington, Francis has accepted the Catholic Cathedral of the Pennsylvania Catholic D.C., he earned a resignation of Archbishop Immaculate Conception Conference, 2008- Bachelor of Sacred Stefan Soroka of the in Philadelphia. 2017; vicar general, Theology (1978) and Ukrainian Archeparchy 2009-present; vice- a Doctorate in Social of Philadelphia and Bishop Rabiy holds a chancellor, 2009-present; Work in 1985. appoints Auxiliary Bishop bachelor's degree in member, Archeparchial Andriy Rabiy of the philosophy (1999) and a College of Consultors, He was ordained a same Archeparchy as licentiate in Canon Law 2009-present; member, priest on June 13, Apostolic Administrator (2008) from Catholic Archeparchial 1982, for the Ukrainian sede vacante of the University of America; Presbyteral Council, Catholic Archeparchy Ukrainian Archeparchy and a Master of Divinity 2011-2017. of Winnipeg at Saints of Philadelphia until the degree (2002), from the Vladimir and Olga appointment of the new Dominican House of On August 8, 2017, Pope Cathedral, Winnipeg. Archeparch. Studies, in Washington Francis named Father D.C. Andriy Rabiy as auxiliary Assignments after priestly The resignation and bishop of the Ukrainian ordination included: appointment were After ordination, Catholic Archeparchy of assistant priest, Blessed publicized in Washington Rabiy held pastoral Philadelphia. Virgin Mary Parish, on April 16, 2018, by assignments at St. Winnipeg, 1984-1986; Archbishop Christophe Michael the Archangel Archbishop Stefan parish priest, Ukrainian Pierre, apostolic nuncio parish, Hillsborough, Soroka was born on Catholic Church of the to the United States. New Jersey, and at November 13, 1951 in Assumption, Portage la the Nativity of the Winnipeg, Province of Prairie, Canada, 1986- Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Blessed Virgin Mary, Manitoba, Canada. He 1987; parish priest, St. Rabiy, now Apostolic New Brunswick, New received a bachelor's Anne Ukrainian Catholic Administrator sede Jersey, 2002-2005. degree in Social Work Church, Winnipeg, vacante, was born Other assignments (1973) and a Masters 1987-1995; chaplain, October 1, 1975 in Lviv, after ordination include: in Social Work (1978) St. Josaphat Council, Ukraine. He pursued pastor of the Nativity of from the University Knights of Columbus, seminary studies at St. the Blessed Virgin Mary of Manitoba. His 1986-1989; chaplain, Josaphat Ukrainian Ukrainian Catholic Parish seminary formation St Anne Council, Catholic Seminary in in Reading, 2008-present; was undertaken at St. Washington, D.C., and coordinator, Sexual Josaphat Ukrainian was ordained a priest Abuse Prevention and Catholic Seminary, (continued on next page) APRIL 22, 2018 3 Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy as Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka (continued from previous page) Knights of Columbus, Canada Dioceses/ the Ad Hoc Committee Bishops, USCCB, Pope 1987-1995; chaplain, Eparchies, 1998-2000; on Sexual Abuse, 2002- Francis, Archbishop National Executive, chaplain, Ukrainian 2009. Christophe Pierre, Ukrainian Catholic Catholic Women's apostolic nuncio, Youth of Canada, League of Canada, The Ukrainian Catholic Ukrainian Archeparchy of 1989-1992; vocations 1998-2000; and editor, Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Archbishop director, Ukrainian Progress Ukrainian Philadelphia includes Stefan Soroka, Auxiliary Catholic Archeparchy Catholic News, 1996- the District of Columbia, Bishop Andriy Rabiy of Winnipeg, 1985- 2000. Virginia, Maryland, 2000; state chaplain, Delaware, New Jersey ### Knights of Columbus, On November 29, and parts of eastern Manitoba State 2000 he was appointed Pennsylvania. It has a Media Contact: Council, 1989-1992; Metropolitan-Archbishop total Catholic population Judy Keane judge, Archeparchial of the Ukrainian of 12,846. 202-541-3200 Marriage Tribunal, Catholic Archeparchy --- 1984-1993; vice- of Philadelphia and was Keywords: U.S. http://www.usccb.org/ chancellor, Ukrainian installed on February 29, Conference of Catholic news/2018/18-064.cfm Catholic Archeparchy of 2001. Winnipeg, 1985-1994; chancellor, Ukrainian At the U.S. Conference Catholic Archeparchy of of Catholic Bishops, Winnipeg, 1994-1996; he served as: member econom, Ukrainian of the Committee for Catholic Archeparchy of Aid to Home Missions, Winnipeg, 1994-1998. 2010-present; member of the Ad Hoc Committee On March 29, 1996 he on Aid to the Church was appointed Auxiliary in Central and Eastern Bishop for the Ukrainian Europe, 2001-present; Catholic Archeparchy member of the of Winnipeg and Committee on Relations was ordained to the between Eastern and episcopate on June Latin Catholic Churches, 13, 1996. He then also November 2003-2010; served as: chairman, member of Task Force Asset Protection Group on Content and Flow of Insurance Corporation General Meeting, June Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, for Western and Northern 2003; and member of Archbishop-emeritus APRIL 22, 2018 4 APRIL 22, 2018 5 Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka celebrates Julian Calendar Easter in Maryland Metropolitan Stefan and Fr. Dumenko blessing Paschal Foods Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka celebrated Julian Calendar Easter on April 8, 2018 at Holy Trinity Ukrainian