New Ukrainian head 'ideal man for job'

THE Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s new global head, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, is the ideal man for the job, according to Perth Ukrainian community leader Bohdan Mykytiuk who has had extensive experience working with him.

Bohdan got to know the Archbishop when he was Chancellor of the Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv. 

Bohdan said the 40 year old Archbishop, who was installed as the new head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on 27 March in Kiev, is a captivating speaker,  “extremely knowledgeable” and very approachable.  

His view of Archbishop Sviatoslav was confirmed by the seminarians and students of the Ukrainian Catholic University with whom Bohdan has been working over the past few years.

Bohdan, who has returned to the seminary 10 times since 2005, said the Archbishop was often seen after breakfast, lunch and dinner chatting casually with students in the seminary.

Bohdan and wife Katryna raised $20,000 through the Ukrainian Catholic community in Perth and Northam to update the seminary’s library and computing classes.

Blazhenishy (Most Reverend) Fr Sviatoslav, who at the time was Chancellor of the Holy Spirit Seminary, said of them: “May the merciful Lord, who sees the fruits of your labour, bless and care for you …[We] assure you the seminary community will pray to our Saviour, so that you are rewarded, more than a hundred fold, for your generosity.”

Bohdan held many discussions with the Chancellor regarding the needs of the seminary and as well as working on projects at the seminary, he is now on the Ukrainian Catholic University’s Advisory Board of its Institute of Leadership and Management.

When Bohdan visited the seminary by chance in 2005 while taking a group of teenagers and young adults on a heritage tour of Ukraine to show them where their grandparents came from, the seminary hierarchy received them cordially, though the seminary had limited resources and only a handful of students.

He was so impressed he returned to Ukraine immediately after seeing off the touring party home to Perth, spending several weeks learning how the seminarians are educated and trained. 

In order to be admitted to the Seminary, prospective seminarians need to complete Years 11 and 12 in the equivalent of a minor seminary.

They then undergo five years of training which, in addition to prayers, religious ritual and theological studies, includes pastoral field experience in schools, hospitals, with disabled, orphans, street kids, drug addicts, alcoholics, and as chaplains in the armed forces, police and security services, providing help and spiritual guidance to all those need.

This is followed by two years of pastoral work in their chosen field and includes conducting missions throughout Ukraine, Russia, Siberia and countries of the former Soviet Union where Ukrainians live.

Little wonder, then, that Bohdan regularly returns to the Seminary and Catholic University in Lviv to foster this spirit of Christian renewal.

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